Research Briefing

Will Obama Seek To Heal The Divisions In Wisconsin Or Will He Continue To Look The Other Way?

President Obama: “We've Got To Change The Tone Of Government And Politics Here In Washington And All Across America.  I'm Not Going To Give Up On That Either.” (President Obama, Remarks by the President at DNC Fundraising Dinner, Washington, D.C., 2/5/10) 

WILL PRESIDENT OBAMA DENOUNCE THE DEATH THREATS, BULLYING, AND VANDALISM AGAINST WISCONSIN’S ELECTED OFFICIALS?

18 Republican Senators In Wisconsin Have Received Death Threats. “State Sens. Joe Leibham and Glenn Grothman said they are among as many as 18 Republican senators who received a death threat following their votes to eliminate most collective bargaining powers for public workers.” (Eric Litke, “18 Republican Senators From Wisconsin Report Getting Death Threats After Passing Bill To End Collective Bargaining For Most Public Workers,” Wausa Daily Herald, 3/11/11)

Lawmakers Received A Signed Letter Telling Them To “Make Your Peace With God As Soon As Possible And Say Goodbye To Your Loved Ones.” “The letter tells lawmakers to ‘make your peace with God as soon as possible and say goodbye to your loved ones,’ warning they will be killed ‘due to your actions in the last eight weeks.’ The letter, which is signed, says the writer is working with a group of people and knows where the legislators live. It says legislators may be shot in their homes or killed with bombs placed at locations they frequent.” (Eric Litke, “18 Republican Senators From Wisconsin Report Getting Death Threats After Passing Bill To End Collective Bargaining For Most Public Workers,” Wausa Daily Herald, 3/11/11)

• And Other E-mails Threatened The Republicans’ Staff.  Email Message: “‘Your staff members have now been added to the hit list as well as those of the other Senate members we have threatened. Please advise them of the impending danger leading to their deaths.’” (Lyssa Beyer, “Suspect Identified in Death Threats Against Grothman, Other GOP Senators,” Port Washington Patch [WI], 3/11/11)

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald Has Received Death Threats And Trespassers At His Home. “The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating an e-mail threatening the lives of some Republican state senators. … The e-mail said Fitzgerald and his ‘Republican dictators’ must die because of their actions. Fitzgerald says a protester was arrested this week for trespassing at his Dodge County home after she walked onto his porch and banged on the window.” (“Wisconsin GOP Death Threats Probed,” The Associated Press, 3/11/11)

Wisconsin Senator Dan Kapanke Had To Cancel Public Meetings Due To Death Threats And Vandalism Of His Home. “Wisconsin Senate Republican Dan Kapanke has called off public meetings in his La Crosse area district, after his property was vandalized and had death threats. His chief of staff Rose Smyrski tells the La Crosse Tribune that Kapanke’s car window was broken in Madison. And nails were scattered in the driveway of his house on La Crosse’s French Island.” (“Lawmaker Calls Off Meetings Over Vandalism, Death Threats,” WTAQ (La Crosse, Wisconsin), 3/17/11)