Absolutely Outrageous Response from US Rep. Peter King

[Mrs. Overall]

Some of us have been engaged in mailing the office of US Rep. Peter King (New York, Republican) because of an email he sent to a DU member.
When I first wrote to complain to him about his judgmental tone to the DU member (I believe he told this person that he was morally wrong for criticizing Bush) King sent back this reply:

Many thanks for your e-mail. It reaffirms my belief that I am right.

I then wrote to him to tell him that this was the most unprofessional response I had ever received from someone holding a political office. Today he sent this response:

Many thanks for taking the time to spread my message. You are doing God's work.

I think his responses to criticism are outrageous! I don't want him to get the last word, but I'm not sure how to respond or if I should respond.

[Randomthought]

1. A$$

Well you could email him and tell him some right wing christian nutcase has stolen his identity and hijacked his email.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. Peter King is a RACSIST, BIGOT, XENOPHOBE, BUSHLER APOLOGIST....

....and a Democracy HATER!!!

[PSU84]

3. Tell him that

he inspsired you to give $100 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Then actually do it.

www.dccc.org

[skooooo]

12. I like this idea!!

It will really piss him off, and actually do some good (hopefully).

[Michael Costello]

4. King is an idiot on most things...

...but he has that odd habit of Roman Catholic Americans of Irish heritage to push the correct foreign policy in Ireland. A decade ago people were killing each other, he (and others) pushed for Gerry Adams to get a visa to the US (over British objections) and, wa-la, a few months later there was a ceasefire. Most people in the State Department would rather there be continual blood in the six counties than strain relations with England, but a little push from the US helped fix things.

But aside from that he is usually an idiot.

[Career Prole]

5. "Thank you for acknowledging my time spent doing God's work...

...it's a burden a liberal must bear, but what in the name of all that's holy does that have to do with your message?"

[MissB]

8. Most perfect answer! (nt)

[Career Prole]

18. Why, thank you Missb! :) n/t

[Jacobin]

6. Maybe make a contribution to his opponent in the next election

Arguing with this pontificating gasbags is a waste of time

[spanone]

7. Their pompous arrogance will be their downfall. Karma.

[blm]

9. All of these email exchanges should be sent to newspapers.

Or try Keith Olbermann and Jon Stewart.

[Vickers]

10. What's his email addy?

He sounds like fun.

:evilgrin:

[Mrs. Overall]

13. Here it is--

[e-mail]

Have fun!!

[mmonk]

11. Tell him

thank you for recognizing God's work.

[Blue_Roses]

14. I saw him on Hardball last week talking

about Richard Clarke's testimony. What a slob. How did he ever get that job? He looks like Larry on "leave it to beaver." He seems to whine alot if things don't go the way he thinks they should. I just got an overall bad impression of him.

[LeftwingPitbull]

15. Ask him..

Many on the far right want to nuke Falluga now, do you support them?

[eleny]

16. Something about his inability to engage in discourse

...is evidence of his inability to serve in Congress.

[johnlr6]

21. Challenge him to a fist fight.

Hell, that's what Al Franken would do.

[Arugula Latte]

17. I got a response from this Asshole, too!

He said something to the effect of, "What I like about the Internet is that it spreads my words of wisdom far and wide."

I replied, saying that I found it pathetic he considered his own rightwing claptrap to be words of wisdom and that I was making a donation to a Democrat because I'd been subjected to him.

Let's make it a DU-wide goal to see this guy go down in flames in November!

[BurtWorm]

19. Might be interesting

to keep writing and collect his responses to demonstrate that this is how he chooses to spend his time as a Congressman.

(Personally I don't think it's really worth anyone's time to engage in this kind of correspndence. When I was young and impetuous, I wrote a nasty letter to Phil Crane of Illinois for being rude to Ed Markey on the Donahue show. Crane sent me back a form letter on why killing commies in Nicaragua was a good thing, which I sent back with a note scrawled on it: I'm not interested in your form letter. He wrote back testily complaining that he did not send me a form letter and basically tough shit if I didn't like his opinion. I ripped that one up and sent it back to him, and never heard from him again.)

[camero]

20. Write him another one

Tell him his God is Baal'.

[maggrwaggr]

22. contact all your local newspapers. Send them copies

This man needs to be put to public ridicule

[Guaranteed]

23. He's just playing with you guys.

Go off on him. Call him names and stuff. See how he reacts to that.

[Lexingtonian]

24. hey, you can always start www.peterkingsucks.org

Call the 'The Peter King Fan Site' and start documenting all his variously bigoted replies (and, non-replies). If not a little more about him. He supposedly wants to run for Governor in two years, btw.

[Selwynn]

25. You shouldn't respond - you are arguing with invisible ignorance

It's hard when you know you are right, to know when you shouldn't stoop yourself to someone else's unfair playing field. But this is one of those times when you are arguing against invincible ignorance, and there's really no way to "win."

The more riled up you get, the happier your make the guy. I can absolutely promise you with 100% certainty, that if you can just find a way to let this go and not eat at you, ultimately you WILL feel like the victor, because in doing so you pretty much rob him of all power in the situation, you refuse to fall prey to his obvious baiting, you refuse to give him what he wants. What's more YOU take CONTROL of the issue. Every time you email back to him ask yourself - what am I trying to accomplish? What would be a "win" for me here? Then think honestly about whether or not that's even a real possibility.

For example, you know right now this guy is never - EVER - going to write back and say, "thank you for pointing out how wrong I have been in my thinking all these years. I want you to know you've convinced me to change my ways and turn over a new leaf - I owe it all to you." He is never even going to give a simple "I was wrong." When you take control and look at the situation and realize that nothing good comes out of continuing to engage this guy, you start to take the power back.

My advice: don't even respond. Not a "closure" kind of response, not any attempt to have the last word. Just simply acknowledge with your mind that this person is clearly not worth an inkling of your time, put it behind you, and enjoy the new sense of happiness that comes from feeling in control - you don't let morons dictate the terms of debate to you. If they are closed minded idiots who are not even willing to have a dialog, then they are not worth your breath. And by giving them the time of day, you pretty much get drug down to their level.

Just completely walk away. That's what I would suggest.

Please note: I have a hard time taking my own advice. But I'm getting better, and its very satisfying.

[Selwynn]

26. But if you DO choose to respond, might I suggest...

...a completely different approach.

Why not email him back and say how shocked and appalled you are that those empowered to represent the people have such a closed-minded contempt for honest discussion of the issues.

Say, you clearly have a different point of view than I do. Children make glib statements of the "nah nah I'm right and you're wrong" variety. However, Statesmen are not afraid to engage in a free exchange of ideas. Say, I am not threatened or uncomfortable with the fact that you disagree with me, and you shouldn't be threatened either - there is no reason why we shouldn't have a thorough reasonable and intelligence discussion of our differences, even attempt to persuade each other and rationally argue the points. One of the fundamental principles of democracy, yea, one of the most critical foundations of representative government is the idea of honest, civilized discussion, especially from representatives to the people.

Rather than saying "I'm right and you're wrong" like a parrot or an child ill-equipped for sophisticated discussion, why not be willing to listen to honest reasoning and give honest reasons for your own opinion in return. Why not demonstrate that you value open discussion and free exchange of ideas with the people. Why not put the qualities of integritous representation into practice. It's OK that we disagree. It's not okay when opportunities for intelligent debate about the many problems facing our nation get squandered. It's not the mark of statesmanship. It's not reflective of quality leadership. It's not indicative of someone secure in his own beliefs. It's not characteristic of the great and noble legacy of the fathers of this nation, people who took thorough and thoughtful debate of issues very seriously.

When you respond to citizens with glib, condescending, smug, terse remarks with no support and no actual evidence for your point of view, you contribute nothing of value to society, and you squander your service as a Representative of the people. And that's what you are: a representative of ME. I may not be from your district, or your state, but I am part of the "we the people of the United States" and as such, you are my public servant, my representative, charged with the task of hearing voices just like mind and discussing the issues thoughtfully wherever you can.

Why are you unwilling to do this, and yet you are willing to send snide condescending emails back to your fellow Americans who you just so happen to disagree with? Why not live up to the legacy of great statesman in this country by treating all people - not just the people you agree with - with the respect they deserve, and the integrity and civility that should be a hallmark of all public service?


That's what I would say..

[foreigncorrespondent]

27. Write back to him with this...

FINALLY!! Someone with in the republican party admits, Bush* isn't doing God's work.

And leave it with that.

[cboy4]

28. You need to have a news reporter look into this....

There needs to be confirmation that King
is actually writing or approving these
responses.

If it is true, they are some of the most
juvenile, irresponsible and sarcastic comments I've
ever heard from a U.S. representative.

[KharmaTrain]

29. What Kind Of Response Were You Expecting?

All I've seen from these responses is someone playing with what I'm sure he considers a pile of unsolicited, partisan hate mail. Bets are if he reads any of what you're sending him, it's briefly and for a good laugh. I doubt he takes anything that seriously...and his response reflect that.

Are you thinking he's going to agree with you or appologize? C'mon now. Think he's gonna engage in some long discussion on substantial issues...especially from someone whose not even from his district. How would you react?

King is a boorish snob, and isn't worth the time nor electrons. Wanna hurt him? Find out who his opponent is...let us know who that person is and where to volunteer or send donations. Let his fight be one we support on the streets of Long Island where he has to sing for his supper...not on a message board...especially a highly partisan one.