GOP must condemn this kind of prayer

Where is the real Republican leadership?

The anti-Obama right wing conservatives are at it again. This time they are slapping bumper stickers on their cars and wearing T-shirts and hats admonishing us to "Pray for Obama! Psalm 109:8." An uninformed reader might think this was an appeal for support for our president. A more in depth investigation will show that this Bible verse asks for the death of Obama, leaving his wife a widow and his children fatherless.

Prayers being said for the death of our President? This is America? This is American?

The FBI says threats on the President are up 400 percent since he took office. Rhetoric like this biblical verse urges on those who feel they are being harmed in some way by our President and validates any desires they may have to commit violence to "take care of" this "problem". It would only require one individual and a convergence of circumstances to cause yet another devastating tragedy for our nation. Where is the Republican leadership? Why are they not condemning such exhortations?

By such leadership, I don't mean pseudo-leaders like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. They have made enough inflammatory comments, themselves. I mean John Boehner and Eric Cantor in the House of Representatives and Mitch McConnell and John Kyle in the Senate.

Human tragedy is being encouraged by the application of this Old Testament passage to Barack Obama. Another egregious tragedy would be its effect on our democracy.

The message being sent is, "If you don't like the results of the last election, kill the winners!" Freedom of speech ends with a cry of "fire" in a crowded theater.

I plead with all our nation's leaders to publicly condemn this rhetoric. Or, will they wait until something unthinkable happens and then come out against it?

Karen Wagner

Rolling Meadows