How low can our political discourse go?
Time to recognize that “conservative” and “reactionary” are four-letter words.
By Roger Shuler
Cross Posted at Legal Schnauzer
Our public discourse has sunk to such depths that a cat has been murdered in Arkansas, apparently for political reasons. The perpetrator, it seems, supports a Republican who is known for his strong “pro life” stands.
The campaign manager for a Democratic Congressional candidate returned to his Russellville, Arkansas home, to find that the family cat had been killed. The word “liberal” had been scribbled across the cat’s body in paint.
Associated Press reports that a complaint has been filed with the Russellville Police Department, and officials have no suspects at this time.
The cat belonged to Jacob Burris, who has been campaign manager for Ken Aden since October 2011. Aden is running against Republican incumbent Steve Womack in Arkansas’ 3rd Congressional District. From a press release issued by the Aden campaign:
On the heels of a weekend of positive news coverage for the campaign of Democratic Congressional candidate Ken Aden, Aden’s campaign manager returned home to find his family pet slaughtered, with the word “liberal” painted on the animal’s corpse.
The Russellville Police Department is investigating, and a report will be made to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Monday morning.
Jacob Burris, who has served as Aden’s campaign manager since late October, arrived home with his family Sunday evening, and his four children discovered the gruesome scene as they exited the family vehicle to enter their home.
Aden’s campaign has said it does not suspect that anyone from the Womack camp is responsible. But the crime appears to be a “political hit.” Ironically, Womack is a staunch “pro life” Republican. Someone who apparently supports Womack, however, does not have much respect for life. Here is how the Aden press release describes the ugly scene at the Burris house on Sunday night:
The family pet, an adult, mixed-breed Siamese cat, had one side of its head bashed in to the point the cat’s eyeball was barely hanging from its socket. The perpetrators scrawled “liberal” across the cat’s body and left it on the doorstep of Burris’ house.
In the 2010 campaign, Womack received an endorsement from the Arkansas Right to Life PAC. In a press release, Womack touted his “pro life” and “family values” stances:
In a letter addressed to Womack, Arkansas Right to Life President Wayne Mays said the endorsement was a reflection of Womack’s unquestionable stance to protect lives threatened by abortion or euthanasia.
“We appreciate the values by which you live, the inspiration you provide those in your community, and the courage with which you stand up for the principles in which you believe,” Mays said.
Womack, the Republican nominee for United States Congress in the third district of Arkansas, said, he was pleased to receive the Arkansas Right to Life endorsement.
“Protecting the unborn is a fundamental core value rooted in conservative leadership,” Womack said. “I will continue to be a pro-life advocate, as well as other family values issues that speak directly to the principles honored by most Arkansans.”
Meanwhile, Womack’s opponent was left to wonder how a “human being” could stoop so low in a political campaign:
“To kill a child’s pet is just unconscionable,” Aden said Monday morning. “As a former combat soldier, I’ve seen the best of humanity and the worst of humanity. Whoever did this is definitely part of the worst of humanity,” he said.
“It is one thing to engage in civil political discourse, and for Republicans and Democrats to disagree with each other, which is an expected part of the political process. Taking it to this level is beyond unacceptable.”
Submitters Bio:
I live in Birmingham, Alabama, and work in higher education. I became interested in justice-related issues after experiencing gross judicial corruption in Alabama state courts. This corruption has a strong political component. The corrupt judges are all Republicans, and the attorney who filed a fraudulent lawsuit against me has strong family ties to the Alabama Republican Party, with indirect connections to national figures such as Karl Rove. In fact, a number of Republican operatives who have played a central role in the prosecution of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman (a Democrat) also have connections to my case. I am married, with no kids and two Siamese cats. I am the author of the blog Legal Schnauzer. The blog is written in honor of Murphy, our miniature schnauzer (1993-2004)who did so much to help my wife and me survive our nightmarish experience with corrupt judges. I grew up in Springfield, Missouri, and I am pretty much a lifelong St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan. I’ve lived in Birmingham for almost 30 years and have adopted the UAB Blazers as my Southern college football and basketball team to follow. Also, follow East Tennessee State basketball. An avid reader, both fiction and non-fiction. Influential writers on public affairs are Kevin Phillips, Michael Lind, Thomas Edsall, E.J. Dionne, Molly Ivins, and Scott Horton.
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