I called the office of my Congressman, Republican Dave Reichert, who represents the 8th Congressional District for Washington state. I spoke to the person answering the phone and asked that the Congressman issue a statement condemning the threatened and actual acts of violence directed at members of Congress who voted for the Health Care Reform bill.
I told the staff member and that I supported the HCR bill (at which she sighed) and felt that the right wing's rising tide of violent words and actions were damaging to our country and our public discourse.
Her response was to ask me what about the shot fired at Eric Cantor's office?
It took me a moment to get over my incredulity at her question. But I immediately condemned the shooting, if it actually occured, and advised her that Mr. Cantor himself was retracting his allegation.
I furthermore stated that I wholeheartedly condemned any violent actions or statements that might be directed from the left toward Republican members of Congress. Then I said, that wasn't so hard. Won't Congressman Reichert likewise publicly condemn the violent actions and threats being directed at Democratic members of Congress by avowed members of the Republican Party and the Tea Baggers?
Then she said that the Congressman had not taken a position against the violent threats and actions being directed at members of Congress, their homes, and their families.
And asked me again what about Cantor's office being shot at.