Experts: Pelosi right to fear violence

[sabra]

Source: Politico

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently invoked the grim specter of political violence, arguing that today’s angry political climate could cause people to cross the line from heated talk to dangerous actions.

Republicans sharply rejected her claim, with House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) saying Pelosi is “living in another world.” Others charged that the California Democrat herself stoked emotions by labeling some health reform protesters “un-American.”

But it’s not just Pelosi who is worried. In interviews with POLITICO, five former Secret Service, FBI and CIA officers say that they, too, are concerned that today’s climate of supercharged political vitriol could lead to violence.

...

And several of the law enforcement experts said they see examples of fraying American nerves nearly everywhere in politics, from talk radio echoing with angry voices to Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouting, “You lie!” at Obama during a joint session of Congress.

All that contributes to a dangerous mix, says former Secret Service agent Ronald Williams, who served from 1970 to 1993. “When there are vitriolic comments, acrimonious commentary and anger, the likelihood of violence escalates,” he said.



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27566.html

[babylonsister]

1. This reminds me of Napolitano's DHS memo and the way she

was ridiculed, right before the pro-choice doc was murdered, and the guard in DC. :(

[Triana]

2. I still blame the media - they allow the Rush Limbaughs, Blenn Becks, etc...

...to advocate, incite, and foment hatred and violence - and people ACT on that.

When "freedom of speech" starts killing people (ie: Census worker, and Tillman killing) then WE HAVE CROSSED A LINE THAT SHOULD NEVER BE CROSSED I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT SAYS.

When "freedom of speech" in the form of media advocacy of violence and hate, and media manipulation of FACT (taking things out of context, sensationalizing, totally ignoring or not reporting on different sides to issues or stories, twisting things around that were done and said in order to turn public opinion in favor of or against anything or anyone - usually for FUN and PROFIT, and POWER and CONTROL - mostly CORPORATE) starts resulting in people LOSING their lives, or people's lives and livlihoods being thwarted and their health and lives being adversely affected (even contributing to their ultimate death) - THEN IT HAS GONE TOO FAR.

When it comes to the MAINSTREAM MEDIA - there ought to be LIMITS on the "first amendment/freedom of speech" - YEP. I said that. The first step to that is REMOVING "personhood" from CORPRAT entities so that they are NOT entitled to the First Amendment - then institute media integrity laws (ie: fairness doctrine or similar) that get them back into some semblance of PUBLIC instead of SELF service.

FIX THE CORPRAT OWNED AND CONTROLLED MEDIA - and the problem will be fixed. It's part of the problems with uncontrolled CAPITALISM, IMO.

_ _ _ _

Michael Moore:

"Greed has been with human beings forever. We have a number of things in our species that you would call the dark side, and greed is one of them. If you don't put certain structures in place or restrictions on those parts of our being that come from that dark place, then it gets out of control. Capitalism does the opposite of that. It not only doesn't really put any structure or restriction on it. It encourages it, it rewards it."

[ensho]

3. kick

nt

[Demeter]

4. You Mean Rather That the Violence Will Become More Widespread

beyond women's clinics, gay bars and census workers? Not to mention the regular murder-suicides that so color US lifestyles, and the suicides of those who see no hope?

Any more widespread, and it would be time for revolution, in self-defense!