Democratic Congressman: Representatives Were Threatened With Martial Law In America Over Bailout Bil

[Night_Nurse]

A Democratic Congressman has warned that a panic atmosphere is being intentionally created in order to get the financial bailout billed passed, further stating that several members of Congress were told before Monday’s vote that martial law will be instigated in America if the legislation fails.

Congressman Brad Sherman of California’s 27th congressional district told the House in a speech yesterday evening that he personally knew of several Congressional representatives who have said they were threatened with the prospect of all out martial law should they vote in opposition to the $700 billion bailout.

Sherman essentially intimated that powerful forces who want the bill passed have attempted to blackmail elected representatives.

"The only way they can pass this bill is by creating and sustaining a panic atmosphere. That atmosphere is not justified." Sherman stated.

http://www.infowars.com/?p=5061

Is anyone else as frightened as I am about this?

[MrCoffee]

1. Who, specifically, told which members of the House that there would be martial law?

I don't know why he would say that on the floor of the House of Representatives, but I'd hope he could back it up with actual evidence.

[Poll_Blind]

9. Here's a link to the video at DU, btw.

Here.

  BTW, I'm assuming administration officials. Can't imagine anyone else, in any context, who would wind up being quoted by a sitting House member like that.

PB

[Iwasthere]

2. OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO . FUCKING . VIRAL . NOW (if this is true)!!!!

This must be everywhere right away!!! I'm tellin ya, they will pull out ALL the stops now. Too much to lose. Something even bigger could be right around the corner. they are chomping at the bit to find a reason to go with Martial Law!!! Maybe to try and stop the election

[MrCoffee]

4. Based on some random unverifiable statement on the House floor?

Tell me you're kidding.

[anigbrowl]

8. Why don't you do the 'if this is true' part FIRST

This doesn't mean what you think it does; a technical congressional term has been taken way out of context.

[Mojorabbit]

21. He was not speaking about the

congressional rule. THe video is pretty clear what he was speaking about. It would not surprise me if it were true but I am reserving judgement until there is a second person who says he was told the same thing.

[crossroads]

11. This video is now being circulated all over myspace! nt

[anigbrowl]

3. ARGH! would people please do a little research first?

There is such a thing as 'congressional martial law' which refers to the house leadership using its authority to push bills through without the normal cycle of committee hearings, floor debates etc. It's inside baseball to you, but to members of Congress and their staff it's just a technical term. It does NOT mean there were going to be soldiers in the streets.

[MrCoffee]

6. He did say "martial law in America"...watch the video.

It's such a completely bizarre statement, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaG9d_4zij8

He should either retract the statement from the record or offer some evidence to support it.

[anigbrowl]

10. You're right - in which case, my blame transfers to him.

(for misleading people with such a random comment). Nothing personal to you, but I'm just going to stay out of these threads because I have a feeling there's no point in arguing with the lunatic fringe people.

[Poll_Blind]

13. Out of curiosity, Anigbrowl, can you explain how you know he's misleading people?

:shrug:

PB

[anigbrowl]

19. I don't know so, but I believe so

It's an inflammatory remark (for obvious reasons) and to offer it up sans context strikes me as pure grandstanding. If he backs it up I might change my mind, but right now I strongly suspect he took either a reference to congressional practice (of ramming through bills without going through the normal committee process) or else a remark along the lines of 'Look brad, what if the economy collapses? We could end up with riots and martial law like in Country X when the economy collapsed' and parlayed that into a threat.

[eomer]

23. His allegation is about private conversations between members of Congress. What evidence do you

suppose he could produce?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Big deal. The lobbyists threats of cutting off their income was more ominous to them.

[ixion]

7. like the hiway men of old: stand and deliver

your money or your life.

[57_TomCat]

12. Scare tactics work...

The party was betrayed.

[onenote]

16. except that they didn't. He's referring to tactics used before the first vote

The one where the bailout plan was defeated.

[onenote]

14. his point wasn't that there was a real threat, but that hyperbole was being used to push the bill

He didn't really think people were serious that the "sky would fall" either. His point was that unfounded assertions were being made by some to create pressure for the bill to pass. Its hardly the first or last time that hyperbole will be used by the proponents or opponents of a piece of legislation. He obviously didn't regard it as a threat since he voted against the bill.

If it was a serious threat, he would be duty-bound to disclose who made it. The reason he hasn't done so is that he doesn't want to embarass those who engaged in over the top rhetoric to push the bill.

[chimpymustgo]

15. K&R. Brad Sherman is one of the few honest men and women in that sewer called Congress.

They sure got us good this time.

[Disturbed]

18. Busholini could have declared a National Emergency.

He could have forced the Bailout via Executive Decree.

[dkofos]

17. And it is in the Congressional record.

[Beregond2]

20. Someone probably said:

"A complete breakdown of the economy could lead to dire consequences, perhaps even involving martial law being declared at some point." Which is perfectly true. I don't see how explaining the implications amounts to blackmail.

[RufusTFirefly]

22. Nice little place you got there. A shame if it burned down.

Seems as though martial law was mentioned in a similar vein.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

24. If I were a Dem Congresscritter who had been threatened by the Bushies

I would find colleagues who had also been threatened and GO PUBLIC.

Sherman's mistake was to make that statement without support from colleagues. Now the Republicanites will convince the independents that he's just a nutcase.