U.S. Representative Accuses Democrats of Wanting Martial Law (UPDATED)
Speaking at a Town Hall meeting, Representative Paul Broun commented that he believes that Democrats in Congress are looking for a pretext to impose martial law.
He also spoke of a “socialistic elite” – Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid – who might use a pandemic disease or natural disaster as an excuse to declare martial law.
“They’re trying to develop an environment where they can take over,” he said. “We’ve seen that historically.”
Of course, he didn’t actually proffer any evidence for this despicable claim. He’s just fanning the fires.
In perusing Rep. Broun’s career, I note that he has introduced legislation to officially designate the year 2010 the “Year of the Bible.” In that spirit, I would hope that Rep. Broun would take some time to read Exodus 20:16 before he again falsely accuses his colleagues in Congress of treason.
(link via Dave Weigel)
Update: I know that some folks in the comments have asked whether Broun actually used the phrase “martial law,” so I emailed the reporter and asked him. He pointed me to his blog, where he has put the full context of the quote. Broun did not use the actual phrase “martial law,” but a constituent did, and he cited his agreement with that constiuent, so I believe that the criticism should stand.
“We have an agenda (unintelligible) by the socialistic elite — Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Obama and those folks in Washington — who want control everything that you do and everything that I do, and you’re exactly right,” Broun said. “They’re trying to create an environment where they can take over. We’ve seen it historically.”
Townsend urged audience members to speak to their local officials about emergency procedures like curfews that have already been put in place.
“When they go to martial law, we’re looking at no rights or anything,” she said.
“That’s right,” Broun said. “You’re right, and I appreciate y’all bringing it up.”
For the sake of the country, they must stop playing into the hands of the Left!
For starters I see mr Knapp is one of our friends in the lawyer business. That should automatically disqualify him from quoting the bible or any other moral/ethical document to prove his points about Congressman/MD Broun.
As for Doctor Broun,he has been elected twice despite the intense opposition thrown against him by the corporate interest in both the the Georgia Republican and Democrat establishments.
I personally don’t know if Doctor Broun has a valid point or not. But I can assure you, his comment doesn’t fit the narrative the “idiot elites”who control this country, want you to hear.(You don’t think they are Democrat and Republican idiots? Look at our currant economic situation, and the on going Middle East disasters.)
To paraphrase just two of our notable founding father geniuses,Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. “It never hurts to keep a close eye on the “Pricks” who go into the government business”. (After all a large number are lawyers)
I would say Doctor Broun’s election and reelection by half a million voters. Gives Broun just a little more credibility to comment of our current government situation than mediocre or failed lawyer Knapp has.
Of course, if Pelosi had said that being an elected congressman means that little people like Knapp should just defer to her view about what’s happening in government, Highlander would be getting the vapors about what an outrageous claim that was.
I never saw the words “martial law” in quotes. Did he actually say that or did his phrase regarding them taking over get interpreted as martial law by the reporter?
I thought you might find that edit enlightening…
There’s a gap between the actual words “take over” and the gloss “martial law”, but it’s a step more than a jump. How else does one take over, except by extra-legal means?
I note that he has introduced legislation to officially designate the year 2010 the “Year of the Bible.â€
Obviously he is a diabolical tool of Satan. EVERY year is the Bible’s year. Ever since 4004 B.C.
Ach, what narrow-minded, sloppy thinking…how exactly is it that lawyers do not have the right to quote the Bible? There is nothing that can justify the loony tunes that Brown is spouting…it’s rich that someone who is trying to trash lawyers would cite a lawyer to try to make his case…
kth, You can take over by legal means as well. Some people would claim winning the White House and both houses of Congress as “taking over”. The question still stands did he say “martial law” or not? I also have to ask how this gets to a claim of treason? False witness? Let’s get back to what he actually said before Exodus 20:16 is violated.
re: Steve Plunk | August 12, 2009 | 02:10 pm
Interesting that you should give such benefit of the doubt to someone who compared the president to Hitler and who claims that the president wants “to let the old folks die”…
An Interested Party, Don’t change the subject please. Did he say it or not? Simple question about the basis for the entire conversation going on here. Did he say “martial law” in the context given? That’s all I’m asking. If he did he was out of line, if he didn’t who is bringing false witness?
Steve, the Dems have already taken over in the sense you describe, so Broun is pretty clearly alluding to something above and beyond. Maybe not martial law specifically, but definitely through an illegitimate abrogation of democracy. I’ll agree that “suspension of democracy” would have been a better choice of words than “martial law”, to denote the spectre that Broun clearly intended to raise.
re: Steve Plunk | August 12, 2009 | 03:05 pm
I’m not changing the subject at all, but, rather, presenting Broun in context (as does the linked article)…as kth points out, the Democrats already control the Congress and the presidency, what more could they do to “take over”? It is not unreasonable to speculate about what he meant, especially since, in the past, he did compare the president to Hitler…
Well, I dunno. The guy has said this:
Accusing the Dems of wanting to invoke martial law doesn’t seem that far-fetched.
I personally don’t know if Doctor Broun has a valid point or not.
Of course you don’t. You do know how to engage in an unprovoked personal attack, though.
Once again, did he say “martial law” in the context presented here? Yes or no my esteemed friends. I don’t care if was far fetched that doesn’t make it so. I notice a conspicuous silence on the basic question while tossing out new accusations.
The update settles it. The guy didn’t say it and it’s falsely attributed to him.
Now I wouldn’t have made such a big deal out of this if it hadn’t been for the controversy over the “un-American” behavior versus being called “un-American”. It seems the liberal side of the spectrum want to apply different standards. Heck, this guy never even said the words “martial law” while the term “un-American” was spoken and could be reasonably interpreted the way many did .
Public debate requires a few basic standards to work properly. One is not putting words in other people’s mouths. Even if they agree with what was said (politicians do that with constituents) they must say it themselves to have those words attributed to them.
So before getting snarky with the bible verses get the thing right.
No, he didn’t say “martial law” he just agreed with it…would you care to defend any of the odious things he actually has said? As for “un-American”, that was used to describe bullying behavior, not particular individuals…if you want to make an analogy…when you find Hoyer and Pelosi referring to their political opposition as Nazis, do let us know…