Bipartisan blowback to 'bullying' in California's single-payer health care debate
SACRAMENTO — Since Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon revealed this week that he had received death threats on social media for his decision to block a single-payer health care bill from advancing this year, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have pushed back against the highly charged rhetoric and violent images targeting the Democrat.
Labor unions, at least one gubernatorial candidate and lawmakers from both parties have criticized the tenor of the campaign by the California Nurses Association to persuade Rendon to change his mind, including one violent image its leaders circulated — a meme featuring a California bear with a knife bearing Rendon’s name stuck in its back.
“A depiction of violence in any form is unacceptable and inappropriate,” tweeted Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, with the image of the bear.
Link to tweet
Rudy Salas Jr @rudysalasjr
A depiction of violence in any form is unacceptable and inappropriate. #StandwithRendon #StrongerTogether #DeathThreatsUnacceptable
Link to tweet
Lorena @LorenaSGonzalez
Lorena Retweeted Rudy Salas Jr
Agreed. I have always supported universal healthcare, but there is NO place for violent imagery or words in this debate. Period.
On Wednesday, Rendon acknowledged to reporters that he had received death threats on social media. One tweet said someone should check out Rendon’s schedule for “baseball practice,” alluding to the recent shooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise while the Republican team was practicing for the annual congressional baseball game.
Read more: http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/06/30/bipartisan-blowback-to-bullying-in-californias-single-payer-health-care-debate/
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