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Rep. Tom Latham Under Fire for Laughing at 'Pistol Whipping' of Nuns on the Bus: Flashback

Should he say he's sorry? Faith in Public Life and Faithful America is asking the Congressman to apologize for laughing at a comment. Latham says that anyone who knows him knows he wouldn't condone such rhetoric.

 

AMES, IA — A group is calling on U.S. Rep. Tom Latham to apologize for laughing when a conservative talk show host asked him if Congress had the power to pull over Nuns on the Bus and pistol whip them.

According to the Faith in Public Life group, Jan Mickelson, on June 22, said, “There’s a bus full of nuns headed towards Washington to lobby against the Ryan plan. Do you guys, do you have any power to pull the Nuns on the Bus over and pistol whip them?”

Latham then said, “It’s always fun to be on your show” and laughter is heard.

Nuns on the Bus of NETWORK, a liberal Catholic social justice lobby, launched its national tour to advocate for the poor and against the Ryan Budget here in Ames at Congressman Steve King's campaign office. The Republican of Kiron faces Ames Democrat Christie Vilsack in the race for Iowa's new 4th Congressional district. 

Latham will no longer represent Ames after the November 2012 election.

Latham faces fellow incumbent Leonard Boswell, a Democrat, in the November 2012 election for a revamped Third District seat that includes Polk and Dallas counties.

A statement from Faith in Public Life on Latham's laughter said:

“While Congressman Latham doesn’t express outright support for Mickelson’s statement, he seems unfazed by the suggestion and happy to laugh off this grotesque call for violence on women ... It’s unacceptable for anyone, let alone an elected representative, to tacitly condone suggestions of violence. Rep. Latham should apologize and clarify that he would never support 'pistol whipping' religious sisters.”

Latham said Wednesday, "Jan's comments were an unfortunate and uncomfortable attempt at humor. Anyone who knows me is aware that it goes without saying that I would not condone such rhetoric."

So far more than 15,000 have signed an online petition posted by Faithful America, an interfaith social and political interest group sponsored by Faith in Public Life. The petition asks Latham to “disavow Jan Mickelson's hateful comments and apologize” to Nuns on the Bus.

Jessica Barba Brown, Faith in Public Life vice president for program development said "Mickelson should also apologize but Latham is an elected member of Congress who is supposed to represent all his constituents, including Catholic sisters. He should be held to a higher standard."

What do you think? Does Latham owe anyone an apology? Tell us in the comments.

Related Topics: Nuns on the Bus and Tom Latham

ROBERT NICHOLS

8:15 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

BET THERE WOULD BE NO LAUGHTER IF HIS SISTER WAS A NUN ON THAT BUS..

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Dave

11:32 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

So hilarious, pistal whipping nuns on a bus, this is the kind of stuff the GOP/Teabaggers find funny. Wasn't it funny when Sarah Palin put that cross hairs on Gabby Giffords? Or wasn't it funny when the RWHJ's ke;t calling Dr. Tiller, "Tiller the baby killer"? This guys have no moral compass and are complete idiots. God help us if they get back into power.

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Knot a Lib

11:57 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Of all the Polish and black jokes you have told over the years, and don't dare claim you haven't, did you not stop to think what if that were you or your family member? Come on people, there jokes, and if he is guilty then YOU ARE TOO!!!! LOL

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Elaine Cox

12:54 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

so bob nichols has never told a joke...never voted for a dem pol who said something outrageous...never spent money on a movie with outlandish speech....uh huh

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Sr. Dorothy of the Holy Cross

12:58 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

As a religious woman, I wish these "nuns on the bus" (who are really not nuns, but simply sisters, [nuns are those who live in cloistered communities]), who do not represent all women religious, would just go back to the practice of the True Faith, as taught by Jesus, or leave the faith and get real jobs. In other words, either live as women of Christ, or get out and stop seeking attention to self.

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Elaine Cox

1:08 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Right after the Supreme Court's decision this morning the Democratic National Committee started celebrating - these are direct quotes:

"it's constitutional. B****es." "TAKE THAT MOTHER******S!!"

wow..look at the sexism...calling their opponents "b*tches....im sure bob is outraged!!!..but i doubt it

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allison

2:34 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Dave, you must mean WHEN, not if.

Gary Houston

10:20 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Should Obama apologies for Bill Maher slandering Sarah Palin and familt?

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Deborah

10:56 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

if anything Bill should have got a high 5...

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Jim

11:23 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

1. President Obama wasn't sitting there when it was said.2. Bill Maher didn't call for violence against Sarah Palin. he just criticized her. Besides, she's a public figure. When you sign up to run, that comes with the territory.

When someone says or writes such stuff, keeping silent indicates to most that you agree.

He knew that and he didn't do a thing to dispell the impression.

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Joel Gimpel

11:42 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

No, that would be up to Bill Maher, but you should apologize for your poor spelling.

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B. W. Tungseth

12:36 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

JOE, that`s all you come up with as a comment against Jim? You need to climb back into your teabag and think that one out a while.

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Elaine Cox

12:45 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

1. President Obama wasn't sitting there when it was said.2. Bill Maher didn't call for violence against Sarah Palin. he just criticized her. Besides, she's a public figure. When you sign up to run, that comes with the territory.

no he was sitting there when wanda sykes wanted rush limbaughs kidneys to fail....bill didnt call for violence against sarah palin?...you better check your facts,jim.....and of course who can forget sandra "sarah palin should get gangraped" bernhardt.....need i go on?....and a public figure has to expect being mocked huh...oh is that why obama and the left yells racist at anyone who dares speak out against him?

When someone says or writes such stuff, keeping silent indicates to most that you agree.

oh so you spoke out against jesse "h*mietown"jackson? marion "dirty asians"berry? al "homos and chinamen"sharpton?....ya i thought not....i love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning

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Darreltheman

12:47 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

So it is okay for blacks but whites must march to a different drummer? Oh yes we can !!!

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Pfoff

6:03 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Why should President Obama apologize for something somebody else said ?. Gary.. I can't apologize for you being ignorant..you have to do that yourself.

Debra Harscher

10:26 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

No apology needed -- he was laughing at the absurdity of the question not the idea of really pistol-whipping nuns! People are getting ridiculous these days!

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kevin mcmanus

10:44 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

the question was so absurd anyone would have laugh. should he give an apolagy now theres the joke.....

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C A McMillan

11:08 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

I so totally agree! I was about to post the exact same thing: he laughed at the absurdity and shock value of the question. Frankly, I probably would have laughed, too... as soon as I picked up my jaw from the floor!

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allison

12:42 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Totally agree. It's as if someone said "do you advocate someone killing a dog so you could eat it?" Of course no one would do anything so absurd, but you certainly wouldn't take the whole thing seriously.

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Darreltheman

12:49 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

AMEN, it was a joking analogy. PC anyone?

Barbara Barrow-pettard

10:46 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

what a stupid question! I am a very liberal person and I would have laughed at such a stupid question: first cops pistol whipping women, They do much worse things than that, however, most is verbal, not physical, and when it is physical it's not pistol whipping! second Pistol whipping a bus full of Nuns, that is funny by itself. So this whole thing is nothing more that a load of verbal CRAP! why don't you use a more believable, scenario!

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Debi

10:46 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

What is it with all the "jokes" about violence against women who are standing up for themselves? It was only a month or so ago when a spokesperson for a U.S. Representative suggested they "throw acid in the faces of those Democratic women Senators." And now, pistol-whipping nuns? I guess I just don't get the humor of violence.

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Elaine Cox

12:37 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

but you would get it when its sarah palin....wouldnt ya....ya i thought so....i bet you were laughing when sandra bernhardt wanted sarah palin gangraped by a group of black men...

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allison

12:45 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Have to agree with Elaine on this one, I bet you and your little buddies were just over the top, hysterical, when Bernhard made that remark. Libs are so ridiculous.

E.K. Moore

11:01 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

His retort shows that the remark was not taken seriously! I am beginning to despair over the IQ's of people who try to create crises over remarks made in jest. What is happening to the American Public?

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allison

12:47 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

It's not the American public so much as Liberals. When they get desperate, and find out how foolish they were putting someone in office because of their race, because doing so made them FEEL good, instead of what was good for the Country, they tend to get desperate.

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Darreltheman

12:52 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

It started when PC became vogue. Anyone not toeing the party line was ridiculed and told to go sit in a corner.

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mike westman

1:16 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Dear Allison....you think the thinking of the moderate Americans that voted Obama into office is that flawed? Maybe you should be the one looking in the mirror

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allison

2:30 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Actually, yes Mike, I do feel that people, for the most part, that voted for a man who promises the moon, has no experience at delivering such, and is not properly vetted, have only done so for one reason...they wanted to appear not to be racist to their friends. The interesting thing is that racism is treating some differently because of the color of their skin. Which actually makes the people who voted for that reason, just that, racists.

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mike westman

3:23 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

We voted for someone who would not give away the fort...as the bushies were doing...and keep the ship afloat....which Mr. Obama has done. The right has no real answers and does not for the near and far term. The Dems have done stuff....what has your group of tittering nabobs done?

Hal Malen

11:03 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

This is so typical and common for a GOP congressman to laugh at a cruel and hateful joke by a conservative right wing talk show host. So what else is new.

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Elaine Cox

12:35 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

do i need to post a million things the dems have said?...na...too nice a day to waste on you....say hi to jesse"h*mietown"jackson for me

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mike westman

1:18 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

It is trite to deride a pol who laughs at jokes about pistol whipping women and religious figures.....just so trite.....of course it was all in good fun....yep

catman kent

11:04 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

This just shows how much contempt republicans have for the working class and the poor. That is really what the joke means. They are looking out only for the rich .Nuns on the bus joke is a representation contempt for the poor, not the rich.

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allison

12:51 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

You know, that Republicans only want to help the Rich is getting really old. Maybe you should try something a little more original, what with Obama and dining with all his rich friends, playing golf over one hundred times while there was a war going on, jetting his mrs all over the world at our expense...oh, please, you are so desperate at this point, it must be very embarrassing to be a Lib.

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Elaine Cox

12:58 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

jesse jackson? al sharpton? marion berry? mario "vote for cuomo,not the homo" cuomo?...need i go on....please say yes...i have so many more...

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mike westman

1:20 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Give me a hint Allison....who do the Republicans want to make this country better for? I am not able to process a coherent answer about that. All I see is a grape jelly morass of nothingness that emanates from the mouths of the right.

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allison

2:32 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

The answer to your question, Mike, would be one word. Everyone. Now, please, your douchness is showing.

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mike westman

3:21 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

So why not say something other than close the govt. down, keep the greed in the streets and screw the less fortunate? I am still awaitin' something that is positive. We are not all dolts

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falling

5:09 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

The joke was just rediculous, over the top, nonsense and deserved a laugh. And it was made by the liberal talk show host, so he is the one you should be mad at if you want to pretend to be mad! As for Republican's only looking out for the rich....Republicans ARE the middle class. We just want to go to work, live our lives and be left alone by the idiots in DC. We do not care if the rich get rich, we want the poor to start making better life decisions and take some personal responsibility for themselves...just like we did when we were broke teenagers working our way up the ladder. We don't mine giving someone a hand up, but we are getting sick and tired of giving so many generational handouts!

scot brumbaugh

11:05 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

He doesn't need to apologize to anyone. He didn't tell the joke. And besides I think Paul Ryan's plan is a good one. Something has to be done to fix our debt.

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mike westman

1:21 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Yea....paying your fair share

Sharmagne

11:06 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

i knew a few nuns in my day who should have been pistol whipped for all the fingers they broke with their rulers.

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Ken del Valle

11:18 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Only if the bus travels in interstate commerce thus coming under the commerce clause... only then may Congress act.

Seriously folks... when you can't laugh at a ridiculous joke ... we are all in trouble!

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Pam Kupfner

11:23 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

I find nothing funny about his comment whatsoever!

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Bill Jenkins

11:29 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Most Americans are fed up with all this liberal, politically correct BS. We will put a stop to it in Nov.

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Scvott

12:04 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Yes but are most Americans fed up with the worlds economic collapse being cause by the Republican party. Or all the jobs going over seas for decades caused by the republican party. Or the occupation of foreign countries under false pretenses and imprisonment and torture of innocent civilians both abroad and at home. The changes in pollution standards so the world can be destroyed by Republican party. The complete divide in society with the 1% rich running over the 99% poor brought on by the republican party. The inability to do any good for our country brought on by the republican congress vowing to make Obama fail at our expense. Should I go on?

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Daniel Croll

12:10 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

yes it's silly to think it may offend some one well I say if it offends you turn the other cheek

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mike westman

1:23 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Willy.....some of you find that anything that looks like a logical solution is PC....maybe we should take some of the rbagger ideas and institute them. I am sure that the rest of the world will pick up the pieces after the implosion

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barbara snyder

2:25 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

bill jenkins ha ha ha now thats a joke if I ever heard one repubs don't know how to keep their mouths shut their always spewing things to make people angry

Fred Smif

11:30 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

I have a good liberal joke for ya Hal told by Obama himself. The healthcare bill IS NOT A TAX. Oh and another good joke for ya, There will be transparency in the government HA HA HA Ha What a joke!!!! Get over yourself man , how many times have you laughed when some poor guy took a shot in the man berries? If you are a man you know that is no joking matter but nobody seems to get upset when it happens they all laugh wether they be men women republicans or liberals. Find something real to complain about.

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Ron Hatcher

11:39 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

There are real problems in the world--laughing at the absurd doesn't/shouldn't rank high for thoughtful people. Get a life!!

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Ted Jennings

11:44 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

A statement from Faith in Public Life on Latham's laughter said:

“While Congressman Latham doesn’t express outright support for Mickelson’s statement, he seems unfazed by the suggestion and happy to laugh off this grotesque call for violence on women ... It’s unacceptable for anyone, let alone an elected representative, to tacitly condone suggestions of violence. Rep. Latham should apologize and clarify that he would never support 'pistol whipping' religious sisters.”

That was a stupid statement by people wanting to create a situation. Latham never said it was ok to beat women. Nobody in their right mind would look at it that way unless it would help further their agenda. How do you think Latham would have responded if the question had been if it was asked like, "Would it be okay for a bunch of robbers to pistol whip nuns during a robbery?"

Idiots And Their Agendas Are Ruining America.

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jerswife

11:46 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

The thought police are all around us!!! The man just laughed for goodness' sake, he didn't burn a cross. (Now I'm sure there will be a bunch of objections to my last comment). If you object to Rep. Latham's reaction, perhaps you should look up the lyrics to the song "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist" from the play Avenue Q. It hits the nail on the head. If you're a human being, you're a little bit racist.

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angry

11:48 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

to damn much political correctness

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edaroo

11:48 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012

nuns on the bus -- it sounds like the not-so-well reviewed movie snakes on a plane

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Knot a Lib

12:05 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

You people need to up your ritalin doses and chill out! Of all the Polish and other racial jokes we have all told, and don't dare claim you haven't, have you not stopped to think if that was your sister of other family member you laughed at? Give me a break! If Rep Latham is guilty, then SO ARE YOU!! LOL

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Haywood Jablomie

12:10 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Nothing to see here, folks. It's just more of the leftwing media attempting to smear a Republican politician. If this guy had been a liberal Democrat, this article would never have been written.

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Daniel Croll

12:12 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

I need to know Did it offend the nuns or the Catholic politicians.I haven't heard from any nuns

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terry wild

12:13 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

I think a "RULER" would be in order.

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steve jones

12:15 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

the really sad part of this story is that people are upset that a politician laughed at a joke, not at the mentality of the right wing politicians of this country that really think like that. open your eyes people

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Elaine Cox

12:31 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

SO MUCH FOR THAT “NEW CIVILITY: Justice Thomas dissents, Left hurls vile racial slurs ‘house nigga,’ ‘Uncle Tom’. So many racists in the Democratic Party. Who knew?

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Ted Jennings

12:58 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

steve jones

12:15 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

the really sad part of this story is that people are upset that a politician laughed at a joke, not at the mentality of the right wing politicians of this country that really think like that. open your eyes people

The only people who need to open their eyes are the ones like you who appear to follow and support the people who are narrow minded and see only through a small tunnel in hopes of reaching their own agenda. By the way Steve, you mean nothing to them except as a way to reach their agenda. Once the voting is over, their promises to you will not be fulfilled until the next election year when they need to act on these promises to get the votes of a certain segment of the voting public. Just look at Obama and the issues of gay marriage and amnesty for illegal immigrants. He stated they were important issues that needed to be addressed, yet he did not addresss them in his first year in office, or his second, or his third. You can bet if he did not think he needed the support of the people affected by these issues he would not have addressed them in his fourth (election) year. Dont forget what Obama also told the Russians when he didnt realize a hot microphone was near. Obama told them he would have alot more flexibility when the election is over.

Yeah, some people really need to open their eyes.

BRENDA CUNNINGHAM

12:22 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Just maybe he laughes at the absuridity of the question

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spiritualismNOTreligion

12:39 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

ANOTHER REPUBLICAN WHO NEEDS TO COME OUT OF THE CLOSET.

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John

1:12 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

That's the STUPIDEST question I think I've heard in a while. What kind of an idiot would ask the question in the first place. What low have the pundants stooped to now...
I'd laugh too...not at the question, but at the idiotic content. I think a better question might be..."Would you mind coming over to the studio and pistol-whipping me because I'm so STUPID?"

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Duane

1:15 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Clearly he was laughing at the absurdity of the proposition, come on.

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mm3264

2:14 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

It's the thinking of the radical, right wing, religious, extremist like the Ayatollah Pat Robertson

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Chris J.

2:19 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

I guess I had better apolgize to all the Nuns for saying the look like Penguins! Now a days, you can't make a joke about anything, can't tell Polish jokes, Mexican jokes, Italian jokes, Black jokes, White jokes, hell we can't even tell jokes about the Government any more without being called out on them. However, that being said, I will tell you the best joke ever! Thank heavens that all the POLITICANS are in D.C.! Now that's a joke!

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allison

2:40 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Well, Liberal gentlemen and Liberal gentlewomen, I must depart, but it's been fun seeing how you revert to the same old same old that brought this country to the brink of disaster under "the man who would be king." May God save us all from the likes of you and your ilk.

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Jawmore

3:45 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Those nuns are liberal democrats. The guy can laugh at them all he wants. I do. hahahahahahhhahahaahahahahah lollollol.

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non believer

3:52 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

dont want to be told how to live my life by the communist in office and damn sure dont want the holyier than everbody else hypocryte bible thumpers telling me how to live my life

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Larry Bee

4:43 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

It's getting so if you open your mouth you will be condemned. Give the guy a break. Maybe he should have called the mind police on the reporter for harboring terrorist thoughts.

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Randy M Sellers

4:49 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Nuns are irritating. Pistol whipping puppies would be something to get upset about.

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allison

9:58 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

We would, but Obama ate 'em.

Thomas Baldwin

1:53 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

I think the best law that could happen would all politician be required to take a polygrafe. That would get rid of the main crooks. I wonder how many politiicians
would vote for such a washington cleaning agenda.

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