Census worker found with "fed" on body

[WillieDee]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON — The FBI is investigating the hanging death of a U.S. Census worker near a Kentucky cemetery, and a law enforcement official told The Associated Press the word 'fed" was scrawled on the dead man's chest.

The body of Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old part-time Census field worker and occasional teacher, was found Sept. 12 in a remote patch of the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural southeast Kentucky. The Census has suspended door-to-door interviews in rural Clay County, where the body was found, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Investigators are still trying to determine whether the death was a killing or a suicide, and if a killing, whether the motive was related to his government job or to anti-government sentiment.

Investigators have said little about the case. The law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss the case and requested anonymity, said Wednesday the man was found hanging from a tree and the word "fed" was written on the dead man's chest. The official did not say what type of instrument was used to write the word.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jbzG_BlkG2Hfc818EPRRn1bBlP6gD9AT92400

[Ian David]

1. What you want to bet that the person who killed him was scared of Acorn? n/t

[roguevalley]

109. michelle bachman owns this.

[BobTheSubgenius]

128. That's EXACTLY what I wrote to someone the instant I saw the article.

OK...different words, but the gist was the same.

[Loudmxr]

137. Its the first thing I thought of too. We must hold this woman accountable for what she says.

She may have bred the hostility toward census workers that may have contributed to this crime.

Over the past ten years I have been privileged to know the Ileto family. The family of the postal worker who was shot by Buford Furrow on the day he shot up the Jewish Center in Granada Hills. He shot and killed Joseph Ileto not only because he thought he looked "foreign", he is Filipino, but also he was a worker that represented the United States Government.

My friend Mike Gennaco was part of the prosecution team. After Joseph's death the family reached out and established the first strong ties between Asian and the Jewish community in Los Angeles county that still survives to this day.

THIS HITS ME HARD!!!!

[Ian David]

155. Playing devil's advocate, there's another possibility.

He may have been trying to buy marijuana to cure nausea form his chemo-therapy, and the dealer thought he was a narc.

[Seldona]

141. +1

[mod mom]

154. agree.

[aquart]

2. Oh, find who did this.

And feed them to hungry wolves.

[jasi2006]

89. Most of these workers are not Fed employees but rather part-time

folks trying supplement income. They are working for the Fed almost as volunteers. Obama should say something about this immediately. It warrants attention at our government;s highest level in my opinion. He was killed in the line of duty and his death should be treated as such.

[chalky]

3. "...still trying to determine whether the death was a killing or a suicide...."

Now I'm no Madame Cleo, but my gut is telling me this wasn't a suicide.

[d_b]

11. heh

seriously.

[Kber]

64. Seriously. Was "fed" his suicide note?

[Cha]

70. I know..that screamed "DISINGENUOUS"

at me.

[PSzymeczek]

78. There were rubber/vinyl gloves

found at the scene. On the ground. not on the victim's hands. Doesn't say suicide to me.

[dotymed]

144. Wow... Suicide

I imagine if he had three gunshot wounds, it would have been
the same...I know Kentucky and the backwoods people pretty
well. I am related to some. Lol, they would scare most
"thugs", for damned good reasons. They believe all
anti-fed propaganda they hear (FOX).They really could not (not
all like this, most are great people, would give you the shirt
from their backs if they knew you)distinguish the difference
between a part-time census worker for the FED(eral bureau of
Census) or a real FED. Fox TV would reinforce that confusion.
As an "outsider", I had more than one gun shoved in
my face both in the day and at night. Luckily, in those days I
carried a pistol too. After pulling it once or twice to
protect myself, I gained their "respect" and was
never bothered again. Honestly, the ones who had pulled guns
on me became friends, but it was best to always stay wary. To
them, the South did win the war, and they would gladly fight
it again.

[No Elephants]

190. Based on your description, they can keep their damned shirts. I have no laundry instructions for

murderous moran duds.

[AsahinaKimi]

147. Absolutely right

Who carves "Fed" in their chest..before they kill themselves?

[bc3000]

170. It could have been drug dealers or something - good way to cover up motive

Maybe he stumbled upon a drug lab...

Let them finish up the investigation.

[femrap]

174. I don't believe it was a suicide either.

Having lived in KY....if you get back into those 'hollers,' you will find people who are not 'right in the head.' And by that I mean there is incest galore. And they all have guns and do not like ANY outsiders. It is beyond 'Deliverance.' I'm serious. They can't read, write....nor really think correctly.

That's why the Sheriff told him to be careful. How damn sad.

[mitchum]

4. The wingnuts have been frothing about ACORN and the census

looks like more right wing terrorism

[BREMPRO]

106. this needs investigation, but sure sounds like wingut/ teabaggers anti-gov. lynching

Really sad for this poor guy, and sick nutjobs who lynched him. Remind me not to move to Kentucky. What channel do you think the perpetrator(s) get there news from? How much of their unique brand of inciting of violence is tolerable in a free society?

[mitchum]

116. Glenn Beck has blood on his pudgy little hands

[defendandprotect]

129. Is ACORN involved with the census?

I've been really dumb on this organization -- !

[JHB]

149. Sort of, but not in the way Bachmann and other wingnuts claim

From FactCheck.org:
http://www.factcheck.org/2009/06/acorn-and-the-census/

Q: Is ACORN providing workers for the 2010 census?

A: No. ACORN employees will not be taking the census. The group is one of more than 30,000 "partners" that will help publicize the event.

FULL QUESTION

Did the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) sign on as a "national partner" with the U.S. Census Bureau to sign up over 1 million temporary workers to help with the 2010 census?

FULL ANSWER

ACORN has indeed signed on to partner with the Census Bureau in connection with the 2010 census, along with about 30,000 other groups at the time of this writing. Others under "A" include, for example, the American Statistical Association, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Avon Products Inc. and 57 additional organizations and corporations. The Census Bureau’s Web site includes an open invitation to sign on, and the agency says it expects to have more than 100,000 partners by the time the process is over. That may even be an underestimate: In 2000, it signed up 140,000 partners.

We’ve received questions about ACORN’s activities in connection with the headcount ever since a Fox News story, headlined "ACORN to play role in 2010 census," appeared in March. As retold by and filtered through blogs and chain e-mails, the news left some people with the impression that ACORN, the liberal community organizing group whose voter registration activities became an issue in last year’s presidential campaign, would be a big player in running the census effort.

ACORN "will be in charge of going door-to-door and collecting data from the American public," said Rep. Michele Bachmann in mid-June. "This is very concerning." Saying she was worried about ACORN’s supposed involvement in gathering census data, the Minnesota Republican announced that she won’t participate in the census beyond answering how many individuals reside in her household, "because," she maintained, "the Constitution doesn’t require any information beyond that." Actually, the Constitution, under Article 1, Section 2, simply requires that an "enumeration" be done every 10 years to apportion the members of the House, but that it be done "in such manner" as Congress "shall by law direct." And Congress has seen fit to require everyone to answer truthfully whatever census questions they are asked, under threat of a $100 penalty for failure to answer and $500 for lying.

And Bachmann is flat wrong about ACORN going door-to-door and gathering data. Being "partners" with the Census Bureau doesn’t entail as close a relationship as one might think. For the most part it involves getting the word out that it’s important for everyone to participate in the decennial event that helps determine where federal money goes and how House of Representatives district boundaries are redrawn.
------- more (much more) at link above ----------------------

ACORN is basically publicizing "temporary jobs available working for the Census" in places where they do their work. Not providing employees, not contracting to do the information collection. Just telling people jobs are available.

[drm604]

5. Still trying to determine?

Investigators are still trying to determine whether the death was a killing or a suicide, and if a killing, whether the motive was related to his government job or to anti-government sentiment.

I think the word scrawled on his chest pretty clearly answers both of those questions.

[RussBLib]

6. Wonder if it was a black census worker?

Just askin'

[Berry Cool]

27. No, just a white guy who fought hard to earn a teaching degree while dealing with

non-Hodgkins' lymphoma.

Shit.

[Chemisse]

54. Dammit. That is so wrong. nt

[PSzymeczek]

79. 51-YO white guy.

He's been ID'ed, and I've seen a picture.

[PSzymeczek]

80. See here for a picture.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32991672/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[Lorien]

93. Only 51? He looks like a guy in his 70's

he must have been fairly ill. God, I hope they find the Freeper who did this to him.

[defendandprotect]

130. Yep . . . well, an educator . . . that's a real threat -- BOOKS . . . !!!

What is this saying about Kentucky????

[polly7]

142. So sad.

Deepest sympathy to his family. I hope they get answers for them.

[Thrill]

7. Unreal. This is what they plan on doing to stop the census? Intimidate the workers

wow just wow. Who ever did this needs to be hanged

[billh58]

75. The census

has been going on for over 200 years, and these asshats still haven't figured out that all questions, other than number of people residing at a particular address, are voluntary, and there is no penalty for refusing to answer.

Most of them also don't realize that the decennial census is mandated by the Constitution, and its results determine the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives, and derived from that, of electors to the Electoral College.

[defendandprotect]

131. Don't they often do this by mail?

[billh58]

181. I believe

that almost all of the census questionnaires are sent via US mail. Census Bureau workers, however, physically walk every street in the nation to verify addresses on file with actual street addresses.

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/2010_census/014018.html

[mitchum]

114. Exactly...when the repubs are in power...

they focus on scaring their base.
When they are out of power,
the focus on scaring the opposition.
They are thugs.

[rd_kent]

8. It has begun...wing nuts coming unglued....

glad I have guns.....

[WillieDee]

14. yes, better safe than sorry

I also have guns. It's hard to tell what's coming...

[defendandprotect]

132. Anyone here from Kentucky to tell us something about this - location . . .??

[NoelCrane]

201. I'm from Eastern Kentucky

I'm from East Ky, Pike County to be exact (the democrat strong hold or was until Obama became president)

I live about 2 hours away from Clay County and that whole section of South East KY are the most radical right wing, racist, and ignorant area I have ever seen.

They don't research anything for themselves and all their information comes from things that they hear throughout the community. Thats pretty bad considering that 100% of the hospitals I've been to in Kentucky keep the televisions set tuned in on Fox News. Healthcare is our 2nd biggest industry besides Coal.

There are more confederate flags waving from homes there than American Flags. Please Do Not think all Kentuckians are backwards. Because, they are not its just a concentrated area of about 10 counties in South Eastern Kentucky.

We can blame the right wing talking heads for this one in my opinion.

[proReality]

118. Unfortunately...

they do too.

[rd_kent]

178. Thats why I have mine.

[noiretextatique]

176. i am going to get a gun

really never thought i'd say those words, but these are some troubling times. so if any aryan nations/skinhead types try to roll on this black woman...i will be prepared.

[Marthe48]

9. So sorry for this man

My sister was a census worker in 2000, in Monroe County, Oh. Some guy held a knife on her and wouldn't let her leave his house for an hour or more. She talked herself out of the situation and didn't get hurt. I told her at the time to report him, but she wouldn't.

[Divine Discontent]

44. you should report him, he could kill a woman.

[Marthe48]

180. I urged her to do so at the time

and she felt his issues were mental and wouldn't report the incident. I totally agree with you.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

124. She was in his house?

I thought Rule #1 was to NEVER enter a home.

[Marthe48]

182. I don't know the rules, she must have

I'm sure she did and for some reason felt safe enough to go in. After all this time, I don't recall the details. She does things differently than I would.

[Doctor_J]

10. Something needs to be done about Michelle Bachmann's terrorism

.

[glinda]

13. hehe

[drm604]

12. These are lousy jobs that people take out of desperation.

And now, they've also become dangerous jobs. :cry:

[KansDem]

26. True...this guy was an "occasional teacher..."

and worked for the census, too. Probably trying to make ends meet. And this happens!

I hope the f**king coward(s) are brought to justice! And soon!!!

[ezgoingrl]

53. I think they've always been dangerous jobs

but, this (even though it may not be) oozes lynching.

[fencesitter]

58. Not so lousy....

They pay 18.00/hour here. Lotsa people apply, many seniors and students.

[PSzymeczek]

81. $18 an hour isn't that great.

Where I live, it's barely a living wage.

[sandnsea]

99. Where I live it's the jackpot

And they don't generally pay that much anyway.

[Regret My New Name]

112. It's a decent wage where I'm at...

[chervilant]

113. Really?

I know someone who trained to do census work in Northwest Arkansas, where $18 an hour is higher than most other jobs in the area pay. Furthermore, she is in her fifties, and traveled alone in uber rural areas, many of which are infested with Klan members, survivalists and other militant groups.

The Angry Group is well armed. Their fave M$M rabble-rousers are working them up into a furry. The most radical among them already believe they are 'at war' with the feds or with the liberals, or both...

The Corporate Megalomaniacs must be giddy with glee over the apparent success of their divide-and-conquer strategy, and the poor sheeple remain clueless even as they're being played for the gullible dupes that they are.

[Xithras]

184. In rural Kentucky?

Hell, for that matter, here in Central California where I live. Around here, people spend years in college in the hopes of landing an $18 an hour job when they're done.

[toadzilla]

111. I've been a census worker, its a good job.

temporary, but fun and well paying.

[last_texas_dem]

Census worker hanged with "fed" on body

Source: Associated Press/Huffington Post

>>>>WASHINGTON — The FBI is investigating the hanging death of a U.S. Census worker near a Kentucky cemetery. A law enforcement official says the word "fed" was scrawled on his chest.

The body of Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old Census field worker and occasional teacher, was found Sept. 12 in the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural southeast Kentucky.

Investigators have said little about the case. A law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss the case and requested anonymity, tells The Associated Press the word "fed" was written on the dead man's chest.

FBI spokesman David Beyer said the bureau is helping state police determine if Sparkman's death was the result of foul play, and if so, whether it was related to his census work.>>>>

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wires/2009/09/23/ap-source-census-worker-h_ws_297073.html

[YOY]

16. Dude, that is some fucked up shit right about here.

n.t.

[last_texas_dem]

25. Definitely

I worked for the Census during the first phase last spring and ran into some scary people and even received a couple of threats. I reassured myself about the basic decency of human beings by reminding myself that I encountered more friendly (or at least polite) people than I did assholes. All it takes is one nut, though...

[Auggie]

29. It doesn't make sense...

Don't people know it ensures their representation in The House?

[YOY]

31. You're talking fools who actually think "Government is the problem."

Take the blame all the way to the dead corpse with the bad hair and the horrible movie about the monkey.

[Auggie]

35. So be it. Maybe we'll pick up another liberal seat in the process.

Let's be clear I'm not condoning murder as a means to this.

[PSzymeczek]

82. They don't care. n/t

[rd_kent]

17. It has begun....the wing nuts are coming unglued!

Glad I have guns......

[derby378]

18. "If?"

I think the odds are pretty much in favor of this being a hit.

[TreasonousBastard]

19. And what do Bachmann and Beck have to say about this?

[KansDem]

21. You mean this...?

Huffington Post

[The Wizard]

74. Bachmann belongs in the House

The Big House. She's been fomenting civil war for a while, and it's time she is silenced before more people are killed or injured for her cheap political stunts.

[jimshoes]

20. Damn, cue the music from

Deliverence. :wow:

[Speck Tater]

22. The police will determine if it was foul play?

How many natural causes result in the victim hanging from a tree with words on the chest. Not many that I can think of. Of course I'm not expert, but I wonder if the Kentucky cops have ruled out swine flu yet?

[Solly Mack]

23. "if Sparkman's death was the result of foul play"

Damn

[myrna minx]

24. We can thank Michele Bachmann for her census hysteria.

:cry:

[murdoch]

30. Here's the Youtube link - Bachmann on Beck show talking about the census

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZS9UW0okY4

[myrna minx]

40. Thank you for posting this. n/t

[mod mom]

164. You should post this on it's own thread as a reminder to the trolls that read DU!

[ladywnch]

73. yeah, that's the first thing I thought of when I saw this story. wonder how

Bachmann is going to distance herself from this one.....'I never told anyone to kill anyone....I'm not responsible.....' None of these people (conservative wingnuts) is EVER responsible for the logical outcome of their paranoid, psychotic rantings!....jackasses.

[orleans]

122. no shit. that fucking bachmann needs to have her ass called on the carpet for

starting this crap.

"Even though he was with the Census Bureau, sometimes people can view someone with any government agency as 'the government.' I just was afraid that he might meet the wrong character along the way up there," Acciardo said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32991672/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts

[IndianaGreen]

15. It sure wasn't suicide

I hope the FBI catch the Glen Beck radio fans that did this.

[rebel with a cause]

120. Don't rule out it being ruled suicide yet.

We are not Kentucky, but a young man from another state was found hanging by his feet from a tree in a large park here. He had been shot in the head. The gun was found in the water that was a short distance from where he was hanging. They ruled it a suicide. Seems he hung himself from the tree, shot himself in the head and then threw the gun into the water. I think he mutilated himself also... A lot of self hate there if you believe the authorities.

Back when I was a girl, a woman (store owner) was found decapitated. They ruled it a suicide, said she ran across the room and threw herself on a meat slicer. A lot of butchers argued that if she had did this it would not be a straight clean cut, but the authorities ruled it a suicide anyway. Again, a lot of self hatred there if you believe the authorities. Not many people here ever have but it shows that a lot of ruled suicides are very questionable.

[Mari333]

28. Bachman, Beck, Savage, Rush,,,they are all responsible.

this was a murder of a census worker by a NUTBAR who listens to RW radio. no doubt in my mind.

[YOY]

32. Oh take it one step further.

Take it to the dead bastard who said the scariest words in the English language are "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

[kenfrequed]

194. Yeah

Ronnie- Ray-gun.

One of the worst presidents of the 20th century. Right up there with Hoover.

[proteus_lives]

45. While I don't like them either....

The one responsible is the person who murdered him.

[Chemisse]

56. That is very true.

But incitement and suggestion is what those people are doing that can result in murders.

Charles Manson didn't murder anybody either!

[PSzymeczek]

76. Can Beck and Bachmann be hit with conspiracy charges?

Can we somehow fit their screeching into the concept of conspiracy?

[proteus_lives]

105. Yeah but Beck or whoever didn't say "kill census workers"

There is a difference. I'm just not seeing it.

[fasttense]

160. Good point.

I've often said that you can murder simply by representing yourself as a sane, authority figure with access to a national audience. All you need do is get one bat shit crazy person to believe you.

Charles Manson and Jim Jones merely had to convince a group of people. They never killed anyone outright.

[bertman]

33. Suicide sounds like a long shot, but weirder things have happened. Let the investigation

proceed.

This is an awful situation any way you cut it.

[nolabear]

34. My God. If this is jacked up RW fear

they should spend their lives atoning. I won't assume I know everything because "I'll bet..." are irresponsible words, but I can't help thinking about Michelle Bachmann and the ACORN bashers, and all those who have made the frightened and uninformed hate anything that they can attribute to the demon "government." And it's all manipulation. For shame.

[Posteritatis]

36. Over on FR they're suggesting Obama's behind it

They're even comparing it to the Reichstag fire. Oy.

[YOY]

37. How...what? Who? Huh?

n/t

[Posteritatis]

39. That was my reaction to a first approximation too, yeah (nt)

[PSzymeczek]

84. Oh. F'ing. Please.

That's just ridiculous.

[Stand and Fight]

38. Let's not forget what that nut said about Census Takers.

And I'm not talking about Lector either... The scary one. Can we all say Michelle Bachman???

[wroberts189]

41. Seriously shocked... I hope they catch the perp quick. nt

[daleo]

42. Is hatred of the census common in U.S. rightwing circles?

I don't think I have ever heard of this in Canada, where I live. Is this a new rightwing whacko thing in the U.S., or has it been going on for a while?

[Libertas1776]

46. Well, we have managed

to have 22 census's in the past, usually without a hitch. So this particular brand of RW nuttery that has been wafting around regarding the census seems to be a relatively new odor, so to speak.

[daleo]

55. Thanks for the info

It is frightening to see such polarization being created over something as basic as a census. It is lunacy - how do these people expect to run a country without knowing how many people live there? It's beyond flakey.

[sybylla]

175. I wouldn't say without a hitch.

As a genealogist, I know that historically there have always been people who were afraid of the census takers and hid from them when they could. For various reasons, they didn't want the government knowing about them and their family - maybe immigration, maybe illegal activities, maybe they came from countries where they were watched too closely or maybe they were just kooks.

Sometimes the census taker was forced to ask a neighbor for information. Sometimes, it was never collected. Anyone who's searched for their ancestors knows that out of a hundred, there's always a couple who managed to play hard to find at census time.

[PSzymeczek]

77. I think this is new.

We have a census every 10 years, so the last time there would have been an opportunity for this, the loonies weren't quite so fervid.

[LibDemAlways]

138. Nowadays there's an ongoing census called the American

Community Survey. It's 28 pages long and goes out to 250,000 households a month. It comes with a warning that failure to respond will result in stiff penalties. The questions are quite intrusive - requesting lots of personal data and financial information. The response rate is low, and so the census bureau sends out part-timers to follow-up with some of the non-respondents. It's possible this particular man was conducting that sort of follow-up with someone who was unhinged and virulently anti-government.

[brendan120678]

189. My wife and I received the ACS...

in the mail early this year. And we still haven't gotten around to filling it out yet.
It does seem to ask a lot of irrelevant questions.
Here's a link: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/SQuest09.pdf

And it certainly asks more questions than what was in the original U.S. Census:
How many people live at your address, what are their ages, are they freemen or slaves?

[clear eye]

202. I disagree w/ most DU posts on the ACS

I Googled what has been posted so far on DU about the ACS and the consensus is that because RWers oppose it, we must support it. I read the survey at your link and I'm appalled. I remember distinctly that federal law says only the IRS can collect personally identifiable financial info from the general public. (People who are not under suspicion of committing a felony.) Among the questions included are some clearly designed to attempt to catch food stamp and disability program cheats. Errors in filling out the questionnaire and lumping together all members of the household w/ the value of the property could lead to harassment and cutting off assistance to legitimate recipients of aid.

I've read detailed reports online that what happens when the recipient of one of these surveys doesn't return it is that there is first a follow-up survey and reminder sent, then starting around a month after the original survey was mailed for ~30 days the unlucky recipient gets phone calls at all hours of the day and night demanding answers to the questions and threatening prosecution, then in some localities census workers come to the person's home and chase the person around the neighborhood when they leave their house demanding answers to the survey questions. They also occasionally question the neighbors about the people at the address.

BUT THE INTERESTING THING IS, IF AFTER THE ~3 MOS. OF HARASSMENT THE ADDRESSEE STILL REFUSES TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS NEVER ACTUALLY FINED ANYONE OR TAKEN THEM TO COURT. Seems to me they know the survey is on very shaky legal ground and don't want the courts pulling the plug.

I called the census bureau number on the survey to challenge its legality. After the agent quoted legal statutes claiming to give authority, when I said other law clearly made many questions illegal, the agent said, "O.K., I'll just give your information to the Dept. of Justice". In those exact words. The automated phone tree had made it clear that they had gotten my phone # from caller ID, so that wasn't an idle threat. The ACS FOLLOW-UP could very well be what got that poor guy killed. He'd been told to threaten federal prosecution and imprisonment if people wouldn't tell him a whole lot more than how many people live there and their ages. Please, read the survey for yourselves if you haven't already.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

43. I was hoping that this kind of RW hatred would have ended with the

Freedom Riders and the Civil Rights activists in the 60's.

I guess that as long these animals are allowed to breed, the hatred will just keep getting passed onto the next generation.

Heed my signature line so that these thugs become extinct. If they won't go along with it on their own accord............I'm out of work and would be willing to do it.

[Thornleylv]

47. FBI: U.S. CENSUS WORKER HANGED, "FED" SCRAWLED ON CHEST AP , September 23, 2009 | 5:45:34 PM (EST)

Source: Huffington post

WASHINGTON — The FBI is investigating the hanging death of a U.S. Census worker near a Kentucky cemetery, and a law enforcement official told The Associated Press the word 'fed" was scrawled on the dead man's chest.

The body of Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old part-time Census field worker and occasional teacher, was found Sept. 12 in a remote patch of the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural southeast Kentucky. The Census has suspended door-to-door interviews in rural Clay County, where the body was found, pending the outcome of the investigation.

No link yet.

---

Way to go KY

[WCGreen]

48. Murdered with a push by Beck and all the anti-government ass holes

on Cable and radio...

[KansDem]

59. DUer Bravo Zulu posted this Oliphant cartoon only today:

Oliphant nails another one!

[PSzymeczek]

86. I love this!

Oliphant absolutely nailed it!

[Lorien]

96. Kick nt

[Blue_Tires]

152. brilliant

[FoxxIn09]

169. Perfect.*

nm

[Lorien]

94. Yep.

[IndianaGreen]

49. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4073850

[XemaSab]

50. That's pretty freaky

:o

[indepat]

51. Surely no loony had gotten worked up over Beck's and Bachmann's diatribe about the census

:P

[glowing]

150. In the south there are a lot of white people who are poor, left behind

They have always grown up with a hatred of the Yankee and normally trust Repugs (who are the one's who screw them over and keep them dumb and poor). There is already a deep sentiment of hatred for govt. The one thing that could make these people feel like they had something.. a one-up was that they were white and had some privelege because of that. They have treated other ethnic persons like dirt. They absolutely fear an America where Obama is the Pres., Nancy Pelosi is the head of the House of Reps, and Sonya Sotomayor is on the S.C. Their one-up is losing. These are the people you drag along kicking and screaming. Once a govt agency or program is set up that benefits them, they are first in line to get theirs.. but in the mean time, they can be exploited. They can be riled up. There is absolute fear in these people. Fear makes people do crazy things. They know this. They are breeding this. So yes, listening to Beck night after night and then listening to Bachmann, a US Hs Repug, telling you their is something nefarious with the census taking this year in particular (even though they've been gearing up for it for the last 2 or 3 yrs) is disturbing to them.

We've already seen the results thus far, the killing of Tillman, the killings in the Universal Church that was completely missed by our liberal media during the elections, the shooting at the holocaust museum in D.C. These things are already racketing up. The town halls feature gun-toting idiots. No one has ever showed up outside a venue with the President armed with weapons.

[MidwestTransplant]

52. How does Bachman feel about that now?

[Amonester]

63. bachman can feel anything? nope. she's a sociopath.

she's probably GLAD it happened.

[B2G]

57. No way would I ever sign up for that job

I mean, I know it needs to be done, but knocking on total strangers doors? No way. Too many nutjobs, dealers and flat out scary people out there.

[Libertas1776]

60. If the RW nutters

really want to go down this path, they might have to get Federal Marshall's to administer the census, like the did with the very first one in 1790.

[mzmolly]

61. Let's see, we had a RW loon shoot people at Church, another kill a Dr., another assault a woman

at Cracker Barrel and now this.

Heartbreaking.

[Nevernose]

65. And didn't a neo-Nazi rampage in Boston?

Or am I just remembering things I made up in my own head?

[rockymountaindem]

66. I think you mean what happened in Pittsburgh n/t

[PSzymeczek]

87. It wasn't Boston,

it was some other town. The guy that shot up the community center.

[harvey007]

62. I was hoping to get a census job

Now I'm having second thoughts.

My condolences to the family of the victim.

I anxiously await law enforcement investigators' findings on this case.

Very tragic.

[WriteDown]

67. Sounds like a suicide....

Trying to write "fed up" and ran out of room.

[DBoon]

68. like this?

King Arthur: What does it say, Brother Maynard?
Brother Maynard: It reads, "Here may be found the last words of Joseph of Aramathia. He who is valiant and pure of spirit may find the holy grail in the Castle of Aaauuuggghhh... ”
King Arthur: What?
Brother Maynard: "The Castle of Aaaauuuggghhhh"
Sir Bedevere: What is that?
Brother Maynard: He must have died while carving it.
King Arthur: Oh come on!
Brother Maynard: Well, that's what it says.
King Arthur: Look, if he was dying, he wouldn't have bothered to carve 'Aaaauuuggghhhh'. He'd just say it.
Sir Galahad: Maybe he was dictating it.
King Arthur: Oh shut up!
Sir Robin: Well does it say anything else?
Brother Maynard: No, just "Aaaaauuuugggghhh".

Sir Bedevere: Do you think he could have mean, 'Camaaaauuuuggghhhh'?
Sir Galahad: Where's that?
Sir Bedevere: France, I think.
Sir Lancelot: Isn't there a Saint "Aaaaavvvveeeesss" in Cornwall?
King Arthur: No that's Saint "Ives".
Sir Lancelot: Oh, yes. "Iiiiiivvvveeessss"!

Sir Bedevere: Whooooouuuuaaa!
Sir Lancelot: No no no, it's "Aaaaauuuugggghhhh" from the back of the throat.
Sir Bedevere: No I mean, "Whoooouuuuaaa!" as in surprise and alarm.
Sir Lancelot: Oh, you mean like, "AAAHH!"
Sir Bedevere: Yes, that's it. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

[WriteDown]

121. Exactly! nt

[Nostradammit]

97. My, what sparkling wit you possess.

[WriteDown]

166. Wrong spot

[NeoConsSuck]

69. Clay County, Kentucky

The median income for a household in the county was $16,271, and the median income for a family was $18,925. Males had a median income of $24,164 versus $17,816 for females. The per capita income for the county was $9,716. About 35.40% of families and 39.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.60% of those under age 18 and 31.30% of those age 65 or over. The county's per-capita income makes it one of the poorest counties in the United States, and the poorest that is majority non-Hispanic white.

The county has been solidly Republican for decades.<4> In the last 16 years the only Republican to receive less than 60% was Bob Dole, who still won the county by nearly 25%. In 2008 John McCain received 77.5% of the vote.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_County,_Kentucky

[KansDem]

72. Kentucky gets back $1.51 in federal spending for every dollar it pays in taxes...

Tax Foundation

[PSzymeczek]

88. I don't understand.

Why in the world do these people vote against their own interests?

[Doctor_J]

71. There are a few Dems who are almost ready to do something about

the real killers - Beck, Bachmann, Weiner...just not enough. Yet. T Wolf - are you there? What's your take on this?

[Lifelong Protester]

83. well there goes another state I used to like to travel to...

condolences to the family. Man, it is just too weird out there, and I'm thinking of rearming here myself.

[JackInGreen]

85. not to use

whats considered a racist term sometimes, but lets call a spade a spade, this was a lynching. Not held for a person of non-caucasian heritage, but due to the same attitudes and fears and ignorance.
Michelle Bachman, this is laid at your feet.
Enjoy the visit in hell Representative, hope you save me a spot by the fire.

[Aslanspal]

90. Come on Google why bury this????

really Google should have this as Top Story so far it has 399 news items.

flippin people, what is wrong with this world

[Barack_America]

92. DU just took it off of the front page.

Which tells you how explosive this thing is going to be once the death is officially rule a homicide.

This murder is so unspeakably horrible that nobody wants to be seen in front of the story, promoting it.

[Aslanspal]

98. It may be back on front page

as of 10 p it was on the front...did I miss an edit???

[Barack_America]

103. Yeah it's back.

Quite possibly it was my computer that messed up.

I reloaded the front page and it was back to the previous story.

[Aslanspal]

115. Google has gotten to 430 news sources

still it is not a top story....this one is hot! and it should be
what happened to this unarmed worker just trying to make it and
pull himself up will impact all workers and those who play by
the rules.

If it is murder, I want a Nightline countdown until the murderers are found

we should demand heavy coverage until they are caught and brought to justice.

[Odin2005]

91. Here they come!

:scared:

[BrklynLiberal]

95. This is very scary and very sad.

[spin]

Lots of people in rural America do not trust census workers...

some are running meth labs or drug grows.

Some just want to be off the government's radar.

Being a census taker can be a very exciting and dangerous job for little money.

[Xithras]

185. And some...

...just get jumpy when total strangers come walking up to their front door and start asking questions about their income and family size, waving around little more than a paper ID that anyone with computer and laminator can whip up in five minutes.

In many rural areas, it's very uncommon for total strangers to just show up at your door unannounced.

[spin]

198. Many American's have no idea what a census is...

And react irrationally when approached by a census taker.

[Hugabear]

100. And somewhere, Glen Beck is gloating while maintaining his plausible deniability

"I didn't tell them to commit any violence! I merely told them that government was their biggest enemy, and that it was time for them to take action!"

[Lagomorph]

101. Allowing "Feds" to wander into rural Kentucky....

has been a bad idea for 150 years.

Most places have changed, some haven't.

[BillDU]

102. Killed a census worker?

Seems dumbass to me. If you don't like government attention then just tell the census worker anything and they go away. If you kill the census worker...then you get more government attention.
Duuhhh!

[Barack_America]

104. Then you actually do go to jail.

i.e. The "internment camp" Bachmann warned you about.

But we're talking about a region of the country that's poor as dirt and loyal Republican, so....

[Lagomorph]

125. To be fair, these kinda people don't vote much.

They'd have to register and they don't want to tell anyone where they live. If they had sent anyone but a local out there, it would have said "Yankee" on his chest.

[scheming daemons]

107. Michelle Bachman needs to be charged as an accessory to murder.

[AzDar]

108. Huh. That didn't take long at all... Batshit Bachmann has this poor man's blood on her witch-mitts.

:grr:

[pitchforksandtorches]

110. The country will not be safe until

The country will not be safe until every Republican is sedated and under the care of a mental health professional.

[tonekat]

119. I like that sentiment.

There needs to be a new DSM code for the symptoms of Republicanism.

Tendency for gratuitous violence.
Denial of reality.
Delusions of Grandeur.
Incoherent babbling.
Entire body lurches to right.

[secondwind]

117. "I was told it would be better for him to be cremated", according to mother.....

Sounds like Clay County authorities are in too much of a hurry to cover up something? Why suggest that even before an autopsy?

[NMDemDist2]

123. wonder if he got too close to the moonshine still

what a horrible story

:cry:

my Grammy was from Clay County and they were real hill billies up there. she called them "holler trotters" or something, but the way she said it, it wasn't a nice term

:shrug:

[Kindigger]

127. I think I'm going to give up my fearless ways

Last fall on my way south I took a detour off the beaten path in that area. I (SWF)went up into the mountains on a one lane road. There were no people, but I did come around a corner and almost slam into a cow. You couldn't see any dwellings--only wisps of smoke drifting out of the trees.

There were large, well kept white churches about every five miles; no stores, gas stations. Couldn't get anything but sermons or Rush Gasbag on the radio.

And to think I had an Obama sticker on my bumper, no cellphone. And when I got to the bottom and found the highway again, I found my right front tire had finally worn itself down to nothing; I had to get tires in the first town I came to. :scared:

[FlaGranny]

157. Reminds me of a similar

incident when I was a child vacationing with my parents back in 1948. We got lost and wound up on a dirt road somewhere in the south, not sure which state. We came across an occasional shack, with chickens and pigs in the yard, smoke from the chimneys, etc. We never saw a soul. We all had the creepy feeling that we were being watched from behind trees and window curtains. I guess some places haven't changed in 60 years, or probably more like 200 years.

[DonCoquixote]

126. Gee I wonder what books these people will be found with?

Harry Potter Books?

In all seriousness, now is the time that these rodeo clowns need to be called out on their actions. Yes Yes, Morning Joe will dent he agrees with them, though he will be a relentless apologist for them as usual. These cowards will only moderate when one of their is brought into JAIL. Note I did not say stop, nor did I say that killing them in the answer. Sadly, if you killed the people who did this, they would made heroes, like they did David Korresh under Clinton.

The only things they will understand is a big, fat loss of power, prestige, and most importantly, MONEY. We need a Class Action lawsuit against Fox News.

[gatorboy]

133. Now let's not jump to conclusions...

Sure a Democratic party leader was murdered right here in Arkansas but I'm sure that was just a big misunderstanding.

Okay and there WAS that group of liberal churchgoers that were murdered in Tennessee and the killer did fear a "Liberal movement" but really, it could have been anybody, he was just crazy.....right?

Census worker murdered in Kentucky ...

Fuck it.

It's time to jump to conclusions.

[defendandprotect]

134. k i c k

[defendandprotect]

139. MGM playing "The Census Taker" ... A fed up family kills a census taker

and hides his body from a detective . .


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hard to believe . . . but true -- 2:23 am here in Central NJ --

[LibDemAlways]

135. I wonder if he was conducting follow up on the American Community Survey,

a 28 page bunch of personal questions that the census bureau sends out to millions of households every year. The response rate is poor and they send out part-timers to follow up with a some of the non-responders. Absolutely not suggesting that what happened to Mr. Sparkman was anything other than a horrible crime, but there are entire websites devoted to people relaying their stories about nasty encounters they've had with census people over this survey, and there are certainly a large number of unhinged, anti-government types out there egged on by the Hannitys and Becks. It will be interesting to see if there's a connection.

[Prophet 451]

136. Poor sod

Now we just have to wait for Rush to say he was killed by a liberal so they could make conservatives look like crazies.

[SoCalDemGrrl]

140. A Michele Bachman HOMICIDE for sure - she is EVIL personified!!

[indimuse]

143. knr! n/t

[dotymed]

145. When I was younger,

some of the best pot in America (skunk weed) was grown in
Daniel Boone National Forest...

[vincent_vega_lives]

146. could mean anything

could be he stumbled on some criminal enterprise and they suspected him as being a federal agent. Who the fuck knows.

[JNelson6563]

148. Ok, nobody dare say anything about the south!

I say let the sick bastards secede and let any rational, reasonable people escape before we wall off those animals.

Julie

[crazylikafox]

153. +1

[tXr]

177. Erik Prince...Michele Bachmann...plank, splinter....

[Name removed]

179. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[era veteran]

183. Proud of the southern part of the USA

So none of the other 37 states have any weird nasty murders? Just the south? My family has been here for over 220 years. We have helped to build and defend the USA. We never left the union and were reconstructed anyway. Our wealth stolen by northern financial fatcats (coal). I love Kentucky with all its faults though we sure can improve too. I have noticed a judgmental,biased, and ignorant slant with some DU members toward the south. Do you really want to read the headline " Union Dissolved" again? I challenge some of you to think before you spout your generalizations. Mr. Sparkman moved here and stayed. Poor man leaves behind a son. RIP

[tXr]

187. Of course the north has had its share of weird nasty murderers.

The Green River killer, Son of Sam, and Ed Gein (who was from Wisconsin, and upon whom the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" was based - "The Wisconsin Chainsaw Massacre" just doesn't have the same ring to it, I guess). Blame Tobe Hooper.

It's difficult to admit to problems in your backyard. Much easier to bash other regions for their problems.

[JNelson6563]

199. Bet he's glad he moved there & stayed.

And yeah, when it comes to the asshole saturation in the south, well we've had many honest DUers from the South who were more than willing to admit perhaps the asshole ratio is a bit higher than elsewhere. I feel sorry for those in the south who aren't assholes.

And the view you've noticed some DUers hold toward the south is actually pretty common among many non-southern Americans.

Julie

[era veteran]

200. Asshole saturation

So you have a scientific study showing more assholes in the south? YES I have noticed the judgmental & ignorant view of the south. The right loves it because it divides us. Racism (in all forms) is what keeps them on top and us on the bottom. Maybe you could look for some positive things about the south. I am for one thing not dishonest and my second agrees.

[DWilliamsamh]

151. But of course ..none of the stoking of fear will result in violence....

Oh. Wait. My bad.


and on edit: I am proud to be the 100th Rec. :-)

[FlaGranny]

156. I wonder if the

killer knows that fingerprints can be picked up from the inside of surgical gloves? Maybe even some DNA from a hair?

[Joanne98]

158. The local police chief is trying to blame it on drug dealers.

Manchester Police Chief Jeff Culver, whose agency is not part of the investigation because the death was outside city limits, said the area where Sparkman was found has a history of problems with prescription drug and methamphetamine trading.

"That part of the county, it has its ups and downs. We'll get a lot of complaints of drug activity. They'll whittle away, then flourish back up," Culver said. He said officers last month rounded up 40 drug suspects, mostly dealers, and made several more arrests in subsequent days.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jbzG_BlkG2Hfc818EPRRn1bBlP6gD9ATN8CO2

Nice try buddy!

[ThoughtCriminal]

161. Never occurs to them that it could be both

Anti-government nut cases and meth go together like milk and cookies. It's strong GOP country and meth-lab central.

In my part of the U.S., the black-helicopter republicans and meth producers are generally in the same rural areas, and often the same people.

[obreaslan]

163. AP article does too, but takes it one step further...

OMG! Illegal Aliens!!! :yoiks: Why not just plain old extra-terrestrial aliens, AP, while you're at it? Idiots...

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2209163/census_worker_found_hanged_near_rural.html?cat=17

:snip:

Though the cause and motive for the death of Bill Sparkman has yet to be determined, the narrative is afoot that the man may have been done in by an anti-government militia. That is indeed possible, but it is just as likely at this point that Sparkman was murdered by moonshiners, operators of a methamphetamine factory, or by illegal aliens.

(emphasis added)
:snip:

[ShortnFiery]

159. DOMESTIC TERRORISM. Don't mince words. eom

[newspeak]

162. I once was employed at SSA

Another thing the census is used for that people don't usually think about is proving your age. We had some seniors who didn't have a BC (born at home) or the building had burned down where their record was kept. By requesting a census record, we could use it as proof of birth date. So, the census comes in handy for other things besides proportioning representatives.

[jsgindc]

165. Sounds like the 1950's

REALLY...........how often do you hear about someone being hanged....other than suicide. ? ? ?

1950's

[WriteDown]

167. Another victim of the trilateral commission?

I'll wait for a little more about this story before I start anymore tinfoil hat theories.

[robcon]

168. Probably a drug deal.

n/t

[newspeak]

173. Years back when my hubby worked for the telephone company

there was an area where pot was found. If a worker was going to work on the lines in that area, they'd call to inform them up in the area that they'd be working there that day. I'm wondering if this rural area of Kentucky was a pot growing area and maybe he unknowingly stumbled upon a field or they thought he was from the DEA. Just a conjecture.

[billh58]

188. According to

a recent news report, the area is known for "Hillbilly Heroin," and crystal meth:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32991672/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[kickitup]

171. local chatter

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/london-ky/TCJI2NS2F7GU61APP

also check out the manchester forum

[AllyCat]

172. What is wrong with these people? My prayers for this man and his family

Hope the killer(s) is(are) found soon and brought to actual justice.

[subcomhd]

186. Found September 12th, huh? nt

[No Elephants]

191. Watch Beck say that crazy liberals killed this man to make Beck look bad.

Do people who kill themselves generally go near a cemetary to do so? I don't know, but this is the first time I've heard of someone hanging himself near a cememtary. Whenever I hear about suicide by hanging, someone has hanged himself in his own bedroom.

[earthlite]

192. This may be drug related

Lots of crystal meth labs and pot growing in that area. It could be this guy saw something he wasnt supposed to.

[freeplessinseattle]

193. guess this is why my mom didn't want me to be a census

worker. applied some years ago and got accepted as back-up, but ended up moving before I could get work. my mom was kind of relieved, for good reason probably. wise lady she is.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

195. Could be wingnuts, could be drugs, or could be someone he knew

trying to lead investigators away from him/her.

We should hold off on the stone-slinging until evidence is presented.

[rivercat]

196. his body was found on sept. 12.

why did it take so long to come to light?

[Redstone]

197. Wotta bunch of goobers and ridge-runners in that area. I'd not go there

even though I don't work for the "gummint."

Redstone