Mike Papantonio, an Air America talk show host and defense attorney, lambasted Republicans who've come out in opposition to President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan on the FOX News Channel.....and he's receiving death threats as a result.
I have recently adopted the opinion that to be a Republican today, there must be something mentally wrong with you and my theory seems to be proven here. Why would anybody receive death threats and horrible email calling for bodily harm for telling the truth and expressing an opinion about Republicans and how they got us into this economic mess?
It's a real testament to the type of people that watch FOX News Nutwork and even FOX Business Channel. FOX foments hatred and violence.
Thanks to Raw Story for reporting.
"You know what the problem is?" Papantonio declared. "The American people know that the Republicans have no ideas. They're like dinosaurs. They have one talking point. You know what it is, Stuart? It's the same thing I hear you say on this show. Cut taxes and deregulate. You're a one -- Republicans are a one-trick dog." At another point, he called Republicans "boneheads."
This didn't sit well with listeners to the upstart business channel. Ironically, those who appeared to be most upset with Papantonio's name-calling, resorted to attacks themselves -- only far more extreme. One even wished Papantonio dead.
Emails provided to Raw Story display a torrent of ire from those who felt personally insulted by the Air America host's choice of words. Out of privacy, Raw Story has withheld the emailers' names.
"Mike Papantonio," wrote one listener. "May you die a horrible death from brain cancer you frigging scumbag [sic]."
"Better hope you're on a bail-out list when you start feeling the pain that the great-half-african icon, y'all put up there in Our face, falters again, and again, there won't be enough stimulus to keep your sad voices on the air," wrote another.
"Hey Mike, too funny!" typed a third. "Saw you on Neil Cavuto today. What a frigging communist you are and now we all know it. The more of you who speak out, the easier it is for we Americans to stop you from finishing the job of communizing America. Keep up the good work. Ha!!!"
A fourth was terse: "You frigging treasonous pig."
Now look at the tenor of these emails that were mailed to Papantonio, just for responding to Stuart Varney's questions about the economy. This is the kind of outrageous and threatening behavior exhibited by Republicans and FOX viewers. How did this happen in a country that prizes itself on free speech and political diversity?
What has happened to Republicans? In all of my years as a politically active adult, I have never heard a single Democrat ever advocate for the death of a political opponent. I have never heard a Democrat call for the bodily harm of a political opponent. Yes, we as Democrats may get very passionate in our arguments and debates, but I really don't think any of us would ever threaten anybody physically for disagreeing with our views.
When did it become acceptable for Republicans to behave in such a manner? Why is it excused? Why aren't these people punished for making such threats and/or subjected to public scrutiny?
Why isn't the FOX Nutwork held responsible for fomenting this type of behavior?
I'm sick and tired of the divisiveness of many of our Republican leaders and their flock as well as their avenues of publicity such as FOX, the WSJ, Washington Times and their mouthpieces such as Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly and Michael Savage.
Now that a Democratic president is in charge, the right-wing media has no qualms about comparing President Obama's initiatives to Nazism. Witness this morning's Washington Times editorial, which runs a photo of Hitler alongside a wildly off-base attack on the health information technology (IT) provisions in the stimulus.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/...
Two other Republican purveyors of hate who actually take pride in preaching hate and are responsible for fomenting violence against gays:
On the October 11 broadcast of Today's Issues, a program on the Christian broadcasting network American Family Radio (AFR), Rev. Lou Sheldon, chairman and founder of the conservative "church lobby" group Traditional Values Coalition (TVC), suggested that Christian therapists believe exorcism is the only effective technique that can "release" a person from the homosexual lifestyle.
Fred Phelps whose group goes by the name of "God Hates Fags" and protests at the funerals of gay soldiers who have been killed in combat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
It's time we all stood up and did something about this egregious type of behavior. It's not acceptable and it should never, ever be excused.