[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/25/art.betty.house.jpg caption="Rep. Betty McCollum is a Democrat from Minnesota who voted for the health care bill."]Washington (CNN) – Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minnesota, was one of several members of Congress who reported receiving obscene and threatening letters after voting for the health care reform bill passed by Democrats on Sunday.
But her spokeswoman told CNN that inside one letter received Thursday was a condom, removed from its original packaging.
McCollum's spokeswoman Maria Reppas said Thursday that the congresswoman's district office in St. Paul received the condom in an envelope dated March 23, along with an anonymous typed letter reading: "Betty McCollum you've been dry f***** by the liberal party."
The condom had been removed from its original packaging and placed in a plastic bag, according to McCollum's district director. McCollum's office said the U.S. Capitol Police and local law enforcement are investigating the package along with another one received Thursday.
Her office also reported receiving part of a shredded American flag doused in gasoline and a typed letter addressed to McCollum, Rep. Keith Ellison, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Al Franken - all Democrats from Minnesota.
"Each of you receives part of a shredded American flag," the letter read. "It represents Obama and your liberal filth. Open the bag, it's covered in the stench you've brought to our government ... Because of you, we are now a country of dirt, shame, corruption and slime."
McCollum released a statement late Thursday responding to the threats.
"I will not back down in the face of attacks, threats, and violence," she said. "I do not regret my vote, and I will proudly stand in the face of opposition and defend my support of health care reform."
My question is; are the antics of the mentally challenged wing-nuts indicative of a small GOP minority, or the mentality of their entire political party? The national anthem could be "The Many Ways to Hate the Democrats".
it seems to me that this could be a ploy to turn the public against us!How do we really know it wasn't staged.But if it wasn't then this is really asinine behavior,that no one should condone!But i don't trust the slimy democrats,who will now do anything to cover their butts!
"we are now a country of dirt, shame, corruption and slime."
And the evidence that the extreme right has come unhinged just keeps piling up. Fortunately, the just-passed health care bill increases access to mental health care. I would suggest that the unhinged right take advantage of that new freedom.
Hey the dems screwed the American people,77% did not want this;BUT,I guess that in Democrat means screw the American people do it anyway.
Classy, Rightwingers.. utterly classy.
I guess rude, immature, obscene, and divisive behavior is the best platform these guys can come up with.
These threats are coming from someones husband, someones son, someones daughter, someones child, someones mother living in your household who may be a danger to yourself. Talk to them and try to get them help before they endanger you, your family or a friend.
Thank God this does not represent the majority of civil People!
Thank God this does not represent the majority of civilized People!
Observing as an outsider, this is just one more piece of evidence that these sick people, stauch Repubs, I am sure, have filth and hatred in their social DNA
Alright Ms Mccollum thats right honey dont let them bastards punk you into submission. You spoke up like a true G a true women a true American. Trust me I am from MInneapolis Minnesota and I am a low income single mother that got laid off last year. We need this and we need this now. I will let ANYONE AND EVERYONE know that WE GOT YALL DEMOCRATS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THis is just another part of the civil rights fight. tRUST ME THE CONSERVATIVES ARE COMMITING POLITICAL SUICIDE IN AMERICA In a few years, they will be so run out they will be obsolete in politics Thas my prediction. The American people area TIRED and so is the right wing movement
rep Mccollum please take nothing or no one granted please be careful keep your eyes and ears open and suspect every one of whom y0u are not positively sure are safe !! there are a lot of loonies raging out there and honestly after working in Forensic mental health for more than thirty years I can tell you many of these people are demonstrating behaviors crazier than any of my former patients so please be careful I will keep you and all of those being challenged intimidated threatened in my prayers. keep doing the work of the people and God bless you for your unselfish efforts
There seem to be some really vile people living in Minnesota. Isn't Bachmann from Minnesota. Ms. McCollum I want to thank you for having the courage to vote yes. Have you ever thought of relocating to Arizona?
Betty, you are my hero! I will support you and the other Minnesota Democratic legislators. Stay strong - my prayers are with you...
Yawn ... Typical GoP thuggery .... keep showing yourselves right-wingalingdings ... You're in for a rude awakening this November ...
These threats are a direct result of GOP fearmongering, bigotry and hatred and should be treated as domestic terrorism, and the GOP lawmakers solely responsible for inciting this, and should also be brought up on domestic terrorism charges, as outlined in the Patriot Act...
GOP: Domestic Terrorists!
Conservative filth at its best.
Only a coward would send something anonymously. Man (or woman) up and tell them your comments face to face. Coward.
Why do all these Republicans hate Americans? The Democrats are trying to help all Americans and these vile people don't want good health for all so now they're resorting to violence stirred on by the likes of Boener, Palin, Limbaugh, Beck to name a few. They're really showing their true colors of being anti -American.
Bully for her, calling out the anonymous harassers. Sooner we get this cold civil war on the front burner, the sooner it will be over.
Ha ha ha. Well at least now she can practice safe sex!!
The thing I don't get about this whole deal, and I haven't heard anyone mention it. How can Obama bash the insurance companies, but support a law REQUIRING PEOPLE TO BUY INSURANCE?
The insurance companies are going to make a killing, for a few years anyway, until they go all in with the single-payer system.
a bullet between the eyes to those criminal offenders would not be enough punishment, and, the leaders of those immorals still on denial.......shameful bastards
Have anyone heard the term "Divide and Conquer"?. That is what is going to happen to America if we keep this up. Iran and others are waiting in the dark to see us act a fool and swoop in and take over.We are behaving like spoiled children.God forgive us for we know not what we do.
This niffty little gift received by Rep. McCollum must have been sent by one of those "real" Americans Karl Rove predicts will put Republicans back in control of the House and Senate. This antic speaks volumes about the knuckle-dragging base of the Republican/Tea Party and their avowed political platform of fear and hate.
I hope it wasn't a USED one!!! LOL
This is getting FUNNY but at the same time SCARY. I hope every call and every mail can be traced so that the culprits are brought to justice.... On BOTH Sides – wait a minute, not the Democrat side – that OTHER side!!!
Wow. Just wow.