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Right-wing blogger urges violence against Democratic offices; scores vandalized nationwide

March 23, 2010 6:48 pm ET by Eric Boehlert

From the Kansas City Star:

Authorities in Wichita and some other cities across the country are investigating vandalism against Democratic offices, apparently in response to health care reform.

And on Monday, a former Alabama militia leader took credit for instigating the actions.

Mike Vanderboegh of Pinson, Ala., former leader of the Alabama Constitutional Militia, put out a call on Friday for modern “Sons of Liberty” to break the windows of Democratic Party offices nationwide in opposition to health care reform. Since then, vandals have struck several offices, including the Sedgwick County Democratic Party headquarters in Wichita.

...

Vanderboegh posted the call for action Friday on his blog, “Sipsey Street Irregulars.” Referring to the health care reform bill as “Nancy Pelosi’s Intolerable Act,” he told followers to send a message to Democrats.

“We can break their windows,” he said. “Break them NOW. And if we do a proper job, if we break the windows of hundreds, thousands, of Democrat party headquarters across this country, we might just wake up enough of them to make defending ourselves at the muzzle of a rifle unnecessary.”

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- by dogbreath (March 23, 2010 6:50 pm ET)
  20 1
  
  And the Gopper response . . . "You know the Democrats brought this on themselves. They shouldn't have offices."
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by Dradeeus (March 23, 2010 7:12 pm ET)
    11 1
    
    Democratic offices are the PEOPLE'S offices. I mean, what are they hiding behind that glass?? We have a right to know. ...And break them.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
    - by dogbreath (March 23, 2010 7:24 pm ET)
      8 1
      
      "And break into them" - James O'Keefe, Jimmy Olsen wanna-be.
      
      Reply Report Abuse
  - by Gen Turgidson (March 24, 2010 12:11 am ET)
    5 1
    
    Do you think that a Fox spokesmodel will float out the "conspiracy theory" (as they did with the March 21 Tea Bagger slurs) that this was all orchestrated by Dem operatives? Let's see... its one of the rationalizations they've used before.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
    - by Tbone Slickens (March 25, 2010 5:30 am ET)
      
      Still waiting for that video or audio "evidence" of the "slurs". Until then I'd have to agree, dem operatives at work.
      
      The beauty is that it didn't get the legs you thought it would.
      
      Reply Report Abuse
      - by Joel Cairo (March 25, 2010 11:39 am ET)
        
        Waiting for evidence is a good thing, but to leap to the conclusion that the Democrats are behind this undercuts your logic and reveals sever bias. There is no evidence of Democratic Operatives are behing either making the racial slurs or reporting the remarks. A journalist from NBC heard the remarks first hand.
        And, given the 'tea parties' reputation for some members being racist, I would suggest that the report is probable. This is not to say all who opposed the bill were racist, but is is likely that the radicalized wing harbors such views.
        
        Reply Report Abuse
- by For.America.2600 (March 23, 2010 7:07 pm ET)
  16
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by RKAllen (March 23, 2010 7:48 pm ET)
    12
    
    Didn't Glenn Beck recently make a comparison to Kristalnacht?
    
    Reply Report Abuse
- by Dradeeus (March 23, 2010 7:07 pm ET)
  8
  
  Sorry, but the way he talks about it is hilarious. I mean, what's next, toilet papering their house? Leaving a flaming bag full of feces on their front steps? Ding-dong-ditch?
  
  I mean... isn't the similar to a "ride around in a circle and honk" strategy?
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by rumpleteasermom (March 23, 2010 7:11 pm ET)
    12
    
    It would be, except historically the next step is usually violence against people.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
    - by Dradeeus (March 23, 2010 7:13 pm ET)
      6
      
      Yeah, you might be right. I apologize for making light of the situation.
      
      Reply Report Abuse
      - by dogbreath (March 23, 2010 7:28 pm ET)
        8
        
        Don't feel too bad. Sometimes if you don't laugh at some of the stuff you see and hear on this site, you might begin to cry.
        
        Reply Report Abuse
        
        by usp (March 23, 2010 9:00 pm ET)
        3
        
        or pick up a bat and start looking for justice.
        
        Reply Report Abuse
        
        by webprogrammer (March 23, 2010 11:22 pm ET)
        8 1
        
        If there's right-wing violence against people, it will be against people who are unarmed, outnumbered, in a dark alley, and with a safe getaway for the attackers. These people give cowards a bad name.
        
        Reply Report Abuse
        
        by thunderhawk (March 24, 2010 6:59 pm ET)
        1 1
        
        Indeed. They should try violence against me and see what happens.
        
        Reply Report Abuse
- by marco21 (March 23, 2010 7:13 pm ET)
  8
  
  The people who live in glass houses throwing bricks through glass.
  
  Reply Report Abuse
- by princeofwheels (March 23, 2010 7:17 pm ET)
  9 1
  
  This is another big mouth who would run and hide when going face to face with another woman.
  
  We've all seen these big mouths, who usually have penis problems, clutch their bravado when surronuded by overwhelming numbers. Alone, they are usually sissies.
  
  Mr. Vanderboegh, are you are sissyboy?
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by blakester (March 24, 2010 12:00 am ET)
    6
    
    According to Rachel Maddow, this guy receives Social Security. He hates the government, except when he doesn't.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
    - by aBeck in 10-O-C (March 24, 2010 2:28 am ET)
      4 1
      
      Social Security Disability benefits. He admits to the hypocracy thing, but justifies it this way:
      
      Look,.....what is the prime method by which guerrillas handle logistics? They take them from the enemy. Right, so what is so very wrong with living off the substance of the tyrannical government you oppose? Especially since it is your money to begin with?
      
      I think it would have sufficed simply to point out that he paid into the system and he is getting some of it back. The rest is just crap to frame it as some noble act of insurgency.
      
      Reply Report Abuse
- by IRONY 101 (March 23, 2010 7:20 pm ET)
  12
  
  Hey, MMFA...if you're reading this, pull up the last five minutes of Glenn Beck's show today and see what he suggests about White House "revolutionaries" planning to incite armed revolution...while denying that he (Beck) has any such ideas.
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by dogbreath (March 23, 2010 7:27 pm ET)
    6
    
    I like to see that. He is truly becoming unhinged -
    
    Reply Report Abuse
    - by dogbreath (March 23, 2010 7:34 pm ET)
      8
      
      I would really like it if MMfA had some type of "suggestion box." I see things on the television all the time and think, oh MMfA is going to catch this. Most of the time you all catch this stuff, but more eyes and ears might help. Just a suggestion! Do with it what you will. :)
      
      Reply Report Abuse
      - by overmars jr. (March 23, 2010 8:07 pm ET)
        5
        
        They do.
        
        mm-tips@mediamatters.org
        
        Reply Report Abuse
        
        by dogbreath (March 23, 2010 8:09 pm ET)
        3
        
        Hey, thanks overmars.
        
        Reply Report Abuse
- by dirtylittlereligion (March 23, 2010 7:32 pm ET)
  10 1
  
  At what point does "Kill the bill!" become just "KILL!, KILL!, KILL!"?
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by ifthethunderdontgetya�� (March 23, 2010 7:52 pm ET)
    8
    
    I think we're already through that looking glass, Alice.
    ~
    
    Reply Report Abuse
- by brianboyd (March 23, 2010 7:36 pm ET)
  2
  
  "If we do a proper job... we might just wake up enough of them to make defending ourselves at the muzzle of a rifle unnecessary."
  
  Boy has this nutter swallowed the kool-aid. It's a bit unclear syntactically who exactly is holding the "muzzle of the rifle," but either way the prognostication is preposterous.
  
  Reply Report Abuse
- by HELD (March 23, 2010 7:36 pm ET)
  2
  
  I have a rising fear that the level is being ratcheted up to the point of violence to politicians. More than a few times on blogs or interest groups, someone have posted a comment similar to 'it's not a problem that a bullet wouldn't solve.' I'm totally aghast at the level of hatred and intolerance being displayed. The health care victory is, likely, to send some nut over the edge. And, they're being cheered on by talk radio and Faux News.
  
  Reply Report Abuse
- by donzostevens1082 (March 23, 2010 8:01 pm ET)
  
  I am nitpicking here, but the article mentions that vandals have struck "several offices." The "scores" in the headline suggests at least 40. If it is scores, could follow up be provided?
  
  Reply Report Abuse
- by overmars jr. (March 23, 2010 8:05 pm ET)
  7
  
  Okay... now I am pretty sure THIS is incitement against public officials.
  
  Right?
  
  Reply Report Abuse
- by usp (March 23, 2010 8:58 pm ET)
  5
  
  Nazis. All of them. And everyone who thinks it cool? Nazi. Not "like a Nazi" but ultra right Nazi.
  
  Reply Report Abuse
- by Andy Kreiss (March 23, 2010 9:04 pm ET)
  17
  
  There were a lot of wingnuts pretty hysterical about Bill Ayers vandalizing some government buildings 40 years ago in protest of a war that killed millions.
  
  I guess a slight improvement in our health care makes it justifiable. I don't see any of them here calling these guys terrorists.
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by usp (March 23, 2010 9:12 pm ET)
    4
    
    i'd give you more thumbs if i could.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
    - by Andy Kreiss (March 23, 2010 9:22 pm ET)
      6
      
      See ? I'm already having thumbs rationed !!! Thx,usp.
      
      Reply Report Abuse
- by bilbo_dies (March 23, 2010 9:13 pm ET)
  5
  
  To think that I grew up in a country where, as a child, I saw crosses burnt in front of peoples homes because of their race.
  
  Now we are smashing windows of offices because of peoples political affiliation.
  
  Ah, the good old days.
  
  (I think I'm going to be sick)
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by zgcywlw (March 23, 2010 9:33 pm ET)
    
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    Reply Report Abuse
- by cst (March 23, 2010 9:50 pm ET)
  5
  
  Isn't it funny how the usual crowd (BJF, Seahawks, Kdork) ISN'T commenting on this...
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by Unreality (March 23, 2010 10:37 pm ET)
    3
    
    BJF is severely depressed today. Paxil will not help.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
  - by internet soldier (March 24, 2010 1:30 am ET)
    2
    
    I predict we'll see someone babble something about SEIU thugs.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
- by brainpork (March 24, 2010 4:39 am ET)
  
  To MMfA: So far I've only counted five incidents of "Window War" vandalism, not "scores": the offices of Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY.28) in Niagara Falls, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ.8) in Tuscon, the Monroe County Democratic Committee in Rochester, the Hamilton County Democratic Party in Cincinnati, and the Sedgwick County Democratic Party in Witchita.
  
  Since part of your mission is media accuracy, I hope you'll correct the headline.
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by m_richert7383 (March 25, 2010 1:46 pm ET)
    
    Only???
    
    Reply Report Abuse
- by jackdaddy (March 24, 2010 8:06 am ET)
  
  Does Vanderboegh own a window-repair company?
  
  Reply Report Abuse
- by Refresh (March 24, 2010 9:49 am ET)
  
  Put his a## on blast, NOW. That's right, put him under the scopes. Video survelliance, all that Republican wire-tapping they wanted so bad, profiles of him, his friends, his cousins, his enemies, the whole nine yards. Show him just how far a small segment of the population can get when trying to get violent against government officials. This fool thinks his little Cousins of Alabama United movement can overthrow the US of A. It'd take the whole nation together as one to do something like. His little small faction is gonna get smacked on the ass, sent up stairs with no dinner, and put on "restriction" for a long time. They already keep over hyping the tea party numbers. Even if you go with the bloated numbers they print, still not enough. Consider the numbers are even less, they need to shut up with the gun talk because going that route is only gonna lead to their own demise.
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by Tbone Slickens (March 25, 2010 5:36 am ET)
    1
    
    all that Republican wire-tapping they wanted so bad
    
    Another Troglodyte who didn't get the memo.
    
    You see Barry is using this against...oh never mind. You wouldn't understand anyway.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
- by Prup (aka Jim Benton) (March 24, 2010 1:27 pm ET)
  1 1
  
  Rachel gave some scary news last night. This guy is going to be a the featured speaker at a 'rant and carry' pro-gun event, at a place deliberately chosen as the 'closest point to Washington where it is legal for us to display our weapons openly.' And when? The anniversary of Waco and Oklahoma City.
  
  I wish there wasn't a part of me that wanted them publicly stopped just before committing an outrage, so even the MSM will have to cover it and show the crazies for what they are -- and for how dangerous they are. It's not a gamble I like to think about, but...
  
  Reply Report Abuse