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Georgia Congressman Paul Broun (R) has confirmed that he received this question at a town hall on Tuesday: "Who's going to shoot Obama?"
According to the Athens Banner-Herald, which first reported the news, Broun responded to the question this way: "The thing is, I know there’s a lot of frustration with this president. We’re going to have an election next year. Hopefully, we’ll elect somebody that’s going to be a conservative, limited-government president that will take a smaller, who will sign a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare."
Broun's spokeswoman told the Georgia newspaper: “Obviously, the question was inappropriate, so Congressman Broun moved on.”
Now, after the outburst gained national attention, Broun has issued a statement condemning any suggestion or threat of violence aimed at the president or any other elected official.
Tuesday night at a town hall meeting in Oglethorpe County, Georgia an elderly man asked the abhorrent question, “Who’s going to shoot Obama?” I was stunned by the question and chose not to dignify it with a response; therefore, at that moment I moved on to the next person with a question. After the event, my office took action with the appropriate authorities. I deeply regret that this incident happened at all. Furthermore, I condemn all statements—made in sincerity or jest—that threaten or suggest the use of violence against the President of the United States or any other public official. Such rhetoric cannot and will not be tolerated.
*** UPDATE *** TPM is reporting that, per witnesses, Broun "laughed when an elderly man at his town hall meeting this week asked 'Who's gonna shoot Obama?'"
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Just one more sign that the United States is getting closer to the brink of civil war. Call me an alarmist, but you just never used to hear someone allude to assassinating the president out in the open, knowing that Secret Service agents will be coming for him.
Teapublicans would LOVE for someone to shoot the president! Seriously lets call it like it is. If you talk to one in private they will tell you so. And so why not just come out and say it? There one new report away from actually saying" We are taking the government over by force". Lets not fool ourself's , its class warfare and its ON! The Very rich against everyone else. And how some of these billionair wanna be's let themself's get get brain washed into thinking that there gonna some how get rich my osmossis is behond me.
Those of you who are going back and forth concerning whether or not bad things were said about Bush and Obama are missing the point. First off, it's a federal offense to advocate the assassination of a President. Second, all this contempt and disrespect for our elected leaders gets us nowhere. Do we need anymore shootings like the one in Arizona to teach us that? We have serious problems in this country, and only a concerted effort by EVERYONE will get them solved. All this hate mongering by people like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and the talking heads at MS-NBC is a waste of our time, and beneath us as Americans. As a great man once said "We can disagree without being disagreeable". Until we all learn this, I fear for our country.
well who cares.. you fools keep voting these clowns in office ..lol shows how smart you are...idiots...
DOnt want to offend the racists who think terrorism/assassination is a legitimate political tool, good job congressman at sticking up for the crazies that is your voting base. You get a gold star.
My heart is sick over the way our political discourse is turning us (the people) against each other. Whatever happened to civility? This name-calling and "I'm right and you're wrong" diatribes do nothing to help us solve the many issues facing our cities, counties, country and world. We seem more intersted in destroying than in creating. Please, folks, try taking a breath and thinking about what you're saying, and how it will be felt by those it is directed at, before you spew more hatred and disrespect at each other. My God, our founding fathers would be appalled at how we're treating each other. Can we ever justify talk of killing someone because we don't agree with their philosophy? Even by saying "well, you (or your party) said it first"? Whatever happened to love for our fellow man?
hopefully the secret service will be paying this person a visit real soon.
Truly sad situation, but not surprising. Just look at what is happening around the country in the less than 2 months since this new crop of repubs took office. There is an all out assault on the middle class and women. All the ridiculous spending during the Bush administration....huge surplus to huge deficit, 2 unfunded wars, huge tax break and not one word from the "conservatives". Now, however, the entire problem has been blamed on unions...you know, those wealthy teachers, firefighters, police, and the democrats. Not one word against those who truly caused this problem: banks, Wall Street, businesses outsourcing, huge corporate agendas, etc. This is what you voted for America....let me know how that's working for ya in a few years.
The modern day conservative or Tea Party is nothing more than the Confederacy. And they only have power because Democrats dont vote. So you can also blame the dems who are to lazy to register or vote
Barry Odchebagabama brings this kind of talk to himself-
He's the one who said- "If they bring a knife to a fight, we'll bring a gun"
And his political organization is directly involved with the brouhaha going on this week in Wisconsin.
All evidence of his community organizer mindset.
You reap what you sow-
Sort of like Bush saying "Bring it on". Spare me your ridiculous musings.
What's going on in Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois and NJ has nothing to do with Obama....it is ppl standing up for themselves to protect their families. The GOP/TP has decided to blame the middle class for all the ills in America and these ppl are not going to let it happen without a fight. My cousin is a teacher in Ohio and she is standing out there in the cold and snow with other ppl JUST LIKE YOU trying to make sure she has the right to decent wages and working conditions. All of ya'll trashing the unions need to think what work would be like if it weren't for the progress made ONLY because the unions fought for the common man. Even if you aren't union, you benefit from rights gained by the unions. Ya know, you can only push ppl so far before they break, and I think a large segment of America has had it with the bs from the "take our country back" crowd. I still want to know take it back from whom? At least Obama won the election.
If your not with us your against us, right?
I am a conservative Republican, but this question and the response (particularly if he laughed ... lets hope it was nervous laughter) were over the top BAD.
one thing is for sure there will be no civil war because we all know who will lose that ...the ppl in charge..this is not 150 years ago..the cops will not be able to save you or our military. only the strong survive...we know who's scared of who in this nation? They don't want it, without the cops and military TO PROTECT THEIR WEAK @ss es
One crazy old man asks a crazy question, and everyone goes nuts. Obviously the man wanted attention, and he probably got it.
It's not about the question asked , it's about the impotent response from Broun.
DEATH THREATS AGAINST BUSH IGNORED FOR YEARS.
www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=621
I couldn't stand W., but I never suggested that someone should shoot him. As far as I'm concerned, this guy should have been locked up just like the Saudi student that was going to bomb Bush. Why is it okay for the elderly to advocate murder? Of course, the biggest question is, "Why is it okay for an elected official to laugh at such a statement?". Evidently it's okay to kill Democratic presidents, just not Republican ones. It really makes me sick to think that people like that are out running around.
It figures that a republican congressman would get a question like that at a rightwing town hall meeting. Whats new, they would like nothing better. These people and the rightwing spin machine have blamed every problem this country has had since 1776 on this president. should have guessed when a person of color was elected that 25% of the country would bust a banjo string, and be easily manipulated by the right.
bbird you are a fool...so every time a country has an issue we suppose to rush in right?..wrong..did we go rush into Egypt? Tunisia?..no so there was no need ...only to get the AMERICAN OFFICIALS OUT.. thats it you clowns want war so bad go start one yourself...
Paul Broun, only denounced it when the rest of America found out about. He did not say anything because like the senile old goat that asked that question, he wishes death upon the President. The FBI,State Department, should look into this man and arrest him for even making that question. This question is beyond free speech it incites violence against the President an the Country , as a whole. These Tea Bagger's are down right dangerous an evil.
The "old man" was most likely a dem socialist plant. You just have to ignore them and move on. This is the most polarizing prez since Abe lincoln and this sort of 'stuff' is the product of the division that begin during the racist campaign of the dem socialist party.
Respect the Congressman for condemning it? Respect him my arse! He only condemned it after it was reported. Now we understand that he laughed (or chuckeld) when the question was first asked. Then we give him and these morons a pass. Let's wait for the cell phone video to see what actually happened. I'm sure that will be even more telling. The bottom line is that these Tea Party lummoxes and their feeble-minded, gun-toting red neck ilk are being cajoled, cuddled and encouraged by tolerant Rethugs who don't have the cojones to say enough is enough! Just once I want to see an elected Republican tell one of these a$$holes in the firmest of voices to their faces that that type of crap is unacceptable and have them escorted out of a meeting. This is not some f**king laughing matter! We don't need weak-kneed politicians encouraging, tolerating or turning a deaf ear to violence against anyone, let alone elected officials. This is not freakin' Libya or some goddamn third world banana republic! This is the United States of America.
amen!
I guess fox news will defend this poor excuss of a person, I've often wonder how someone could get elected and only be interviewed by fox news, can't my representive answer my question?
Not only Fox News, but Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanon will say some BS like its bad to say things like that, and wait for the BUT! and then stupidity statement (they did the same thing to Bush story!)
Taliban Emulating A$$holes Party: Bringing violent hate to America since 2009.
Are all ten of you inside Richard Gere?
denverrocks i am absolutely sure you have nothing to worry about the president being harmed...AMERICA will never let that happen. They know the consequences. they also know if they wanna keep their little nice house's and neighborhoods they live in, they will never suggest that THIS MAN be shot, because unlike Reagan and Kennedy you will have an uprising worst than Libya, Egypt and Tunisia combined. trust me...
Feisty,
Way to play the race card. It's always a libs trump card when they can't use reason and facts.
Every damn politican is ruining this country period.I don't give a rat's butt who is what party,they ALL are cancer.Gid rid of them all. From Democrats down to what ever a tea party is. Do away with all of them and just pick the right guy that can do the freaking job without all the stupid titles are. I'm sick and tired of some freaking millionares telling me how to live my life. Not a damn one has walked in my shoes and never will. I hope Dec. 21, 2012 really happens and we can start the freak over.