Home
Refresh   Tag(s): ; ;
Add to My Group
April 3, 2006 at 23:00:00

View Ratings | Rate It

OpEdNews Editor Warned by Capitol Police For Article

submit to twitter
submit to reddit
submit to digg

Tell A Friend

By Rob Kall (about the author)     Page 1 of 2 page(s)

opednews.com     Permalink

For OpEdNews: Rob Kall - Writer

I wrote an article the other day, Black November, in which I expressed my wish that Katherine Harris and Ken Blackwell were both losing sleep worrying about people after them for murdering democracy. I gave a detailed description of what they should worry about. Katherine Harris may actually be worrying about it.

I know because I got a call from a special agent of the Capitol Police checking with me on my article. She assured me that I hadn't broken any law, that this fell under free speech, that I'd been clear that I didn't want to harm her. But, she added, other people who might read my writing might be incited to action. I assured her that was not my intent. That seemed to reassure her a bit. But then she said that I was in a "grey area."

That roused a bit of a chill in my spine-- a "grey area."


So I said to her, "A grey area? What does that mean?"

She explained that if I kept doing this-- writing inflammatory stuff, then... and she wasn't very clear what... but definitely something, would happen or develop.

I asked, "Have I done anything illegal."

She said "No."

I asked her why she was calling me. She explained that she'd heard from Katherine Harris's office.

I asked her. "Is there anything I have to do?"

She said no, but her answer left me with the clear impression that it would be better if I took it down, that someone might think I wanted him or her to take action. I made it very clear to her. "I don't want anyone to DO anything. I don't want anyone hurt. I just wanted Katherine Harris to have trouble sleeping because of what she's done. I wrote about a possible scenario. (Hell, one guy tried to run over her with his car. It's not like I came up with the idea. I just wrote about it. I'll repeat again. I don't want anyone to run anyone over. I don't want anyone to hurt anyone else. I did tell the special agent that I'd like to see Harris in jail. I would like to see her arrested. I did say that given the delicious media roasting Harris has been getting lately, I'd rather see her suffering that way. I don't want her hurt.)

She replied, and I'm paraphrasing, that it's one thing to feel remorse about something political, it's another to feel threatened. I wonder. Who do you call when a political party tries to do all it can to make you afraid of terrorist attacks, no matter where you live, no matter how safe you really are? Do you call the capitol police?

Our conversation continued a few minutes more. Then the word warning slipped out.

"I've been warned?" I asked. "I thought I didn't do anything wrong."

The special agent replied, "If further things like this were written we'd have to look into it more." That's a verbatim quote.

So there you have it. After thinking it over, I'm pulling the offending verbiage. Here it is, taken from the original article.
actually, after reading this article to the special agent (yes I may be a wuss, but I will pick my battles and this isn't one worth fighting for) I've edited the words out at the instruction of the special agent because “inciting violence is not free speech”. I disagree that it was an incitement to violence, but I wouldn't sleep well if any violence came about because of what I wrote.
Now remember, this was a discussion of a nightmare, and my thoughts on how these vote rigging criminals should be worrying about retribution. But on second thought, these are rich, spoiled millionaires. I'd much rather see them rotting in a jail, even a posh one like Martha Stewart spent her time in. I never wanted to see them hurt, just anxious. I never threatened them, and let me say it one more time, would not want to see them hurt in any way-- better to see them indicted, incarcerated and subjected to whatever penalties the law prescribes.

Next Page  1  |  2

 

Rob Kall is executive editor, publisher and site architect of OpEdNews.com, Host of the Rob Kall Bottom Up Radio Show (WNJC 1360 AM), President of Futurehealth, Inc, (more...)
 

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

Contact Author Contact Editor View Authors' Articles

Follow Me on Twitter

 

Book Recommendations for "Election Voting Issues"
After election voting issues remain unsettled.(VOTING MATTERS): An article from: Campaigns
by Dan Seligson

$5.95

Number of pages: 3
Publisher: Campaigns

Issues and Elections: Presidential Voting in Contemporary America-A Revisionist View (Transforming American Politics Series)
by Euel W. Elliott

$49.50

Number of pages: 175
Publisher: Westview Pr (Short Disc)

Voter ID rules a hot button issue.(VOTING MATTERS): An article from: Campaigns
by Dan Seligson

$5.95

Number of pages: 3
Publisher: Thomson Gale

View All Book Recommendations

Share this page: (what's this?)                   Tell a Friend: Tell A Friend

FACEBOOK      DIGG THIS      Add This Page to Mr Wong!           NEWSVINE      DEl.ICIO.US      Looksmart Furl      NETSCAPE      My Web      Tag!RawSugar      Blink List     (More...)

Comments: Expand   Shrink   Hide  
16 comments
To view all comments:
Expand Comments
 

Has anyone else been warned? by Sam on Tuesday, Apr 4, 2006 at 5:34:59 PM
Has anyone else been warned? by Sam on Tuesday, Apr 4, 2006 at 5:35:02 PM
I wonder: by Ed Garcia on Tuesday, Apr 4, 2006 at 6:20:06 PM
Republican means VIOLENCE by Dom Jermano on Tuesday, Apr 4, 2006 at 6:55:31 PM
Let them call me as well- I will record and post the call! by Stephen Crockett on Tuesday, Apr 4, 2006 at 7:18:48 PM
You're in good company, Rob by Douglas Drenkow on Tuesday, Apr 4, 2006 at 7:41:37 PM
Freedom of Speech? by on Tuesday, Apr 4, 2006 at 8:59:39 PM
How very melodramatic by bill giltner on Tuesday, Apr 4, 2006 at 10:41:12 PM
Rob, it was a good job and please, continue by Mark Sashine on Wednesday, Apr 5, 2006 at 7:52:56 AM
Noted. by Eddy Schmid on Wednesday, Apr 5, 2006 at 8:23:41 AM
Even handedness by MadAsHellLiberal on Wednesday, Apr 5, 2006 at 8:25:57 AM
Screw the Cap Police with Bush's Dick by lrulfs on Wednesday, Apr 5, 2006 at 9:41:49 AM
one more thing by Mark Sashine on Wednesday, Apr 5, 2006 at 3:05:23 PM
balance and fairness, please by tom baker on Wednesday, Apr 5, 2006 at 4:46:05 PM
Rob, no offense but f*ck them! by Eric A. Smith on Wednesday, Apr 5, 2006 at 8:47:32 PM
One wonders... by Clemsy on Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 at 5:07:55 AM

 
Want to post your own comment on this Article? Post Comment


 

 

 

Tell a Friend: Tell A Friend

Copyright © 2002-2009, OpEdNews

Powered by Populum