It is appalling to me that anyone would stoop to the level of what we’ve seen after news of former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens died in a plane crash with four others in Western Alaska on Monday. Agree with him or not, it is a time to remember his service to his country. It is time to give tribute and put politics aside. I desired to do that when I learned of Senator Ted Kennedy’s passing even though there wasn’t much I agreed with him on. Respect the service and mark the loss. That is what these times should be about.
But since Senator Ted Stevens was from Alaska, those who suffer from PDS couldn’t help but take the occasion to express their disappointment it was the wrong politician on the plane. It started on Twitter, and you can see a couple of examples below:
It continued on Facebook, where two Democrats, including New Hampshire State Representative Timothy Horrigan speculated on Palin’s death. Horrigan resigned his House Seat yesterday as a result.
A New Hampshire state legislator resigned his office Thursday after becoming the second Democrat in as many days to speculate about Sarah Palin’s death on Facebook.
State Rep. Timothy Horrigan made the remarks Wednesday night in a thread discussing the Alaska plane crash that killed former Sen. Ted Stevens.
“Well a dead Palin wd be even more dangerous than a live one…she is all about her myth & if she was dead she didn’t commit any more gaffes,” Horrigan wrote.
Horrigan was commenting on another post by a Democrat running for the state house, party activist Keith David Halloran, who found himself in hot water Wednesday after writing about the crash: “Just wish Sarah and Levy [sic] were on board.”
After the controversy quickly gained steam Thursday, Horrigan sent a letter to the Speaker of the New Hampshire House offering his resignation.
“I apologize for thoughtless remarks I made which have brought this House into disrepute,” Horrigan wrote. “I enjoyed my time in the House and I thank you personally for your support over the years.”
The New Hampshire GOP took the opportunity to point out New Hampshire Democrats misplaced priorities:
Ryan Williams, a spokesman for the New Hampshire Republican Party, said Democrats in his state have “a widespread fixation” with Palin’s death.
“Instead of discussing their failed economic policies, New Hampshire Democrats are now spending their time openly discussing Governor Sarah Palin’s death,” Williams said in a statement. “Rep. Horrigan’s comments are sick, twisted and disgusting, and they must be immediately denounced by Governor John Lynch and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.
I’ll wait and see if Keith David Holloran will do the right thing and resign from his race as well. This type of abusive rhetoric should not be tolerated, and the size of the New Hampshire Legislature is no excuse. We can have disagreements, and dislike a candidate’s policies. This is over the top. We need bring civility back into our political discourse. Wishing for the death of a politician whether it’s Sarah Palin or President Obama is inappropriate and shameful.
This type of garbage needs to stop NOW, especially among elected officials and party leadership.
HT: Memeorandum
Update: Changed the title.
