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.
Based on my recent call from the capitol police, I want to make it clear that OpEdNews does not allow publication of any articles that advocate illegal activity or violence of any kind. We also do not permit any racist, racial, discriminatory or hateful statements.
Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.
To learn more about me and OpEdNews.com, check out this article.
and there are Rob's quotes, here.
To Watch me on youtube, having a lively conversation with John Conyers, Chair of the House Judiciary committee, click here Now, wouldn't you like to see me on the political news shows, representing progressives. If so, tell your favorite shows to bring me on and refer them to this youtube video
My radio show, The Rob Kall Show, runs 9-10 PM EST Wednesday evenings, on AM 1360, WNJC and is archived on www.whiterosesociety.org Or listen to it streaming, live at either www.wnjc1360.com or here.
A few declarations.
-While I'm registered as a Democrat, I consider myself to be a dynamic critic of the Democratic party, just as, well, not quite as much, but almost as much as I am a critic of republicans.
-My articles express my personal opinion, not the opinion of this website.
I wonder if anyone else has been warned by the Capitol Hill Police.. For instance Texas Senator John Cornyn (one of mine, but I didn't vote him)who has suggested that members of the judiciary are somehow deserving of violence against them. A couple of other lawmakers have made similar comments.
by
Sam (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments)
on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 5:34:59 PM
I wonder if anyone else has been warned by the Capitol Hill Police.. For instance Texas Senator John Cornyn (one of mine, but I didn't vote him)who has suggested that members of the judiciary are somehow deserving of violence against them. A couple of other lawmakers have made similar comments.
by
Sam (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments)
on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 5:35:02 PM
Its OK to lie about War and kill thousands of innocent Iraqis. Its OK to have Bush use violence, but not OK for people rused over his cable of henchmen.
Frankly Rob I would have told them to stick it where the sun don't shine.
They have caused 911 and they are telling us about not inciting violence? They have created the problem, and they still spew out verbage of fear.
by
Dom Jermano (20 articles, 0 quicklinks, 40 diaries, 934 comments)
on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 6:55:31 PM
Let them call me as well- I will record and post the call!
The Electric Chair for Katherine Harris and Ken Blackwell
I think that Katherine Harris and Ken Blackwell deserve the death penalty for their actions as state election officials in the 2000 and 2004 elections. Current federal law does not permit the death penalty for their actions and Constitutional restrictions make it impossible to give them the electric chair by changing the law. However, I still believe that their actions in a morally sound legal system would see them on trial for their lives!
Katherine Harris as the Republican Secretary of State in Florida during the 2000 elections seemed to be using her office to promote the election of George W. Bush over the wishes of Florida voters. She was co-chair of the Bush campaign in Florida while serving as the top election official in the state. The conflict of interest was obvious. The potential for abuse was obvious. According to the investigative reporter and author Greg Palast, the actions of Harris and her office denied almost a 100,000 voters their right to vote or their right to have their vote counted. Almost all were Democrats! Details are available in Palast’s book, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy.
Instead of being prosecuted for denying Florida citizens their vote, Republicans politicians created a safe seat in Congress for Katherine Harris. It looks likely that she will be seeking higher office in Florida. Since many of the voters who were illegally kicked off the voting rolls still have not been returned to active status, Harris has a chance of winning. Winning office by denying voters their voting rights should be a death penalty crime. In my opinion, any government official who uses their power to engage in a massive campaign to deny citizens their voting rights is committing a crime worse than treason in wartime.
Ken Blackwell as Secretary of State in Ohio during the 2004 election seemed to be trying to copy the Katherine Harris model. Voting machines were distributed to make voting difficult for Democrats. Crazy regulations that made registering difficult came out of his office. He played a key role in the Bush campaign while serving as the top election official statewide. An effective statewide hand recount was largely blocked because of Blackwell. Key state records are being denied access to the citizens of Ohio by his actions. Lawyers who challenge the vote recount procedures are being persecuted by the Republican Ohio Attorney General in legal actions on behalf of Blackwell. Many of the Ohio vote problems and Blackwell’s role in them are documented at “Stolen Election 2004” http://www.democratictalkradio.com/cgi-bin/ultraboard/ultraboard.cgi?action=read&bid=1&tid=8500&sid=1134 .
Denying voting rights to American citizens attacks the whole concept of American freedom. It is disgusting and morally repugnant. Something terrible has happened to the mindset of Republican leaders at the very top levels that makes winning power more important than American traditions, American values and American freedom. Our very American Democracy is being threatened.
The average Republican voter is unaware of the abuse. Most Republican voters would not put winning power over American traditions of free and fair elections. Democratic officeholders are in denial as well in many cases. Our election system simply stinks! Anyone who does not understand the weaknesses of our current voting system should read Black Box Voting by Bev Harris.
Only now, almost 5 years after Harris started purging the voting rolls in Florida in a partisan fashion, has the Democratic leadership in the US Senate made voting reform a legislative high priority. The Boxer-Clinton Voting Reform Bill is a great first step requiring a verified voting paper-trail, equal access to voting machines, advance notice of voting roll purges, etc.
However, we need to add stiff criminal penalties for any government official who denies the voting rights of large numbers of citizens. My liberal co-host on Democratic Talk Radio, Al Lawrence and I disagree on the penalty. Al Lawrence believes that they should face life in prison without parole. As the more conservative Democrat on our program, I support the death penalty in these types of cases. We both agree that crimes against American Democracy are the most serious types of crimes in existence next to genocide.
If I had my way, I would see Katherine Harris and Ken Blackwell strapped down to electric chairs and lit up like Christmas trees. The better to light the way for American Democracy and American Freedom!
Written by: Stephen Crockett (co-host of Democratic Talk Radio http://www.democratictalkradio.com . Email: midsouthcm@aol.com . Phone: 443-907-2367.
Feel free to publish as Letter to Editor, Guest Editorial, OpEd or Democratic Voices column.
by
Stephen Crockett (127 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 113 comments)
on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 7:18:48 PM
No less than the former chief of the U.S. Park Police, Teresa Chambers, was warned by the force to hold her tongue, even though she spoke the truth, as I wrote in OpEdNews late last year: Killing The Messengers.
Anyone who has read your well-written Op-Eds knows that you are fighting hatred and violence, not inciting it.
I respect your taking this to heart and not wanting to be responsible for weak minds taking your comments out of context.
But the weakest, most dangerous minds are in power in DC.
by
Douglas Drenkow (33 articles, 353 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 9 comments)
on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 7:41:37 PM
Freedom of Speech?
Better be careful! Bushites will report you! They don't want schoolteachers or children, or preachers, to express any opinion contrary to Bush!
Government agents will swoop down on Kitty Hawk, N.C. classrooms and intimidate young people.
They will also check out school teachers, when class tattle tails, call Bushite parents, and try to have them canned!
Can preachers promote political candidates? They can if it's bush!
by (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 41 comments)
on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 8:59:39 PM
I would rightfully assume that what happened to you is a signal to all of us. I would also assume that it is also a signal to that idiot in the comments above who calls you a coward. The signal is to show that you are watched. It is also to show that all of us are being watched. If you do nothing, they will come again. You surely have a right to pick your battles but in this case the battle is picked up by the adversary.
I would advise to disclose all this encounter to the ACLU and also to Bob Barr and Pat Buchanan (www.antiwar.com). I am not kidding. Those two would not like to be watched either.
Now, about 9/11 and that idiot who accuses you of cowardice: I have never seen more cowardly people as our current administration, the people who sedn other people to die and kill on the basis of lies while themselves having fun. I have never seen the more disgusting behavior.
Keep on , Rob. Be careful.
by
Mark Sashine (46 articles, 19 quicklinks, 235 diaries, 3358 comments)
on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 7:52:56 AM
There's one very important thing that's been missed entirely in your article, though I'm not surprised, you would've been far to upset and responding to comments made by the INQUISITOR, then to consider the ramifications of the visit.
The POINT is;
THEY HAVE BECOME AWARE OF YOU, AND YOUR SITE, THEY ALSO CONSIDER BOTH, A THREAT TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR ASPIRATIONS, IMHO you should feel quiet flattered that they have actual registered the fact your actions are having an effect on them.
I'm inclined to agree with a previous poster though, I also would've told her to go take a running jump preferably at herself.
This is how the GESTAPO worked in Germany before and during the war, it's also highly relevant, the woman visiting you, just also happens to be AN ORDINARY WORKING AMERICAN, who would also be given the exact same treatment, should she also step over the line .
But then Hey, I guess the FEAR now rampant in the U.S. from such visitations is keeping everyone in line,( just as your Government intended,) to think straight and rationly.
Whatever happened to the so called land of the free ?
by
Eddy Schmid (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 197 comments)
on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 8:23:41 AM
I have to admit some sympathy for the idea that, despite our constitutional guarantee to freedom of speech, some restrictions seem appropriate. We should not all have the right to cry "fire" in a crowded theater and we should not have the right to call for violence in a way that might actually cause such violence.
However, I seem to recall a statement by Ann Coulter that received some notice a few years ago. Roughly paraphrasing (because I don't know the exact quote), she said that a few liberals should be killed in order to set an example.
Did the capitol hill speech cops give her a call and suggest she curb her speech?
by
MadAsHellLiberal (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 8:25:57 AM
Rob..where is the backbone and the spine you always condedmn the Dems for not having/
You didnt have any backbone here in this
scenario1. yet you condemn the Dems for not standing up..i would have told the Capitol
Police to go get fucked with George Bush's
dick..they might enjoy the ride.
we all know this scenario is just the type of gestapo tactics the Nazis used . and history
repeats itself.We are living under a dictatorship
now controlled by this Nazi/Fascist regime of the
crazy infidel christian and murderer/killer George
W Bush.. so here is my message to the Capitol Police:
GO GET FUCKED WITH THE DICK OF YOUR LORD AND
SAVIOUR GEORGE W BUSH!!!
Anyone care to go to another country and let these
Nazi bastards fuck thgemdelves to death? or maybe
we should send all of these religious nuts, christians, jews,muslims,budhhists,shiontoists--all of gthem--to the island of Greenland and let them eat cold fish.Let Delay--just sitting around waiting for the "rupture" to happen-charter a plane and take billions of them to Greenland and let them leave us gays and atheists the hell alone!!i am goddamned tired of these religious nuts telling me who i can marry and who the
hell i can sleep with.and take the Capitol Police with you when you go to Greenland.They seem to be cold-blooded anyway!!!Maybe Bush will be their saviour!!
by
lrulfs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments)
on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 9:41:49 AM
click here I am adding the link here to the recent information about the UK Defense Minister asking to 'review and change' the Geneva Convention.
I also would like to clarify ( relevant to my previus post above) that no one has a right to call a person like Rob a coward or a spineless: he risks much more than most of us do and he certainly needs help and whatever advice of protection. In the current unfortunate situation
we all have to understand that the powerful mongrels cannot enjoy power if they do not use it. And they will use it, make no mistake. I thus encourage all of us to express a support to whatever tactics Rob adopts and also be vigilant and learn the lesson promptly.
by
Mark Sashine (46 articles, 19 quicklinks, 235 diaries, 3358 comments)
on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 3:05:23 PM
I want a confirmation that this agent has also contacted Rush, Ann, Sean, Pat, and Bill, and issued the exact same "warning/veiled threat" to them, as every single one of them has incited specific violence against specific individuals and groups on a number of occasions, to audiences far larger (unfortunately) than Rob's. Wingnuts, in general, are constantly advocating violence of one kind and another. The Capitol Police should be sued on Rob's behalf, violently.
by
tom baker (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments)
on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 4:46:05 PM
The truth is, we VASTLY outnumber the thugs who want to strongarm America into a dictatorship. I say fuck them. Let them try to stop me from speaking my mind. I'll repost your statements. And I'll happily tell any wankers that call me to suck my fat knob.
We will be heard.
We are America patriots and you cannot shut us up.
We outnumber the rightwing.
And we will prevail.
by
Eric A. Smith (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 8:47:32 PM
