Tea Party Threats: Black GOP AZ Official Resigns

[lakhota]

WASHINGTON -- The sole black Republican Party district chairman in Arizona resigned from his post in the wake of Saturday's shooting, citing threats from the Tea Party faction and concerns for his family's safety, The Arizona Republic reports.

Republican District 20 Chairman Anthony Miller was not the only party official to resign following the shooting that killed six and wounded 14 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and a federal judge. But Miller had been an especially dedicated campaigner for the GOP, and said he only stepped down in the face of "constant verbal attacks" and other forms of intimidation, according to the Republic:

Miller, a 43-year-old Ahwatukee Foothills resident and former campaign worker for U.S. Sen. John McCain, was re-elected to a second one-year term last month. He said constant verbal attacks after that election and Internet blog posts by some local members with Tea Party ties made him worry about his family's safety.

The first and only African-American to hold the party's precinct chairmanship, Miller said he has been called "McCain's boy," and during the campaign saw a critic form his hand in the shape of a gun and point it at him.

"I wasn't going to resign but decided to quit after what happened Saturday," Miller said. "I love the Republican Party but I don't want to take a bullet for anyone."

Newly-elected district Secretary Sophia Johnson, First Vice Chairman Roger Dickinson, and former district spokesman Jeff Kolb are also stepping down, according to the Republic, although Dickinson contested the claim that they are all going willingly.

"I did not resign from my position," Dickinson told HuffPost in an interview Wednesday afternoon. "The articles in the paper are incorrect ... Sophia Johnson did resign, but not for the reason that's quoted in The Arizona Republic."

Dickinson, whose move last year made him ineligible to retain his leadership post, said he will continue to serve the Arizona Republican Party in the voluntary position of precinct committee person.

Kolb told HuffPost he was, in fact, resigning, but that it wasn't out of fear -- he was following Miller's lead. "For me personally, it's not a fear for my personal safety, it just had to do with the tone and tenor within the organization," said Kolb, who was appointed to the volunteer position by Miller a year ago.

The party became fractured between Miller supporters and a "small but vocal group" of detractors who frequently targeted Miller in emails, Kolb said.

Tension between the two factions had been growing since early December, but Kolb said he and other Miller appointees made the final decision to resign this weekend. When Miller decided to step down, Kolb said, he knew he would be removed from the post if he did not step down himself. He officially resigned on Monday.

"I've never understood why they had this hatred for him," Kolb said of Miller's opponents. "I guess there were some people who thought that since he'd worked for McCain he wasn't conservative enough. But if your goal is to get Republicans elected, then being bogged down in a bunch of fighting about who is conservative enough is not an effective way to do that."

www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/12/anthony-miller-resigns-giffords-threats_n_808116.html

[mmhmm]

Good grief! They're threatening other conservatives now because they're not conservative ENOUGH? Sheesh! This just gets weirder and weirder!

[lakhota]

Man Arrested For Threatening Democratic Congressman

A man has been arrested for threatening Rep. Jim McDermott, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The PI reports that Charles Turner Habermann was arrested Wednesday morning for allegedly making threatening phone calls to McDermott, a Democratic congressman who represents Seattle.

According to the Seattle Times, Habermann is a 32-year-old Palm Springs, Calif. resident. Federal prosecutors claim that he would hire someone to put McDermott "in the trash," the Seattle Times reports.

More to come...

www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/12/charles-turner-habermann-jim-mcdermott_n_808114.html

[deziloooooo]

I hate the idea of more laws but some times it is necessary. Possible there has to be discussion of a anti threaten /by verbal, E mails or even hand jesture that would be on the books to have a statute that might stop some of these not so innocent attacks, "and during the campaign saw a critic form his hand in the shape of a gun and point it at him"

Fredom of speech is one thing..but when directed at public officials, either elected or employed by, even if just a form of disagreement, there is a correct way to disagree and let one knows how one feels and then there is the other that is not accptable..such as the pointed finger in the form of a gun, not acceptable and should not be tolerated. Charge the person doing it, even if they are let off with a reprimand/warning , the expense of a attorney for defense might be enough detriment to stop those things from happening.

[burnsattornincan]

Keep all the fluff garbage HuffPo articles flowing Mr. Lakhota. The more bytes the better as I'm doing some stress testing on a new download of IE8. So far so good. Thanks.

Dalton McGuinty Burns III

[lakhota]

[commentator]

Try this link if you don't like Huff.

www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/2011/01/11/20110111gabrielle-giffords-arizona-shooting-resignations.html#ixzz1AqMYTq70

[lakhota]

I understand why certain righties ridicule Huffington Post - but for mostly wrong reasons. I monitor many websites, but Huffington Post is my favorite.

The Huffington Post is a liberal-leaning American news website and content aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring various news sources and columnists.[2] The site offers coverage of politics, media, business, entertainment, living, style, the green movement, world news, and comedy, and has news, blogs, and original content. The Huffington Post was launched on May 9, 2005, as a commentary outlet and alternative to news websites like the Drudge Report.[3] It is the American affiliate to LabourList, a British website in support of the Labour Party (UK)[4].

In 2008, the site launched its first local version, HuffPost Chicago;[5] HuffPost New York[6] launched in June, 2009, HuffPost Denver[7] launched on September 15, 2009,[8] and HuffPost Los Angeles[9] launched on December 2, 2009.[10] The Huffington Post has an active community, with over one million comments made on the site each month. Prior to The Huffington Post, Huffington hosted a website called Ariannaonline.com. Her first foray into the Internet was a website called Resignation.com, which called for the resignation of President Bill Clinton and was a rallying place for conservatives opposing Clinton.[11]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Huffington_Post

[deziloooooo]

Like all such sites there seems to be two sides..personal views and then just factual articles and I see plenty criticizing the left on topics..

I agree , a lot of them are quite good. All ? Of course not and those I scroll by and wouldn't quote.

Do I get more out of them as far as less same old, same old from the other side. Definitly.

To criticize a article because of the source with out checking out the facts of the article..just stupid, but then again, lots of "stupid " here , so that shouldn't be a surprise.

[burnsattornincan]

Mr. Lakhota, I am acutely aware of HuffPo's beginnings and who founded the liberal garbage spewing machine. I have seen maybe 1 in 50 articles that are not just plain old liberal ideology, the same ideology that has bankrupted your country and will lead to the worst violence and suffering you could ever have imagined. Anyway, I have concluded my IE8 stress test and thank you once more.

[privateinvestor]

Another thread started by Lakhota to spew all the obnoxious buffoonery one finds in the left wing Huffington Post...be prepared to see this message board soon ruined by Lakhota as he continues to cut and past from Huffington Post and other progressive rags..

But again he will argue he has the right to post this nonsense but we also have the right to question WHY?

[floridayankee]

Jan 12, 2011 21:10:10 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

I hate the idea of more laws but some times it is necessary. Possible there has to be discussion of a anti threaten /by verbal, E mails or even hand jesture that would be on the books to have a statute that might stop some of these not so innocent attacks, "and during the campaign saw a critic form his hand in the shape of a gun and point it at him"

Fredom of speech is one thing..but when directed at public officials, either elected or employed by, even if just a form of disagreement, there is a correct way to disagree and let one knows how one feels and then there is the other that is not accptable..such as the pointed finger in the form of a gun, not acceptable and should not be tolerated. Charge the person doing it, even if they are let off with a reprimand/warning , the expense of a attorney for defense might be enough detriment to stop those things from happening.

Threatening a public official is already illegal.

[ChiTownVenture]

might stop some of these not so innocent attacks, "and during the campaign saw a critic form his hand in the shape of a gun and point it at him"

My fear is that because of this tragedy elected officials are going to demand protection at the cost of taxpayers. Every time Rep "who ever" decides they want to go down to Walmart to shake hands the tax payers have to shell out to cover an entourage of security.

[olderburgher]

ChitownVenture is right. Elected officials will cost us too much if we have to pay for security details to keep them alive. The solution is either a Military Coup and no elected officials or required civility and that will not work because it is easier to shout invective in 10 seconds then to have reasoned discourse.