Home About Chat Users Issues Party Candidates Polling Firms Media News Polls Calendar Key Races United States President Senate House Governors International

New User Account
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource." 
Email: Password:

  Councilman refuses to stand for Pledge
NEWS DETAILS
Parent(s) Issue 
ContributorThe Sunset Provision 
Last EditedThe Sunset Provision  Feb 09, 2007 10:37pm
Logged 0
CategoryNews
MediaWebsite - Yahoo News
News DateSaturday, February 10, 2007 04:35:00 AM UTC0:0
DescriptionOne person suggested that City Councilman Tom Rawles be taken out back and beaten. Another said someone should put a bullet in his head, and a third that he should be buried in the cement his construction company uses.

Rawles began getting the threats last month after he started refusing to recite or stand for the Pledge of Allegiance during council meetings to protest the war in Iraq. He has sat out for the pledge twice so far.

His stand has angered fellow council members and constituents alike in this conservative Phoenix suburb of about 400,000, with several people demanding the first-term councilman be thrown out of office. Police briefly provided him with protection before deciding the threats were no reason for alarm.

"You have disrespected our country and the symbol of it and the men and women who fought for it," resident Mike Thelan told Rawles through tears at a council meeting on Monday. "You have acted like a spoiled little child that has not received what he wants from his parents."

Rawles, a 57-year-old lawyer who long ago decided not to run for re-election when his term is up in June 2008, said he will continue his protest "until the troops come home." He said he doesn't mind that his stand is angering some people.

Share
ArticleRead Full Article

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor

DISCUSSION