Yeah, this is how the Rethuglicans Truly Roll
NPR received a bomb threat Monday, five days after its decision to fire news analyst Juan Williams sparked a hugely negative reaction.
Sources at the news organization said the threat was received via U.S. mail and was immediately turned over to local police and the FBI. The organization did not publicly disclose the threat or release details, on the advice of law enforcement officials.
The letter didn’t reference the Williams firing specifically, but people at NPR, who spoke about it on the condition of anonymity, said the timing and tone suggested it was sent after Williams’s widely publicized termination.
David Brock, founder of Media Matters has called for prominent Republicans such as Sarah Palin to call for a HALT to all this.
Brock: I"m going to personally call Sarah.
More from Thinkprogress.
As Media Matters noted, conservatives have used Williams’ firing as an excuse to continue their war on NPR and to call for its defunding. "Juan Williams was put up against a wall and NPR shot him," Glenn Beck claimed, who also said that "voices are being silenced" by "jack-booted thugs." Many Fox Newsers even tried to explain NPR’s decision as some sort of George Soros-linked conspiracy. Today, the Washington Post reports NPR received a bomb threat today, and while the threat didn’t specifically cite the Williams saga, NPR officials said the "tone" suggested it was involved:
Let just review recent history for some perspective.
The other day a Moveon.org activist was viciously curb stomped by a Rand Paul campaign volunteer.
In July Byron Williams was arrested in a freeway police shootout, while on his way to stage a violent attack on the ACLU and Tides Foundation after Glenn Beck repeatedly argued they were "Evil".
A Pheonix Man was indicted for threatening to Kill Rep Raul Grijalva over his opposition to SB1070.
Charles Alan Wilson was arrested for threatening to Kill Senator Patty Murray in Washington State.
Members of the Right-Wing Hutaree Militia were arrested an charged for plotting to shoot, ambush and bomb police in order to begin an anti-Government "Civil War".
A man was arrested for phoning threats against Nancy Pelosi.
Phone threats were made against Rep Betsy Markley.
'better hope I don't run into you in a dark alley with a knife, a club or a gun.
Someone cut the propane gas line at Rep Tom Perriello's brothers home, which appeared to be attempted arson.
Death Threats were issued against Rep Bart Stupak for his support of Health Care Reform.
Pictures of a Noose were Faxed Rep. James Clyburn because of his HCR support.
A Brick was thrown through the window of the Democratic Headquaters in Rochester NY.
Another brick was thrown at Rep Louis Slaughter's office, and a phone message threatening a "Sniper'.
A window was shattered at Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Office.
A envelope of White Powder was mail to Rep. Anthony Weiners Office with a threatening note about Health Care.
Packets of White Powder were also sent to Keith Olbermann, David Letterman, Jon Stewart and Speaker Pelosi by Free Republic Poster, Ann Coulter & Michelle Malkin acolyte Chad Costanza.
Rep Steve Dreihaus received death threats and had his home address published by a right-wing blogger.
Bricks were thrown through the window of Wichita Country Democratic Office after a "Nationwide Call to vandalize Democratic Offices" was made by the former head of the Alabama Constitutional Militia.
Selfstyled "Christian bin Laden" and Army of God member Justin Moose threatened to Bomb Women's Health Clinics
Arson was committed at The Murfeeboro Tennesee Mosque constuction site.
Scott Reoder shot and killed Dr. George Tiller.
James Adkisson shot 5 and killed 2 "Liberals" at a Knoxville Unitarian Church, because he wanted to murder every person Bernard Goldberg said was "Destroying America".
Michael Enright slashed a cab drivers throat for being Muslim.
Joe Stack flew a plane into the Austin IRS Building
Richard Poplowski killed three police officers in Pittsburgh in a rage over Obama's supposed "anti-gun stance'
James Von Brunn killed security guard at the Holocaust Museum on his way to attack David Axelrod.
James Cummings attempted to build a Radiological Dirty Bomb in Maine to attack President Obama.
It's not like this pattern isn't highly visible, and Brock thinks those that started it, have a responsibility to put this fire out.
We all know the showman Glenn Beck and his Fox News bosses have no incentive to call a halt to this dangerous rhetoric and demonizing of enemies on their own. Recently addressing a NewsCorp shareholder who questioned whether Murdoch was comfortable with what Beck is doing on behalf of shareholders, Murdoch said that he does not agree with everything said on Fox, and called the channel "simply unstoppable." It appears, as suggested in various media reports in recent weeks about what a divisive figure Beck has become even within the company, that Beck can't be controlled either by Murdoch or Roger Ailes, who recruited Beck as part of his strategy to declare war on the Obama administration.
However, as one of Beck's biggest boosters, is a respected leader in the GOP and conservative movement, and Fox's own star contributor, we think Palin is well positioned to pull Beck back from his current course, to hold him accountable for his reckless words. Palin's credibility as a leader relies on more than just endorsing candidates and an uncanny knack for making headlines. It requires a moral compass she repeatedly says she possesses to make this country a better, safer place to live for all Americans.
This moment is an important test for Sarah Palin. Various conservative leaders, from William F. Buckley to Nixon, Reagan and Barry Goldwater at the end of his life all drew lines at crucial moments in history to separate their party and their movement from the extremists. Buckley drew a line and stood up for principle, calling the extremists of his day "idiotic" and "paranoid." Does Palin have the courage and foresight to exhibit the strength and wisdom exhibited by these American leaders and join a growing bipartisan group - including Rep. Peter King of New York, the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee who recently warned that "words have consequences" --in condemning Beck?
Frankly, I'm thinking the chances of Palin responding positively to this are somewhere between zero and none.
The default position for all Republicans on issues like this are to duck, dodge and deflect that blame - accuse the perpetrators of simply being "insane", and then blame the victims for bringing all of this on themselves.
Oh yeah, and they'll whine about being linked or blamed for any of these - even when people from their own political campaigns are committing assault. Sarah's history is that condemned Rahm Emmanuel, then defended Rush Limbaugh for saying essentially the same exact thing. She attacked David Letterman for "insensitive speech" but defended Dr. Laura for "Nigger NIgger Nigger Nigger"! Glenn Beck could curb stomp a baby seal in her front yard, and she'd happily help hold it down.
Not long ago a Republican Strategist connected to Dick Morris and Fox News tweeted this about Media Matters?
Aside from the fact a gentleman doesn't hit women, explain to me why the MMFA boys don't get curbstomped fortnightly?
Classy, eh?
People like this guy and Palin are pathologically incapable of doing the right thing, even when lives are at stake. How can they condemn violence against the Left, when what they really think of Democrats and Liberals is that they are "Traitors" and the "Enemy"?
But the Drop Fox Campaign which is attacking Fox's Advertisers just might lead somewhere.
Vyan