To be sure, you’ll always find a few malcontents in any crowd. But it’s worth keeping in mind that this isn’t some Tea Party rally. It looked to be made up of donors and more policy-oriented folks. Yet the claim that Obama is a “domestic enemy” was well received, and Cantor’s dismissal of it provoked audible groans from at least a few of the attendees.
By GottaLaff
My segment starts at about the 30 minute mark.
Nicole Sandler is a pleasure to talk to. It's like a couple of pals gabbing our heads off, a sort of stream of consciousness.
Thank you, Nicole, for putting me at ease and making a half hour fly by!
By GottaLaff
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The Web site Talking Points Memo reported Monday that the U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia has filed a two-count complaint and warrant charging Norman Leboon with threatening to kill Rep. Cantor, R-Va., and his family.
According to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office, "in or about late March, 2010, Leboon created and then transmitted a YouTube video to Google over the internet, in which he threatened to kill Congressman Cantor and his family. No harm came to the Congressman or his family as a result of Leboon's threats."
[...] The Congressman was later notified that an arrest was made and a suspect was in custody," said spokesman Brad Dayspring.
In the video, Norman Leboon says Cantor will "receive my bullets in your office, remember they will be placed in your heads. You and your children are Lucifer's abominations." [...]Videos tagged with his name involved everything from the stock market collapse to the kids' movie "Babe," and he seemed to have talked about politics and world leaders including President Obama. He also says in another video where he talks about child molestation, "Leaders you will perish" and " I control your jets your missiles, I control everything."
In yet another video, Leboon seems to threaten Obama.
Apparently, he's no "liberal", just in case that meme makes its way into the media.
Nobody, but nobody, should be receiving death threats. It's wrong. It's scary. And it's getting way out of hand.
This is one thing both parties can, and should, agree on publicly, without then turning around and pointing fingers. It's time to truly change the tone in this country before it's too late.
UPDATE: He's an equal opportunity hater.
H/t: Gr8RDH
By GottaLaff
My pal VNDNBRG had an interesting comment under the Cantor: I Didn't Know Shot Was Random Until After My Presser post.
Cantor is a liar:
It was a nondescript building (no signage at all), bullet through 1st floor window (Cantor used 2nd floor for meetings once in a while), and building was not in his district (Richmond is in Bobby Scott's 3rd district). It was a threat all right!
The round struck with enough force to break the windowpane but did not penetrate the window blinds.” The building, as you can see from this picture, does not show any visible sign that it belongs to Cantor.
(click on image to enlarge)
March 25, 2010
The Richmond Police Department is investigating an act of vandalism at the Reagan Building, 25 E. Main St., Richmond, Virginia.
There is no sign identifying the light-green building as the campaign headquarters for Cantor, although its principal occupants, Ray Allen Jr. and M. Boyd Marcus Jr., are well-known in the political community as advisers to Cantor. It is identified as the Reagan Building.
"Just recently I have been directly threatened. A bullet was shot through the window of my campaign office in Richmond this week, and I have received threatening emails," Cantor said, citing the fact that he is an elected official, and that he is Jewish.
By GottaLaff
Hey Eric. It's always a good idea to get your facts straight before you shoot your mouth off (no pun) to the press, blame Democrats for "dangerously fanning flames" (and boy, are their arms tired; rimshot), and claim a bullet was intended for you.
"Just recently I have been directly threatened. A bullet was shot through the window of my campaign office in Richmond this week, and I have received threatening emails," Cantor said, citing the fact that he is an elected official, and that he is Jewish.(Follow the links above for more details.)
Cantor's spokesman is now claiming in media interviews that Cantor didn't know that the bullet was randomly fired when he revealed the incident on national television Thursday.
The incident occurred at 1 a.m. Tuesday morning -- more than two days before the Cantor press conference. This afternoon, spokesmen for Cantor told CNN and the Plum Line that Cantor did not know when he gave the press conference that the bullet was randomly fired.
The news of the "shooting" was apparently first reported in a Fox "exclusive." Within an hour of the press conference, Fox was framing the incident this way on TV: "Gunman Shoots Up Office Of Number Two Republican."
Things looked even worse for Cantor when the Richmond Police Department today began explicitly describing the incident as "random gunfire". But now, Cantor's office is claiming in media interviews that Cantor didn't know that the bullet was randomly fired when he held the dramatic press conference.
By GottaLaff
A bullet was shot through his own campaign office this week, but he won't release details, because that encourages threats. They should be treated as security issues dealt by law enforcement.
The Richmond Police Department released this statement Thursday:So it was a building where Cantor had an office, but the bullet did not enter the office.
March 25, 2010
The Richmond Police Department is investigating an act of vandalism at the Reagan Building, 25 E. Main St., Richmond, Virginia. [...]
A first floor window was struck by a bullet [...] The building, which has several tenants including an office used by Congressman Eric Cantor, was unoccupied at the time. [...]
A preliminary investigation shows that a bullet was fired into the air and struck the window in a downward direction, landing on the floor about a foot from the window. The round struck with enough force to break the windowpane but did not penetrate the window blinds. There was no other damage to the room [...]
The gun was fired into the air. Apparently, it was not intended to hit Cantor's office in particular.
We need gun control, but okay that'sanothersubjectforantoherday.
Shooting in the air is dangerous, and this shouldn't have happened. But, Cantor doesn't appear to have been the target.
If you'll excuse the metaphor, Cantor's story was shot full of holes.
By GottaLaff
The whole world saw what happened Saturday [slurs being shouted to Congress members], and on CSPAN, they saw members of the chamber rise to their feet and cheer those who were disrupting the proceedings in the House of Representatives. And they saw members leaning out the window at the balcony, which I think is illegal. None of those people were Democrats.And that's the way it is.
Repkublican leaders should join Democratic leaders to do things not superficially, but get serious about tamping this stuff down.
Re: The You Lie incident: I said back then it would grow into something more serious, and it looks like it has.
Fire burning on Fire Pelosi site: If you play with fire you're bound to get burned. If they don't tamp this down, they will feel the heat for it.
Re: Cantor saying it was reckless to use incidents for political gain, accusing Van Hollen and DNC chair Tim Kaine of fanning the flames:
Democrats haven't overplayed this at all. It was his member who yelled Baby killer to Stupak, who next day sent out a fundraising letter using that. Fundraising was done using the You Lie incident. I challenge him to show me a Democrat doing the same thing.
We have learned the message of history, and have done what we can to maintain a civil discussion, make our children proud. That's how Democrats conduct themselves.
All this is poppycock compared to what we faced in the sixties, so none of this is a concern to me at all.
By GottaLaff
Eric Cantor swearstogod he doesn't condone violence. But he gets threats because he's Jewish. So any suggestion that any leader is inciting threats is "akin to saying" he'd incite threats to his own family.
A bullet was shot through his own campaign office this week, but he won't release details, because that encourages threats. They should be treated as security issues dealt by law enforcement.
[Laffy Note: Did he file a police report?]
They shouldn't be used for political gain. He has deep concerns that van Hollen and Kaine are fanning the flames, because they use these incidents as a political weapon.
Using threats that way is reprehensible.
Letters and press releases won't stop violence, but they can easily fan the flames.
Enough is enough, it has to stop. We need to move forward.
By GottaLaff
Today's Meet the Press:
"The reality is Republicans do care about health care," Cantor replied. "We want to address the first and most foundational element which is cost. Because if we can bring down cost, more people can access care. But we also know that there is something we can do to get people more uninsured."
By GottaLaff
President Obama just now, to Eric Cantor at the health care summit:
When you do props like this, stack papers up, 2400 pages... Health care is complicated... would generate a bunch of pages. These are the political things we do that prevent us from having a conversation.
By GottaLaff
Dear GOP,
And that's the way it is. I hope.White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs just responded to a letter sent today from House Republican Leader John Boehner and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor regarding the proposed bipartisan health care summit:
The President is adamant that we seize this historic moment to pass meaningful health insurance reform legislation. He began this process by inviting Republican and Democratic leaders to the White House on March 5 of last year, and he’s continued to work with both parties in crafting the best possible bill. He’s been very clear about his support for the House and Senate bills because of what they achieve for the American people: putting a stop to insurance company abuses, extending coverage to millions of hardworking Americans, getting control of rising premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and reducing the deficit.
The President looks forward to reviewing Republican proposals that meet the goals he laid out at the beginning of this process, and as recently as the State of the Union Address. He’s open to including any good ideas that stand up to objective scrutiny. What he will not do, however, is walk away from reform and the millions of American families and small business counting on it. The recent news that a major insurer plans to raise premiums for some customers by as much as 39 percent is a stark reminder of the consequences of doing nothing.
Greg once again snags the nut graphs-
No it couldn't Greg, but there are apparently some synapses that fail to fire when you enter the rarefied air in D.C. because this olive branch should have never been offered, no matter how kick ass you think your argument is. Too many opportunities for this to blow up in our faces.Eric Cantor’s office responds to Obama’s announcement of a bipartisan summit on health care with the most explicit and direct assertion I’ve seen yet that the only way Dems can win bipartisan cooperation is to fully embrace the GOP health care plan and nothing more:
After going it alone on health care reform for nearly a year, President Obama has decided he wants to bring Republicans into the conversation. Here’s the problem: unless the President and Speaker Pelosi are willing to scrap their government take over and hit the reset button, there’s not much to talk about.
Republicans believe the status quo is unacceptable, but so is any health reform package that spends money we don’t have or raises taxes on small businesses and working families in a recession. To that point, House Republicans have offered the only plan , that will lower health care costs, which is what the President said was the goal at the start of this debate.
I’m not sure if it could be made any more explicit than that.
By GottaLaff
President Obama will address the House Republican Conference later this month during their retreat in Baltimore, being held Jan. 28th to 30th.Obama was invited by the elected GOP Leadership to speak a few weeks ago and will take them up on their offer.
Mike Pence said a few nice words about being grateful, blahblahblah, presenting GOP proposals, blahblah...
But House Minority Whip Eric Cantor said this:Eric is so wise. He's should be Obama's go-to guy for bipartisanship and common-sense solutions. Please do go on, Mr. Can't We All Just Get Along:“Though it’s welcome news that President Obama will speak with House Republicans later this month, it is important to point out that true bipartisanship requires working together on common-sense solutions and a mainstream agenda to help Americans facing difficult challenges.
It is important to ask whether the President plans to meet WITH Republicans, or speak TO them.Is that anything like laughing WITH someone and not AT them? Or does Eric just like to condescend TO the president OF the United States.
In 2009, on the rare occasion when we were invited to the White House, the President paid Republican proposals lip service while the cameras were on, only to completely rebuff those ideas afterward.If that is true-- and that's a big IF-- that's a whole lot more than the Rushpublics ever did for the president.
The problems faced by our country have grown too large for the President to respond to Republican and Independent views and solutions with indifference, like in 2009. I hope this is a sign that a new year will bring change.”Tell ya what, Eric: You stop obstructing, Obama will stop indifferenting... if indeed, he ever did do that.
I think pissant Cantor is just ticked off that only 10 protesters showed up from his beloved teabaggers, and 10 drunk rednecks don't make that much noise.
By GottaLaff
I'm a day late on this, but I see that as a positive. Giving a story like this another day, giving more readers a chance to see what a heartless, miserable wretch of a being Eric Cantor is works for me:
I give you the newest, shiniest, brightest "rising star" of the Rushpublic party:
See how he wants to help? What compassionate little frat boy Eric Ivan is. I wonder if he tortures cats, too.Patricia Churchill relayed a story about a close family member who recently lost a high paying job and her health insurance. Churchill told Cantor that her relative was dying of stomach tumors and needs an operation as soon as possible. Cantor responded by suggesting that Churchill’s relative should seek “existing government programs” or find charity.
Cantor, who serves as the chief whip for his party, has said that he cannot support a health reform bill with a public option. But despite his political opposition to government insurance programs, Cantor then emphasized to Churchill that every American should be given an “option” for health care, including a government program. [...]
[Yesterday] Cantor called for “scrapping” President Obama’s proposed public option insurance program.
By GottaLaff
Last week, Politico reported that House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) were worried about “the possible damage inflicted on the party’s reputation by bomb-throwing Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.).” [...] However, conservative blogger Andy Aplikowski received a letter from Boehner and Cantor in which they denied the Politico report, asserting their full support for Bachmann.Here's the letter:
Who needs comedy writers when you have the team of Cantor and Boehner?Dear Andy,
We wanted to respond to your letter to us last week and to assure you that regardless of what inside-the-beltway media writes or what unnamed “sources” it quotes, we are proud to serve with Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.
She has been a consistent and strong voice for the American taxpayer in Washington from the day she took office. And, despite the taunts and insults that the media elites and liberals hurl at her, she never wavers in her commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Republicans in Congress – buoyed by the American people who have risen up against the Democrat tide in Washington – are fighting against bad policies. Their health care prescription is bad policy. Their cap and trade national energy tax is bad policy. Their tax-and-spend agenda is bad policy. We’re strong in our opposition and vibrant in the alternatives we offer.
Republicans have real solutions. And, that includes Congresswoman Bachmann, who has introduced positive solutions for health care reform, budget reform, energy independence, and more. We’re the Party of real hope and change.
When the other side can’t come up with arguments to defend their policies, they turn to personal attacks against their detractors. Congresswoman Bachmann stands shoulder to shoulder with her constituents and that really seems to irk some on the left. We fully expect that despite the best attempts of the media and the liberals, Michelle will continue to be a strong voice for freedom, smaller government, and better solutions.
Sincerely,
John Boehner
Eric Cantor
Republican Leader
The Minnesota Independent reports that Boehner had briefly posted the Bachmann letter on his website, but it now appears to be gone.See? Hilarious!
By GottaLaff
Cantor criticizes focus on health care
After a GOP caucus meeting today, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor argued that health-care reform was increasingly becoming a roadblock to Congress being able to address other important issues facing the country.Cantor said, "Health care in this building has made it so that it seems we can't get anything else done. We have burning issues out there in this country. [...]
He continued, "We have serious challenges as far as Afghanistan is concerned, that's being clouded by the rigidity by which this majority hangs on to H.R. 3200 [the House health-care legislation] and the imposition of a public option."
So basically he appears to be saying that if he agreed with the Democrats, it would be okay to deal with vital issues like health care that affect nearly everything else on the agenda.
But instead, he's stomping his foot and tantruming because the public option is BAD, and health care reform is HARD, and he's in the MINORITY party, and he wants to talk about OTHER STUFF!
Except when he doesn't.
Cantor Agrees to Meet With Hoyer on Health CareSee, Eric, the quickest, most effective route to resolving an issue is dealing with it, whether it's time-consuming or not, whether you agree with the components or not, or whether you like the outcome or not.
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) on Wednesday accepted House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s (D-Md.) offer to meet and discuss areas of bipartisan agreement on health care reform.
By GottaLaff
* An ominous analysis for Dems from Charlie Cook, who says that blue state members of the House have no idea how bad the party’s problems really are.
* Eric Cantor, apparently, agrees: He told Chris Good that if the midterms were held today, the GOP would take back the House.
Cook focuses on the color purple:
As for Cantor, I'm in no mood to entertain anything that he may or may not be thinking.What we are seeing is an electorate growing just as disgusted with the Democratic majority as it did with the Republican one in 2006. The mounting ethics problems of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., combined with ongoing allegations about House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Murtha, D-Pa., and others on his panel threaten to make matters still worse for their party.
Sure, November 2010 is a long way off, and the economy may well be substantially better by then. But Democratic lawmakers, who must face the voters two years before Obama does, should remember that the public's attitudes tend to eventually harden. Think cement.
By GottaLaff
Congressman Jerrold Nadler, D-NY, the chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, denounced a Republican amendment adopted by the House of Representatives Thursday to deny all federal funds to the advocacy group the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) as blatantly unconstitutional and a threat to unpopular organizations everywhere. [...]Nadler said the Republican initiative, the Defund ACORN Act, backed by GOP House leader John Boehner, singles out a specific organization by name for exclusion from participating in any federal program, in direct violation of the Constitution’s prohibition against Bills of Attainder.
“Today’s Republican amendment is in blatant violation of the Constitution’s prohibition against Bills of Attainder,” Nadler said. “Congress must not be in the business of punishing individual organizations or people without trial, and that’s what this amendment does. Whatever one may think of an organization, the Constitution’s clear ban on Bills of Attainder is there for the protection of all of our liberties.” [...]
But Republicans vowed to take their crusade against the organization even further with Rep. Eric Cantor, the No. 2 House Republican, calling for a Justice Department probe.
ACORN has violated serious federal laws, and today the House voted to ensure that taxpayer dollars would no longer be used to fund this corrupt organization. All federal ties should be severed with ACORN, and the FBI should investigate its activity. This united Republican effort to defund ACORN is a victory for the rule of law and taxpayers across the country.
I'll late Jason take it from here.
Imagine that, our liberties aren't being protected, and the Rushpublic smell blood and want to further un-protect them. Who'da thunk it?
By GottaLaff
The Rushpublic loons continue to do nothing to stem the epidemic of hatred:
If Eric Cantor had one ounce of class, he would have encouraged some semblance of civility while he had a mic in his grubby little hands. He is as guilty as the Mouthers, including Joe the original Mouther himself, for not making some minimal attempt to contain an unruly crowd.
We're right back to the town hall mob mentality. And you know why? Because the Rushpublics know that when Obama gets some version of health care reform passed, they will have lost. And with that loss go a whole lot of Big Insurance/Big Pharma big donations.
Despite the major problems I have with what may end up in the final legislation, I will still appreciate the enormous accomplishment of passing a bill at all, especially in this poisonous, sick atmosphere. The Mouthers have reduced whatever shreds of dignity and credibility they had to nothing. They're self-destructing.
No wonder these deranged, self-serving cretins are worried. They know they've already lost.
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