re:  A little help for Republican leaders

In derisive column about the rhetoric involved in the recent debate over health care "reform" and the reaction by some to its passage, Leonard Pitts seems to be quite selective in his indignation.  In addressing his "statement" as being necessary only for "Republican leaders", he seems to be ignoring the fact that the level of inappropriate, boorish, and, in some cases, violent rhetoric is not the domain solely of those who object to the expansion of government, tea party activists, or members of the GOP.

For example, in his December article advocating for passage of the health care bill, Paul Krugman — who is, like Mr. Pitts, a regular contributor to the Chronicle, had this suggestion:  "A message to progressives: By all means, hang Senator Joe Lieberman in effigy."  This idea of effigial hanging is not unique to Dr. Krugman — a Reuters report in October of 2008 detailed a similar act, the subject being then-Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.  True, it has been reported that brick was thrown through the window of New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's office — a Democrat who favored reform and drew up the (later discarded) "deem and pass" plan to pass the "reform" bill without a vote; however, there is also a report of one being thrown through the window of a Michigan Republican Party office.  Further, the FBI arrested a man for threatening to kill Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor and his family; Cantor was an opponent of the health care bill ... and is one of the "Republican leaders" of whom Mr. Pitts is so derisive.  There was even a movie depicting the assassination of President George W. Bush.

Certainly, the debate over health care reform has gotten out-of-hand, with regrettable rhetoric employed; however, to blame only those on the right of incivility (or worse) is hypocritical and is lacking in intellectual honesty.  If Mr. Pitts is genuinely worried about the heatedness of the debate, he needs to chastise both sides.

Sincerely,
Dave Smith
Houston, TX