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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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Old, white racists are no surprise. This isn't news. What would be news is a old, white, redneck southerner standing up in that state and shouting, Praise Obama!
Send me your comments that you made when they said the same thing about Bush. You folks are always about race-baiting.
never realized Bush was a member of an oppressed minority.
"Such rhetoric cannot and will not be tolerated," Broun said in a statement.
Of course Broun's statement was made after the fact and only after the incident was reported in the media three days later! He might have shown some real character by calling out this constituent on the spot and telling him that his statement was not just inappropriate but that in our democracy advocating the murder (yes, to be blunt) of the president is a bit more than just treason. What a disgrace for a 'law maker' and public servant!
Broun's omission at the time comes as no surprise in today's political environment----as unbelievable as it is in reality. Still, I'm utterly shocked!
Give me a break........... the lefties even made a movie about killing GWB. There were all kinds of ugly comments made about him. I didn't hear any lefties squawking about that.
Some old guy makes a tacky comment & Broun moves on, knowing someone is just popping off.
SO WHAT?
I don't remember anything about killing him and Darth but we sure did not like what they did to the country. The ugly comments were earned and the country is still paying the debt for their greed and incompetence.
The movie was made in Britain. It was denounced as innappropriate by the left and right in this country. The left didn't wait to do so, they did it immediately.
Agreed, Domaar. The reports are that Broun chuckled along with the audience when the question was asked. One of McCain's finest moments during his presidential campaign was when one woman told him she didn't trust Obama because "he's an Arab". McCain politely but firmly corrected her on the spot. Broun didn't respond directly, not because he wants to see Obama assassinated but more likely because he shares the violence-friendly attitude of the man who asked the question and the rest of his own supporters.
A lot of posters have said that Bush was regularly bad mouthed too. But to raise that point now is a logical fallacy called "tu quoque." In other words, "you too." But whatever anger was directed against Bush has nothing to do with this incident. The atmosphere is a lot more bitter now than it was then.
And, in any case, although both Bush and Obama have been subjects of angry attacks, there are far more of them now, coming from the right. And they're more vicious. Bush was never shown in posters dressed in an African with doctor's costume with a bone through his nose, nor was Laura Bush ever attacked with such hatred as Michelle Obama.
Given today's atmosphere, I suspect Obama has about a 66% chance of making it through his four years without being shot. If it happens, those who are provoking or not condemning it today, like Broun, will issue ritual statement about "the human tragedy" and all the rest of it, without taking any of the responsibility they call for in the actions of others.
Robert,
I think this time, (god forbid that it would ever happen), many in our country will go into complete rebellion against the dogs who encouraged such an atrocity. I am so fed up with the lack of moral character that prevails in some segments of the population.
The anger directed at Bush was rightly deserved. He dithered while 3000 Americans died on 9/11, got 4000 more killed in Iraq, He let the "BANKSTERS" ruin the economy, and stole his way into office twice to give them the cover they needed to pull off the heist.
Robert M: The Secret Service will be serving a warrant on Newsvine to get your name so they can ask you where you got your 66% estimate.
Jennifer: "THIS TIME" has already happened vividly once. I was living in Washington, D.C. when Dr. King was assassinated. The "rebellion" [your words] overnight turned into looting and burning. For two or three nights we stood on a roof top at Thomas Circle and saw an eerie orange glow across town NE. The "rebels" were burning down the very residences they lived in and the mom and pop stores. The looting soon spread south to Penn Ave and west as far as 14th St. If "THIS TIME" should happen again, I'm betting we get the same reaction. You'll have to ask a shrink, but apparently there's some section in the brain that tells us we can punish the government by burning ourselves out of house and home and putting thousands of small stores permanently out of business.
Paul-977: Michael Moore loves you. Without support of people like you he wouldn't be the international most popular scumbag that he is.
Imnotsolost
Indifference is a terrible thing. Some did not even consider another's right to exist in peace. That is what happened to blacks in this country and someone killed their leader. It does not justify tearing aprart the town but it is something that most of us white people did have to go through and did not care about until it hit us.
If you really care about your country, maybe you need to work on your ilk. Try to show a little compassion and I will try to keep my ilk from ripping apart everything that some of your ilk were able to steal and hord from the working class.
Okay Jennifer: You make a good point. Much of the attitude blacks demonstrate toward whites is indeed because of indifference. I know Dr. King wanted to rectify it but he's gone and no one else comes close to filling his shoes. Some have tried but all have fallen short for one reason or another and they really need someone. Now as to my comment about burning and looting, if THIS TIME should happen and they storm the Capitol bldg. and run congress out of town I promise I'll say "they got it right this time!" That is if they hold the looting and burning down.
Truce???
Imnotlost
I hope that the American people come to the realization that the corporations are in for profit and and not going to hire people at wages we have had in the past, are not going to care about our children competitng in the world and do not care about the environment. We must take the responibility for that happening. The working people need to vote for people who care about the working class and our children's future. If the corporations want tax breaks and the public to buy their goods, they need to deal as if they really cared about their country and if they cannot do that, they need to go away. Profit for the few is not what our nation should be about.
agreed Jennifer. I vote you up on that.
That old guy was a typical tea party member and I hope the FBI jails him!
Typical, yes. Jail-time , no. He can look forward to covert surveillance for the rest of Obama's two terms though.