N.C. congressman gets death threat over health care reform

Institute for Southern Studies

The controversy over health care reform has taken an ugly turn, with Congressman Brad Miller (D-N.C.) telling a local TV news station that he is among hundreds of lawmakers who have received death threats over the proposed legislation, which he supports.

The caller was reportedly angry that Miller was not holding a town hall meeting on the legislation, which aims to expand health care coverage to more Americans. Miller is among a growing number of lawmakers who are canceling those meetings, which have been the targets of disruptions orchestrated by corporate-funded advocacy groups Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks.

Miller's communication director LuAnn Canipe told the Charlotte weekly Creative Loafing that their office received "a slew" of angry calls, with one caller stating that "Miller could lose his life over this."

Reps. Heath Shuler and Larry Kissell, also North Carolina Democrats, are holding meetings on health care reform by teleconference, the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

The U.S. Capitol Police confirmed to Facing South that they are investigating a report of a death threat received by Miller's office. However, a spokesperson for the department would not confirm the claim that "hundreds" of such threats have been received, saying that's not something they can discuss with the because it's part of an ongoing investigation.

An angry group of protesters disrupted a health care forum yesterday in Tampa, Fla., banging on windows and shouting, ThinkProgress reports. Some of the protesters carried signs showing an image of President Obama with his face painted like Heath Ledger's Joker character in "The Dark Knight," an image that has drawn protests of racism.