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Title: 6 Minn. politicians' homes vandalized
Source:
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URL Source: http://kstp.com/article/stories/S627869.shtml?cat=1
Published: Oct 23, 2008
Author: staff
Post Date: 2008-10-23 10:46:26 by angle
Keywords: None
Views: 102
Comments: 5
Police are investigating vicious graffiti written on the homes of six Minnesota politicians--a mix of both democratic and republican lawmakers. Now, one of them is personally offering a $1,000 reward to find the suspects. It began with a report of graffiti in the Crocus Hill neighborhood in St. Paul, written on the garage of Sen. Norm Coleman. Words sprayed in black paint read, 'you are a criminal resign or else'; 'SCUM,' which is written three times; and 'Psalm 2.' According to police, one of Coleman's neighbors noticed the graffiti around 7 a.m. Wednesday and called his wife Laurie. "It's really disturbing, you know. It's scary actually. It's threatening. Norm is traveling the state, so my daughter and I are here alone. It's unsettling," said Laurie Coleman. She told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS upon discovering the graffiti, she phoned her husband, whose main concerns were for his family. "He obviously wanted to know if we were okay, and to calm us down. He let me know the police would be over to take a look at it and investigate," Laurie said. When asked if she believed the suspects might be affiliated with one of her husband's challengers vying for his Senate seat, Laurie didn't wish to speculate. "I don't know. The police will take pictures and we'll let them do their job. It's just sad," she said. Coleman, the incumbent Republican senator, is in a heated race against Democratic challenger Al Franken and Independent Dean Barkley. Barkley told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the verbal attack against Coleman is 'shameful.' "Political candidates subject themselves to a lot, but attacks against homes and family members are absolutely inappropriate. I wish Senator Coleman well and hope this kind of trash isn't repeated against him or any other candidate for office," Barkley said in a written statement to the media. Franken's campaign issued a written statement. "Al, Franni, and everyone here at the campaign strongly condemn this and all other such cowardly acts of vandalism. There's no place for this unacceptable behavior in our political process, or in our communities," said Andy Barr, Franken's Communication Director, through a statement released to the media. St. Paul Police spokesman Peter Panos said he expected increased patrols around the Coleman home. "We're considering it a threat to the senator," Panos said. The Colemans have lived in the home, which sits on a residential street near the Victoria's Crossing shopping area, for almost 20 years. Coleman formerly was mayor of St. Paul from 1994 to 2002. Across the Metro, at least five other lawmakers’ homes were damaged overnight. The case now may point to a non-partisan group, as both democratic and republican politicians were hit. "I deplore and condemn the vandalism against the property of Senator Coleman and other Republican officeholders. The immaturity and stupidity of these crimes should offend every citizen, regardless of politics…whoever committed these cowardly crimes should step forward, confess, apologize, and take the consequences," said Minnesota DFL Party Chairman Brian Melendez. Republican Reps. John Kline, Michele Bachmann and Jim Ramstad were targeted with similar vandalism that police think might be related, according to Panos. According to Ramstad's spokesman Lance Olson, the words 'SCUM' and 'U R A sellout!!! Psalm 2' was painted across the retiring Congressman's garage door. "I don't know who the deranged vandalist who did this is, but when I learned five others of the Minnesota delegation were also hit, I got really angry," Ramstad said. He told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS he's already painted over the hateful messages. "There's no question this graffiti goes beyond simple vandalism. I think the law enforcement is looking at it as actual threats," Ramstad explained. A spokesman for Kline said similar language was spray painted on Kline's garage door, but declined to state the exact verbiage. The extent of the vandalism at Bachmann's home has not been released. Vandals also struck democratic Rep. Keith Ellison and Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s homes. Ellison's campaign manager, Larry Weiss, said the Congressman's wife found the words 'SCUM' and 'Traitor. Resign now. Psalm 2' was across the side of their home. "I think it's clearly a terroristic threat. It looked like someone went way out of their way to do a hateful act," Ellison told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS as he viewed the vandalism on his home for the first time. "I don't know if these people realize it, but I don't live here by myself. My family lives here." At Klobuchar's house, the damage was covered by a blue tarp, but not yet removed. The Senator said she was "confident the police will fully investigate these incidents. When so many homes are vandalized on the same night...there will be some good leads. Vandalism to any home is unacceptable." The vandals apparently covered plenty of ground in a few hours between late Tuesday and early Wednesday morning. Coleman lives in St. Paul, Klobuchar and Ellison in Minneapolis, Bachmann in Stillwater, Ramstad in Minnetonka and Kline in Lakeville. "I'm not a fearful guy. So this kind of intimidation stuff doesn't change the job that I'm doing," Ellison said. Congressman Ramstad is personally offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects behind the vandalism. Federal officials have also become involved in the investigation, since they've deemed the vandalism as threats against elected federal officials. 
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 5.
#1. To: angle (#0)
According to Ramstad's spokesman Lance Olson, the words 'SCUM' and 'U R A sellout!!! Psalm 2' was painted across the retiring Congressman's garage door. retiring ??? How CONvenient.
To me, the taggers were quite restrained in their correspondence...
Cat got your tongue, boy ???
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#2. To: noone222, angle, all (#1)
#5. To: lodwick (#2)
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