Dan Kapanke: Threats, Vandalism

Republican Wisconsin Senator Dan Kapanke has received threats and suffered property damage.

(How many Democrat Wisconsin senators have been the target of death threats and vandalism?)

From the La Crosse Tribune:

Sen. Dan Kapanke has canceled upcoming district meetings after being the target of threats and vandalism. Rose Smyrski, Kapanke's chief of staff, said the senator's car window was smashed in Madison, and his wife found nails scattered in the driveway of their French Island home.

He also received death threats.

The second-term Republican had scheduled a listening session Friday in Ontario and office hours Monday in West Salem. Another meeting in La Farge had not been announced, legislative aide Hannah Huffman said.

Kapanke issued a written statement saying he is evaluating future public appearances and would be "balancing his availability to the public and his safety" and that he "remains committed to meeting one-on-one with constituents."

For the time being Kapanke is limiting his meetings with big groups.

"He is someone who wants to be accessible," Smyrski said. "I just want to make sure he's safe."

She said she continues to set up individual constituent meetings, although the size of the district makes it challenging to fit everyone into his schedule.

Kapanke has been a target of numerous protests - as well as a recall effort - over his support for Gov. Scott Walker's controversial proposal to strip most public workers of their collective bargaining rights.

This is really sick.

I don't understand why Democrats in Wisconsin are mostly silent on what is shaping up as a widespread pattern of violent threats and actions against those supporting Scott Walker.

Hey, Dems! That's not what democracy is supposed to look like!

I don't understand why Obama, Mr. Civility after Tucson, doesn't make a statement on the thuggery in Wisconsin.

Oh, that's right. It's Kansas, stupid.

To her credit, State Representative Jennifer Shilling, Democrat from La Crosse, did comment on the attacks on Kapanke.

A vocal opponent of Walker's bill and of Republican legislative tactics, Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) denounced the threats and vandalism in a written statement Thursday.

"I have said from the beginning of this session that those involved in political discourse have a responsibility to engage in meaningful debate and do so in a way that does not tear down our country or each other," she wrote. "I am once again calling for all citizens to make their voices heard and participate in this debate peacefully."

Was Shilling one of those Democrats in the Assembly screaming and chanting "SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!" and wearing an orange t-shirt?

I hope she conducted herself in a civil manner. If not, her written statement would be dripping with hypocrisy.