Chairman of AZ Democratic Party on the wave of vandalism and intimidation

From an email -

Chairman Bivens calls on Republicans to renounce violence and pledge to end inflammatory rhetoric

PHOENIX -- Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Don Bivens today called on elected Republican leaders in Arizona to strongly and immediately denounce all acts or threats of violence and inflammatory rhetoric being perpetuated in response to Sunday's health-insurance reform vote in Congress.

A disturbing incident Monday in Tucson prompted Bivens' call. Early that morning, a window was shattered at the office of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., possibly by a pellet gun. Giffords voted for the deficit-reducing package of reforms that includes prohibiting insurance companies from putting lifetime caps on insurance claims or dropping people because of pre-existing conditions.

"Threats and vandalism undermine the democratic process and have no place in our policy discussions," Bivens said. "They run counter to the fundamental freedoms our country was founded upon.

"I call upon elected Republican leaders -- especially Gov. Brewer and Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl -- to immediately and unequivocally denounce any acts or threats of violence or inflammatory rhetoric associated with anti-health-reform protests.

"In light of what has already occurred in Arizona, I urge all those speaking at Friday's McCain-Palin rally in Tucson to lead their supporters in denouncing any future violence and curtailing the inflammatory rhetoric. Their failure to do so would constitute a tacit approval of these disturbing tactics," Bivens said.

I appreciate Don Bivens' call, but given McCain's rightward lurch politically, I don't expect him to risk alienating his base by telling them to behave like civilized and mature adults.