Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear Receives Threatening Letter From Group To Quit Or Be Removed, Jack CONway Chimes In And Blames Republicans.
Ky. gov among dozens to get threatening letter
By ROGER ALFORD
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Gov. Steve Beshear is among several governors who have received threatening letters from an anti-government group demanding that they resign or be removed.
The letters prompted Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway to call Friday for political leaders to stop trying to "whip people into a frenzy" over the health care reform package.
Several Democratic political leaders in Kentucky, including Conway, have received threats since Congress enacted a health care reform package that has been a catalyst for anger, especially among members of some anti-government groups.
Conway said his office's telephone switchboard has been lit up by angry callers, dozens of whom have made threats, because he refused to join in a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the legislation.
"Some of the politicians who are trying to play to people's fears rather than their hopes are playing a very dangerous game," Conway told The Associated Press on Friday. "I do think that fair-minded Republicans have an obligation to speak up at this moment and to try to temper some of the rhetoric that is being used in this particular issue."
Beshear, who supports the reforms that will extend health care benefits to 32 million uninsured people beginning in 2014, has deferred to Conway on the legal issues.
Kentucky State Police Lt. David Jude said Friday that Beshear had received one of the letters and that security has been increased around the governor as a result.
As of Wednesday, more than 30 governors had received similar letters from the anti-government group Guardians of the free Republics, according to an internal intelligence note by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, which was obtained by the AP.
Investigators do not see threats of violence in the group's message, but fear the broad call for removing top state officials could inspire others to act violently.
Beshear spokeswoman Jill Midkiff declined to comment about the letter, saying the administration does not discuss issues regarding the governor's security.
More than 100 protesters, some carrying guns, rallied Thursday at the state Capitol in an effort to persuade Conway to join other states in filing a lawsuit to stop the federal health care reforms. Conway said he doesn't want to waste taxpayer dollars on a legal action that would ultimately fail.
At least 13 state attorneys general, nearly all of them Republicans, are suing to overturn the massive health care overhaul, and many legal experts agree the effort is futile.
Conway said he is convinced some Republican politicians are feeding the vitriol for political gain.
"When you play to people's fears and try to whip people into a frenzy largely based on misinformation as a public servant, you're playing with fire," he said. "And in the end you're likely to get burned."
Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/04/02/1207795/beshear-receives-threatening-letter.html#ixzz0jxti1tM6
By ROGER ALFORD
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Gov. Steve Beshear is among several governors who have received threatening letters from an anti-government group demanding that they resign or be removed.
The letters prompted Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway to call Friday for political leaders to stop trying to "whip people into a frenzy" over the health care reform package.
Several Democratic political leaders in Kentucky, including Conway, have received threats since Congress enacted a health care reform package that has been a catalyst for anger, especially among members of some anti-government groups.
Conway said his office's telephone switchboard has been lit up by angry callers, dozens of whom have made threats, because he refused to join in a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the legislation.
"Some of the politicians who are trying to play to people's fears rather than their hopes are playing a very dangerous game," Conway told The Associated Press on Friday. "I do think that fair-minded Republicans have an obligation to speak up at this moment and to try to temper some of the rhetoric that is being used in this particular issue."
Beshear, who supports the reforms that will extend health care benefits to 32 million uninsured people beginning in 2014, has deferred to Conway on the legal issues.
Kentucky State Police Lt. David Jude said Friday that Beshear had received one of the letters and that security has been increased around the governor as a result.
As of Wednesday, more than 30 governors had received similar letters from the anti-government group Guardians of the free Republics, according to an internal intelligence note by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, which was obtained by the AP.
Investigators do not see threats of violence in the group's message, but fear the broad call for removing top state officials could inspire others to act violently.
Beshear spokeswoman Jill Midkiff declined to comment about the letter, saying the administration does not discuss issues regarding the governor's security.
More than 100 protesters, some carrying guns, rallied Thursday at the state Capitol in an effort to persuade Conway to join other states in filing a lawsuit to stop the federal health care reforms. Conway said he doesn't want to waste taxpayer dollars on a legal action that would ultimately fail.
At least 13 state attorneys general, nearly all of them Republicans, are suing to overturn the massive health care overhaul, and many legal experts agree the effort is futile.
Conway said he is convinced some Republican politicians are feeding the vitriol for political gain.
"When you play to people's fears and try to whip people into a frenzy largely based on misinformation as a public servant, you're playing with fire," he said. "And in the end you're likely to get burned."
Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/04/02/1207795/beshear-receives-threatening-letter.html#ixzz0jxti1tM6
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