Rep. Todd Akin Jokes About Lynching

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Rep. Todd Akin, a conservative Republican from Missouri, held a town-hall event this week in his district, and reflected on right-wing mobs who are fighting against health care reform. "This particular meeting, in a way is a little bit unique," Akin said. "Different people from Washington, D.C., have come back to their districts and have town hall meetings, and they almost got lynched."

The conservative crowd thought this was great."I would assume you're not approving lynchings, because we don't want to do that," Akin said, generating more laughs as he put his hand to his neck.

Look, I realize Akin wasn't encouraging "lynchings" and he was probably trying to be funny. But Akin and other conservative leaders have whipped up the right-wing base with a combination of lies and rage, and the results have bordered on dangerous. One Democratic lawmaker has received death threats because he supports health care reform. Another Democratic lawmaker was "physically assaulted." Far-right activists have registered their misguided, uninformed fury with everything from nooses to tombstones to signs with Nazi "SS" lettering.

Akin opposes health care reform; I get that. He's a far-right lawmaker who probably finds right-wing mobs comforting. But under the circumstances, maybe now would be a good time to skip the lynching jokes?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Oh dear.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Look, I realize Akin wasn't encouraging "lynchings" and he was probably trying to be funny.

If the author realizes that, then #######?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I like to think I have a sense of humor. But how are lynch mobs funny?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Imagine a ** getting lynched by an angry mob of gheys.

I think that's pretty funny.

[Ban Hammer 13,366]

I like to think I have a sense of humor. But how are lynch mobs funny?

i see one forming in this thread.

[alienlovechild 75]

Which is more likely? Congressmen will be lynched or everyone who opposes Obama will get labeled as Nazis?

The latter campaign has begun but I doubt you'll see and members of Congress hanging from trees.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Leave it to Steve! Fvckin desperate these days.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There's no shortage of this kind of thing going on - we've already got ridiculous comparisons being made about Orwellian Govt and Nazis over the "flagging misinformation" thing on the WH blog.

People need to be less sensitive and stop flying off the handle at every little thing.

[thepizzadude 26]

Which is more likely? Congressmen will be lynched or everyone who opposes Obama will get labeled as Nazis?

The latter campaign has begun but I doubt you'll see and members of Congress hanging from trees.

[Peikko 1,575]

[thepizzadude 26]

There's no shortage of this kind of thing going on - we've already got ridiculous comparisons being made about Orwellian Govt and Nazis over the "flagging misinformation" thing on the WH blog.

People need to be less sensitive and stop flying off the handle at every little thing.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I think its hilarious watching libs get spoon fed the very same tactics. then scream foul. Kinda like force feeding a bolemic its own puke.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There's no shortage of this kind of thing going on - we've already got ridiculous comparisons being made about Orwellian Govt and Nazis over the "flagging misinformation" thing on the WH blog.

People need to be less sensitive and stop flying off the handle at every little thing.

If you like drama and hysteria I expect this sort of thing does the trick.

However - there are surely soap operas where you can get that kind of crude melodrama.

[The Dude 206]

Which is more likely? Congressmen will be lynched or everyone who opposes Obama will get labeled as Nazis?

The latter campaign has begun but I doubt you'll see and members of Congress hanging from trees.

There's no shortage of this kind of thing going on - we've already got ridiculous comparisons being made about Orwellian Govt and Nazis over the "flagging misinformation" thing on the WH blog.

People need to be less sensitive and stop flying off the handle at every little thing.

Astute analysis and opinion there