WASHINGTON (CNN) – The organizer of a "Tea Party" protest in Virginia says he intends to move forward with plans to burn House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Tom Perriello in effigy next weekend at a rally to protest Democratic health care legislation.
The event is scheduled for next Saturday in Danville, which borders North Carolina and sits at the southern end of Perriello's congressional district. Perriello, a Democrat, narrowly won his House seat in 2008 and is considered a top target of Congressional Republicans in next year's midterm elections.
When news of the rally surfaced Friday, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen condemned the plans as "shocking and despicable."
But Nigel Coleman, the organizer of the Tea Party, told CNN he doesn't see what all the fuss is about. The attention, he said, should be on the Democratic plans to overhaul the health care system.
"We're not going to actually set Perriello on fire or Mrs. Pelosi on fire," Coleman said. "But we have been trying to months to get our point across just how vehemently we are opposed to this health care legislation. For the House vote to come so close and to know that Mr. Perriello is on the other side, it's a kick in the stomach that a lot of people couldn't take."
Coleman said none of Perriello's potential Republican challengers have been invited to the event, which he expects will draw about 100 people.
"Something shocking and despicable is how they've handled this health care legislation," Coleman said, responding to Van Hollen's statement. "Going behind closed doors, writing a bill that is going to fundamentally change what America is. More people are going to be killed by this health care legislation than this bonfire."
From CNN Politics
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This is not acceptable. Or constructive.
Go for it; this woman is a disgrace to freedom in this country. I even have a bumper sticker on my car that says "STOP PELOSI". She needs to be defeated in every way. If the B word ever fit a woman it's her.
Sounds like the Klan to us,smells like the Klan,it is the Klan.Lets hang them in effigy.
I hope they inhale the carcinogens from burning the efficgy, get cancer, and die, because they don't have health insurance and can't get quality treatment.
"We're not going to actually set Perriello on fire or Mrs. Pelosi on fire," Coleman said.
Oh. So.....thank you???
The Republican party is getting more and more extremist. This is actually quite terrifying. Burning effigies increases hatred in the world.
"...More people are going to be killed by this health care legislation than this bonfire."
My God.
Pelosi should be hanged and quartered!
Let's do Pelosi. We haven't burned a witch at the stake in a long time.
How is it that these individuals do not see how similar they are behaving to the radicals in other countries? I supose its because most of them have no sense of things beyond simple rants. Its scary how many sheeple are part of this movement. It is so similar to many movements in other countries that have led to tyranical regimes.
Maybe these tea party jerks should go back to school and retake their basic government class. This country rules by majority. Sorry all you teaparty people; your protests obviously did nothing to change any opinions. Sad to say the Democrats have a majority.
DEAL WITH IT. Burning someone in effigy only alienates more people to your cause.
They miss the old days on all those lynchings.
I vote for just actually burning Pelosi, she is apparently hated equally by the left, right, and middle.
Let's hope the leaders of the political freak show that is the Tea Party don't set themselves on fire in the process.....then they might need the health insurance they want to deny to so many.
So this somehow falls under "peaceful" protest.?...I DON'T THINK SO! This should indicate that homeland security should be on hand and the perpetrators arrested as this indicates a "thinking" that could potentially be harmful and threatening ...Get a clue America!
Why is this front page of CNN news?
What do you expect from neo-cons anymore? It's been proven over and over, if you don't agree 100% with their policies, you're an un-American, un-Patriotic citizen not worthy of living and breathing the same air as they are. After all, you CAN"T possibly be a good American loving citizen if you have a dissenting view. Isn't that how they interpret the constitution?
More people are killed by lack of insurance and being denied insurance because they have preexisting conditions, shame on you for bringing America to a new all time low.
Do not get sick in Virginia They might not have Emer. health care for outsider.
Let's see here. The US wants to provide health care to everyone; a clearly noble goal even if you do not believe in the means, and these guys want to burn Pelosi in effigy. What are these folks going to do when the government wants to do something like provide public education to everyone or supply everyone with due process and mandatory and free legal representation when accused of a crime . . . or even worse mandate high quality standards for our drinking water and food. My goodness, the evil of it all. It just makes the blood boil doesn't it?
Pelosi should have gone with Oba Mao ( what the Chinese are calling Obummie) to China. Isn't it fitting that they see him as a clone of Chairman Mao Tse Tung, the founder of Communist China. What Pelosi and Obummie want to do is to turn the U.S. into a communist/socialist state. Quit stealing our money and giving it to the sorry. Those that need health care and can't physically work should go on Medicaid and the rest of us should be left alone!!!!!!
Isn't it odd how our representatives refuse to hear the American people except when they want to denounce them? Calling people despicable for trying to make themselves heard isn't the reaction a representative of the people should have. Why wasn't the reaction "Oh man, maybe we should take the people's opinions into account. They might not want this legislation..." instead of insulting constituents? The answer is simple; political parties have ceased to serve the American people, they instead serve their own parties and those who fund them. It's time to destroy political parties and demand that ALL candidates be Independents!
I forgot, are these guys in the KKK or the GOP? Both?
How do Americans feel when we observe "burning" of American symbols outside the USA during political protest? That is what strikes me about these "tea party ' terrorists. perhaps they should shift to "calming" green tea.
So what's next? Placards with Death to Pelosi? When did America become like Iran?
The Republicans still rely on ultra extremist negativism with personal and vicious attacks on those who don't agree with them. Nothing positive. Now they are turning tea parties into '"burn the opposition" parties.
The lunatic fringe has moved decidedly to the far right.