Facebook shuts Obama be killed poll, Secret Service is investigating

Screen shot of "Should Obama be killed" poll courtesy of the Huffington Post

Right wing loonies are at it again - this time posting a highly inappropriate online poll on the popular social networking site Facebook. The poll asks, "Should Obama be killed?" and implies that passage of health care reform is reason enough to kill the President. Some people might find it funny to post such a poll but given the highly polarized divide between the right and left, the political atmosphere is reaching a dangerous crescendo that may be getting close to boiling point.

I understand that the health care debate has strong opinions on both sides but there are those who want to use the issue to stoke hate, division and violence. It is a level of discourse that we cannot allow or encourage because there may be lone wolves who are just waiting for their fuse to be lit.

Last week US Department of Commerce and Bureau of Census employee Bill Sparkman, 51 was found hanging naked in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Clay County, Kentucky. Mr. Sparkman had the word "FED" scrawled across his chest.

A witness Jerry Weaver of Fairfield, Ohio, said that he was among a group of relatives who discovered the body of Bill Sparkman on Sept. 12. Weaver found the part-time census worker's body hanging in a Kentucky cemetery naked and his hands and feet were bound with duct tape. Sparkman was a substitute teacher who worked part-time for the census. The coroners office released a terse statement saying Sparkman died from asphyxiation.

We don't want another Bill Sparkman.

Anger against the government is not a reason to kill. We have an electoral process to settle scores. To encourage violence and hatred over the power of the ballot box is irresponsible and in some cases, it may cross over the liberties the First Amendment grants us.

Clearly, the architect of the Facebook poll knew what he or she was doing. In my humble opinion, there was intent to stoke the flames of racial division, anger and hate. People do not have a right to scream fire in a theater and may be held culpable for any injuries or death that may result from a stampede.

Last month GOP gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell's repeated "jokes" about hunting President Barack Obama has received national play in the mainstream media and on the Web that included praises in right wing and racist blogs. In a Maryland town hall meeting, a man held up a sign that said "Death to Obama" and "Death to Michelle and her two stupid kids."

The tea parties that happened last month were also full of incendiary language and imagery. Take a look around the 5 minute mark of this YouTube video. Statements that the President would round up "anglo-saxons" are clearly aimed at stoking fear and violence and igniting the fringe and perhaps the violent psychotic few.

These times are tense and it is never a good time to be joking about assassinations. If people want to talk about health care, do so in civilized and thoughtful way. Hitler imagery, gun carrying protesters to presidential events and threats of violence do not advance the discourse on health care. The United States has many problems and we face uncertain times but it is never appropriate to call for the death of the President of the United States or anyone for that matter.

Unfortunately, there are a few who may take after Lynette Fromme and John Hinckley, Jr and all they need is a hair trigger to set them off on a mission. I hope the United States Secret Service finds the sick individual that created the poll along with 731 people who participated.

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