From Crew of 42 blog on the Congressional Black Caucus
Sadly, Rep. David Scott of Georgia may be the most threatened member of Congress. Sadder: He has competition. Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, Jean Schmidt and Bart Stupak are in the running as well. Back last summer, during the start of the tea party protests against health care, it was Rep. David Scott who found a swastika painted on a sign outside his office. Yesterday I spoke with him on the threats toward him since his vote on health care on Sunday. (Rep. David Scott is from Georgia. He is not to be confused with Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia).
More news on members, threats and comments on the drama surrounding health care: the blog Crew of 42
I interviewed him last night in the U.S. Capitol:
Q: "Have you received death threats?"
REP. DAVID SCOTT: "We have. It’s been a constant flow. There were threats thrown when myself, John Lewis and others were walking. The called us nigger and spit on us and all of that — it’s just shameful that this has happened. I have’nt seen anything like this since the civil rights days. I represent a surburban area of Georgia, part of my district is the old Newt Gingrich district
Have you received threats since Saturday since your vote on health care?
REP. DAVID SCOTT: "Yeah, yeah in my office. I represent that suburban area of Georgia. A lot of my district is the old Newt Gingrich district. Bob Barr out there and Cobb and other — John Birchers — which is where they put the swastika on the sign this summer. And we received death threats then and mine were linked with Obama so they (inaudible). And so the Secret Service has got a pretty good tag on it — and the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police. So we’re in pretty good shape. It’s a law enforcement issue and we have to be careful and we have to be mindful but, you know. When they ask me I let them know that I pray and I ask God everyday to keep his arms of protection around me and I trust in the Lord."
What type of messages have you been receiving this week?
REP. DAVID SCOTT: A well one that said — a... ‘David Scott you are a nigger you’ve always been a nigger you’ll be nothing but a nigger...’ and then saying ‘none of your colored constituents are going to keep you elected because we do not want this, this a, socialist Obamacare that is going to help Negroes who will not help themselves and stand on their own two feet.’
Are you feeling like police are attentive to your situation?
REP. DAVID SCOTT: I think they are. I think they are very attentive. We have very good work with the Capitol Police they are very proficient. I’ve said to all my colleagues, anything, whatever slight it is, pass it on to them. Let them be the judge."
"But the danger here is the egging on by these Republicans. Getting out here and giving acquiescence to the behavior (inaudible) — the Minority Leader telling people ‘you’re going to be a dead man...’ You know what is happening here. You can’t let it intimidate you. You can’t be scared. You can’t be afraid. That’s what they want to do. The only reason Adolph Hitler won in Europe when he was moving forward and turned Germany into a Nazi state was because he intimidated the people. He was the biggest bully and they never stood up to him and he came and got one group after another. We have to stand up to this group and not be intimidated."
More news on members, threats and comments on the drama surrounding health care: the blog Crew of 42