Democrats are receiving threats in the wake of their votes for health care reform. Members concerned with their safety have been briefed by the FBI and Capitol Police on how to handle security threats. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says lawmakers who fear they are in harms way are getting the attention they need. The troubling behavior began over the weekend when some protestors yelled racial slurs at several black lawmakers and one protestor even spat at a black lawmaker on Capitol Hill.
Some lawmakers are also concerned about the safety of their families after some opponents of health care printed their addresses, directions to their house and urged opponents to pay them a visit.
Opponents thought they were printing the home address of Congressman Tom Perriello of Virginia, but printed his brother's address instead. Now police are investigating a severed propane line at Periello's brother's home.
Rep. Perriello released this statement:
“My number one priority right now is ensuring the safety of my brother’s family, and I am grateful to law enforcement for their excellent work. While it is too early to say anything definitive regarding political motivations behind this act, it’s never too early for political leaders to condemn threats of violence, particularly as threats to other Members of Congress and their children escalate. And so I ask every member of House and Senate leadership to state unequivocally tonight that it is never OK to harm or threaten elected officials and their families with anything more than political retribution. Here in America, we settle our political differences at the ballot box.”