Leftists have a history of violence

A recent column by Eugene Robinson called our attention to the "rising risk of far-right violence," but dismissed threats of leftist violence as having "gone the way of the leisure suit and the AMC Gremlin."

While groups like the Hutaree militia are dangerous and must be stopped, it is mind-boggling that Mr. Robinson can treat leftist violence in such a cavalier manner.

Consider the following recent examples: Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindahl's aide and boyfriend were severely beaten outside a restaurant April 9, in New Orleans, in what appears to be a politically motivated attack.

A letter by a New Jersey Education Association official that "jokingly" prayed for the death of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Remember that it was a leftist who flew his airplane into an IRS Building a few months ago.

How about the rioters at the 2008 Republican convention, whose actions caused injury to several conventioneers? How about Ed Schultz wishing for Dick Cheney to die of a heart attack? Or the Black Panthers intimidating voters in Philadelphia during election day 2008?

And this one must have slipped by - SEIU members beating a man at a town-hall meeting in St Louis last August. It is interesting to note that the beating happened the same day the White House advised democrats to "punch back twice as hard."

Is the White House itself inciting citizens to violence? How should one put Randi Rhodes' comment calling for George Bush's assassination into proper context? Oh, gosh, those leftist comedians - they're just too funny, don't you think? From the above brief list, I guess we can safely assume that Alec Baldwin's 1998 call for the stoning of Henry Hyde and the killing of Hyde's family was just one of those long gone aberrations, like the leisure suit and the Gremlin.

John Greer

Arlington Heights