Washington (CNN) – Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele released a statement late Thursday condemning acts of violence and threats against members of Congress who voted for health care reform.
Steele said that if angry voters channel their frustration, Democrats who "have abused their power and disenfranchised the American people" will suffer at the ballot box in November.
Read Steele's full statement after the jump:
Statement from Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele:
"Americans across the country are understandably angered and disappointed that Democrats put politics above the interest of their constituents and the economy. But resorting to violent measures is exactly the wrong way to send a message. Instead, if we want to change the way this country is being run, we need to call our elected officials, make smart arguments and most importantly organize ourselves for the November elections. What makes America great is that we have an opportunity to channel this anger, through the peaceful transfer of power, every two years. The un-American way that Democrats have abused their power and disenfranchised the American people should and will be met by the ultimate power – an electoral avalanche in November."
From CNN Politics
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How come he didn't condemn FauxNews, Limbaugh, and the tea baggers for inciting the threats of violence? Oh, that's right, they're all in bed together... it was an empty condemnation.
just so you remember that the other HALF of Americans are disgusted with the republican party of NO and will work to fire your party in November!
Steele: The Dems need to stop giving these terrorist tots such a lot of advertising. YOU guys need to stop saying the violence is understandable, oh so understandable, and only then giving it a faint "but really, now, there's no real need for the violence." Hypocritical to do otherwise, and you, of all people, know that full well.
We expect better of you in your leadership role.
How can he condem it when the demmies are lying?
The un-American way that Democrats have abused their power and disenfranchised the American people should and will be met by the ultimate power – an electoral avalanche in November.
Yeah, that's a nice neutral statement. What a bunch of jerks.
Abuse of power? How about war crimes trials for the Bush administration? We can have an international tribunal if you don't like the US courts.
My question is: did He say that statement with a straight face?
This idiot Steele is like a beard for these racist hatemongers. But he is too stupid to apparently notice. His own party can barely stand him. He will wake up some day and we will have to listen to him cry about how he was a fool. Save it.
and yet he puts up websites that incites this behavior.
Of Course Michael Steele should condemn these acts. He and the rest of the rethuglican lynchmob got this crap started.
A little to later Chairman Steele ,should've happen a very long time ago .Like in Nov 2009
With the non-stop negative stuff Mr. Steele, the GOP, Palin, Rush, Hannity, etc., have been saying against President Obama and the Democrats, why is anyone surprised by the attacks?
There are some real extremists who will take the GOP’s heated words full of hate to heart and do the unthinkable, believing this is their God given right.
Violence is never the answer.
Hey, it was the Obamist Ayers that bombed the U.S. Capitol. Why are the Dems complaining. They are the ones that have actually tried to murder people.
WHY IS CNN NOT REPORTING IN DEPTH ON BILL AYERS ???????
And from the OTHER SIDE OF STEEL'S MOUTH . . . HE'S GOT A WEBSITE "FIRE NANCY PELOSI"
And STEELE is still CLUELESS!
Yes, depicting the speaker of the house like some witch burning on your website really screams "civil and mature".
The party of NO just upgraded themselves to the party of SEDITION.
So, the voters put the democrats in charge but somehow "... the american people have been disenfranchised"??? Republicans really know how to spin... however, after 8 years of spin, you would hope that THINKING people would be able to see thru it.
Insurance premiums are increasing so rapidly that soon only the very wealthy will be able to afford them and yet... the american people have been disenfranchised???
Good try, Mr. Steele. Think they'll listen to you?
"Democrats put politics above the interest of their constituents"
"un-American"
"Democrats have abused their power and disenfranchised the American people"
Mr. Steele, those are the ONLY parts of your statement that the fringe elements of the GOP will hear. You spent a year of demonizing the President, filling people's heads with talk of socialism and reeducation camps and death panels. And now you release a statement that is 1/3 condemnation and 2/3 of MORE OF THE SAME.
You're still inciting violence.
Mr. Steele, this country was founded by a revolution, caused by a government that treated its people badly and over TAXED them. We could be headed down that road again pretty soon, if the two party system continues to fail the peoples needs. The democRTAS are the lowest scum of the earth, but the republicans are not to far above them. So, get a pair, and lead this country away from communisim-socialism that the democRTAS are taking us on.
While this is the only statement I have seen to condemn the violence, I still have to ask: why does he not understand that voters did say very clearly that they wanted to change the way this country was run. They Elected Obama. He still has a hard time understanding that very simple thing.
Remembering that Mr. Steele was once studying to be a member of the priesthood, I certainly hope he is against such violence. Listening to some of his rhetoric, however, leaves me questioning his real focus.
Too lilttle, too late.
The republican leadership has pushed and encouraged this type of behavior since the presidential campaign.
This is all garbage. They are feeding the rage to "gain" control in November. This guy is a lame leader in every aspect
the things some are doing are not in good taste and are wrong. THere should be a civil way to correct the very wrong that is in this bill both sides need to grow up. repubs pout & dems nanny nanny. and the one in charge is just as bad and smug as BUSh proubly even more so. Both just need to grow and be civil
By voting for a legislation they believed would benefit America and Americans our senators and congressmen and congresswomen abused their power? And how exactly were people disenfranchised? Our Democratic representatives were all elected. In every case the Republican candidate lost. Republicans only believe in democracy when they win the voting.
What a hypocrite. He pretends to be condemning the very disruptions he and his cynical Republican'ts have fostered. Yet he uses a phrase like
"[Democrats] have abused their power and disenfranchised the American people" Abused their power? How? By exercising the offices to which they were duly elected? Disenfranchised the people? By providing health care, they've taken away people's rights to vote? Say what? Where were you when the previous president lied us into an unnecessary war we couldn't afford?