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I have lived in Massachusetts for thirty years. I've lived in Boston, Springfield, and here in Easthampton. I have seen many campaigns, some of them really intense (Mitt Romney v. Ted Kennedy for Senate in 1994). I've voted for Republicans (Bill Weld) and Democrats (John Kerry), and I've seen politicians (Dapper O'Neill, Mike Albano) say and do stupid, scary things.
But I have never, NEVER heard of anything like supporters of one candidate suggesting that the other be raped with a curling iron. Or mobbing a candidate's car and trying to force her to run over them. Or putting up comments on a Facebook page (or the equivalent) wishing that the opposing candidate would be shot or raped.
Scott Brown himself is a weak reed with views I do not like. His followers are scaring me half to death. I don't care if God himself comes down and tells me that Scott Brown is his anointed. Any man who can't control this sort of ugliness* does not deserve to be my representative in Washington.
ADDENDUM: the third-party candidate, Joe Kennedy (no relation), had to shut down his mailing list because Brown supporters spammed it with messages ordering him to withdraw and endorse Brown. So it's not just Coakley: Brown's supporters are equal opportunity bullies. I wonder if any of them said they'd like to rape Joe Kennedy after they finished with Coakley?
*and yes, he could shut most of this down with a couple of well-placed phone calls and a message on his Facebook page.
But I have never, NEVER heard of anything like supporters of one candidate suggesting that the other be raped with a curling iron. Or mobbing a candidate's car and trying to force her to run over them. Or putting up comments on a Facebook page (or the equivalent) wishing that the opposing candidate would be shot or raped.
Scott Brown himself is a weak reed with views I do not like. His followers are scaring me half to death. I don't care if God himself comes down and tells me that Scott Brown is his anointed. Any man who can't control this sort of ugliness* does not deserve to be my representative in Washington.
ADDENDUM: the third-party candidate, Joe Kennedy (no relation), had to shut down his mailing list because Brown supporters spammed it with messages ordering him to withdraw and endorse Brown. So it's not just Coakley: Brown's supporters are equal opportunity bullies. I wonder if any of them said they'd like to rape Joe Kennedy after they finished with Coakley?
*and yes, he could shut most of this down with a couple of well-placed phone calls and a message on his Facebook page.
