Not News: Detroit-Area Pastor Threatens Campaign of Harassment Against Mich. Gov. and Family ('You Won't Get No Rest')
Imagine for a moment if a Christian fundamentalist pastor publicly threatened a Democratic Party governor about to sign a legitimately passed bill into law with a long-term campaign of public harassment for doing so. Now imagine if that pastor extended that threat to include appearances at the governor's home and at his children's sporting events, and that Republican and conservative elected officials on hand during the pastor's announcement voiced no objection to the pastor's threats. All of that would be news, right?
Well, Detroit pastor Charles E. Williams II, described here as "Pastor, Historic King Solomon Baptist Church and President (of) National Action Network Michigan," made such public threats against Republican Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and his family this week -- and it's not news at the Associated Press, New York Times, or really anywhere except several center-right blogs and publications. Specifics from the coverage at Michigan Confidential follow the jump (HT the Weekly Standard; bolds are mine; video is at the link):
Story Continues Below Ad ↓'We'll Be At Your Daughter's Soccer Game!'
Union protest speaker tells governor that union members will 'visit you' everywhere over right-to-work bill
A speaker at a union protest against right-to-work legislation said if Gov. Rick Snyder signed the bill he would get "no rest" and that protesters would be at his "daughter's soccer game."
The Rev. Charles Williams II made the comments Tuesday to loud cheers before a group of thousands of union workers. After his promises to harass Gov. Snyder, he introduced Rep. Richard Hammel, D-Mt. Morris Township, and House Minority Leader Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills. Williams is a Detroit-area pastor and left-wing activist.
Gov. Snyder later that day signed a bill into law making Michigan a right-to-work state. One of his daughters is a 16-year-old high school student.
"Just know one thing, Rick Snyder: You sign that bill, you won't get no rest," Williams said. "We'll meet you on Geddes Road. We'll be at your daughter's soccer game. We'll visit you at your church. We'll be at your office.
"Because Michigan workers will not take it laying down — by any means necessary!" he said.
Geddes Road is where the Snyder residence is located.
One can't dismiss Williams's threat as bluster. In January, he led a pre-planned, police-assisted, Occupy movement-inspired march "to the gates of Gov. Rick Snyder’s neighborhood outside Ann Arbor" which closed the aforementioned Geddes Road.
As to media coverage, the national establishment press had no problem noticing a single Tea Party-condemned protest at the home the home of ObamaCare supporter and former Cincinnati-area Congressman Steve Driehaus.
But when a reasonably prominent far-left pastor threatens a long-term campaign of harassment against a sitting governor and his family, there's nothing but stone silence. The only reasonable conclusion is that the press doesn't want the nation to know about the chronic incivility, threats, or even the violence routinely carried out by the left against Republicans and conservatives. The non-exposure only encourages more of the same. It would appear that the press wouldn't mind seeing that result at all.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
