Steny Hoyer condemsn racist and homophobic attack by Teabagger protesters

[kpete]

Steny Hoyer condemsn racist and homophobic attack by Teabagger protesters
by John Aravosis (DC) on 3/21/2010 10:01:00 AM
Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is the number two Democrat in the House:

Hoyer Condemns Inflammatory Behavior at Health Reform Protest

Washington, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement tonight after learning that Members of Congress were subjected to racist and inflammatory behavior at today's health reform protest:

"Today's protests against health insurance reform saw a rash of despicable, inflammatory behavior, much of it directed at minority Members of Congress. According to reports, anti-reform protestors spat on Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver, yelled a sexual slur at Rep. Barney Frank, and addressed my dear friend, Rep. John Lewis, with a racial slur that he has sadly heard far too many times. On the one hand, I am saddened that America's debate on health care--which could have been a national conversation of substance and respect--has degenerated to the point of such anger and incivility. But on the other, I know that every step toward a more just America has aroused similar hate in its own time; and I know that John Lewis, a hero of the civil rights movement, has learned to wear the worst slurs as a badge of honor.

"America always has room for open and spirited debate, and the hateful actions of some should not cast doubt on the good motives of the majority, on both sides of this argument. But Members of Congress and opinion leaders ought to come to terms with their responsibility for inciting the tone and actions we saw today. A debate that began with false fears of forced euthanasia has ended in a truly ugly scene. It is incumbent on all of us to do better next time."

http://www.americablog.com/2010/03/steny-hoyer-condemsn-racist-and.html

[democracy1st]

1. K & R

[Spazito]

2. Good statement by Mr. Hoyer!

"But Members of Congress and opinion leaders ought to come to terms with their responsibility for inciting the tone and actions we saw today."

Yep, but they won't, sadly.

[mfcorey1]

3. Amen

[spanone]

4. this separates the democrats from the reTHUGS. republicans embrace racism...obviously

silence speaks volumes

[LiberalLoner]

6. And the rest of the nation surely sees this very clearly. Of course,

there are enough racist and hateful people that they will hang on to some power for another decade or two. But I think they will be nothing but a small fringe movement after that.

People are going to flame me for this, but my observation is that the largest majority of these teabaggers are 65 and older. NO, not all older people are racist and teabaggers - witness the wonderful older people that are here on DU for instance for examples of non-teabagger older people - but it seems to me like the majority of the teabaggers are advanced in years.

What that means is that as that group dies off, the people remaining will probably shuffle back to their white supremicist and KKK type groups and militia groups ala Timothy McVeigh. Yes, there will always be those people, but those people generally do not have a seat at the governing table. Right now, because of the number of teabaggers, they do have a big seat at the governing table. For the next 10 to 20 years anyway.

And the rest of us recoil in horror at how they conduct themselves and what they stand for. And the younger generations watching this as they grow up will not want to be identified with this group, for the most part.

[malaise]

5. Yes indeed

Members of Congress and opinion leaders ought to come to terms with their responsibility for inciting the tone and actions we saw today.

Rec

[lunatica]

7. Good! Put the blame where it belongs

And do it loudly

"But Members of Congress and opinion leaders ought to come to terms with their responsibility for inciting the tone and actions we saw today."

Let's see them try not to respond to this.

[47of74]

8. Own it, Republicans

[ljm2002]

9. That last sentence...

..."A debate that began with false fears of forced euthanasia has ended in a truly ugly scene.".

That just sums up the whole so-called "health care debate", right there.

Tragic -- we could have used the last year discussing issues, and agreeing on the goals and arguing how to get there. We could have had newscasters who were paying attention to the bill while it was being drafted, and bringing real issues to the attention of the American public.

Instead we got discussions of the phony issue of "death panels", taunting of representatives at town halls, lies and omissions in the press, and one ugly scene after another, culminating in a couple of doozies in the last few days: the verbal abuse of a man with Parkinson's by Tea party members in Ohio (? - I think that's where it was), and then members of Congress being spat upon, and having racist and homophobic slurs thrown at them.