(UPDATED - adds McCain spokesman comment)
KANSAS CITY - Missouri voter Mary Kay Green has had enough.
The supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama filed a lawsuit this week over what she claims is dangerous “hate speech” coming from the rival campaign of Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
Green, a 66-year-old grandmother and “semi-retired” civil rights attorney, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Kansas City this week accusing McCain, his running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and their campaign manager Rick Davis of “intentionally, recklessly and irresponsibly” portraying Obama “as un-American, a terrorist by association, and ‘not like us,’ a non-white individual.”
Palin, Green alleges in her lawsuit, has at her rallies used false statements to work supporters “into a frenzy causing them to make death threats” against Obama.
The lawsuit claims that Green “suffers terror of the heart, anxiety and grave fear for the life of Presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Barack Obama” because of the McCain campaign’s efforts to invoke hatred against Obama.
A McCain spokesman said the charges were without merit.
“It’s a great country — anyone can file a lawsuit anytime on any matter, whether it has merit or not,” said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers. “As Sen. McCain explained in detail in last night’s debate, charges like this have no merit. He will compare his record of setting the record straight to any of his overzealous or inappropriate supporters against Sen. Obama’s any day.”
Green is seeking damages of $6 million, “and prays that they cease and desist their reprehensible campaigning.” She told Reuters that she will not drop the lawsuit unless McCain’s camp repudiates the death threats and tones down the rhetoric.
“It is a federal crime to threaten the life or a presidential candidate … they are participating in that crime,” Green said.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo credit: Reuters/Carlos Barria (McCain at a rally in Pennsylvania on Thursday)
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51 comments so far
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YOU GO GIRL! GO GREEN! I WANT TO JOIN THE CLASS ACT SUIT. ENOUGH OF THE HATRED. Unite all for change.
- Posted by REDNECK 4 OBAMAGood for Ms. Green. It is about time someone brings this mess to the forefront. It is obvious that McCain and the Bush in a shirt Palin are desperate and will do anything to win. Both of them should be called on the carpet for thier irresponsible and non presidential behavior.
- Posted by sbharrisFor those who are not aware, Freedom of Speech does not protect anyone who uses language in such a manner as to attack an individual for race, national heritage, religiion, or creed. If Ms. Green has not used Title 42 section 1985(3) I would ask her to look at it. It was decided years ago “Breckenridge” (U.S.Supreme Ct)that it included political groups and not just race. It has been used successfully in cases that demonstrate the “in office” vs “out of office”. Title 42 1985(3) was enacted because of politics and the KKK which is, and was, a political group.
- Posted by Denise HolmesHate speech is not protected speech.
By giving so much weight to whatever McCain and Palin have to say about Obama, just serves to make their statements that much more “valid” or “important”. But if you ignore their mean spirited babbling, you take the wind right of their sails. Let them blather, their ship will be sunk soon enough!
- Posted by Marla TaylorTheres no proof these threats happened. Assuming they did, how can you be sure it wasnt an Obama supporter trying to make the McCain Palin campaign look bad?
What prevents an angry McCain supporter from doing the same thing at an Obama rally? Nothing.
If that happens, will Green then sue Obama? Dont think so.
- Posted by Tom HunterAyers is a CONVICTED terrorist. Not an alleged one.
- Posted by Tom HunterIn his own words “Guilty as H@ll, Free as a bird” Thats the TRUTH.
I guess the fact that the Secret Service looked into the ‘death threat’ issues, and found them to be lies, tends to take the wind out of this nutjob’s sails.
- Posted by Uncle JefeWhy do campaigns have to stoop to such low levels of decency? The reality is that the McCain camp has gone too far with their lies about Obama.
Guilt by association is not a valid claim. Especially given the minor association on the board. Why should any one be accused of being unAmerican because they served on the board with someone who years ago allegedly comitted terroristic acts when Obama was a kid. America has no forgiveness either.
That is not “palling around with terrorists” as Palin, who constantly states baseless rubbish, repeately says. This is one alleged “terrorist” who is not a focal point of Obama’s life.
Many have discounted how racist America is, and this type of talk that has nothing to do with McCain’s almost nonexistent campaign should be stopped. You complain about Rev. Wright, but at least he was speaking from his reality, his experience, his life in a racist society. He was not making it up. Some folks just can’t stand the truth.
- Posted by Tell the TruthMs Green is a known anti white racist, her actions should be taken in that context.
- Posted by VerityI have been contacted by the Obama campaign that while Senator Obama addressed the death threats in last nights debate, he is fully confident of the capabilities of the Secret Service to protect his life.
There have been reports today of more threats at McCain and Palin rallies. Senator McCain, who was in Hanoi when the nation mourned the assasinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kenney, does not seem to understand the seriousness of these threats, the concerns they create and the need to state he abhors this criminal conduct by intruders in his campaign rallies. He has not specifically addressed the death threats. Once Senator McCain makes this statement and his running mate Sarah Palin as well, I will dismiss my lawsuit. But he must make a specific statement calling these death threats abhorant to him and Sarah Palin and that they will not be tolerated at their rallies.
Mary Kay Green, Plaintff pro se.
- Posted by Mary Kay GreenDoes Mary “Kay Green have a screw loose. The McCain campaign never did any such thing. I agree with Cindy. Such stupidity. But you know how some attorney’s are. Sue, sue,sue.
- Posted by ConcernedByTheSea needs to get a life. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. There have been may diragatory, untrue and mistated statements made against mostly Palin by Obama campaign. The democrats have dig in against Palin’s personally life which didn’t belong there. They actually started the battle.
Ms Green, the retired civil rights attorney should consider filing the lawsuit against mccain et al as a class action lawsuit. i am confident there could be hundreds of thousands of voters who believe that they have been damaged, just as she, and that mccain et al are guilty of inciting hate and violence by virtue of the monstrous and incendiary comments in their campaign speeches.
- Posted by alvin hesterGreen has turned green in her head. There’s more hate speech from the Obama camp.
- Posted by joyceObama does have ties to a domestic terrorist plus to a slum lord plus to a racist preacher plus to the nutty Acorn. What else. Hmm - for a guy running for President - it’s a pretty shoddy record.
I am glad to see someone do this. I am disgusted with McCains campaign and I think this is a legit lawsuit. This Lady is awesome! God bless her!
- Posted by memberyYou know I think some of the comments were pretty nasty. I think this is the very slander that Green is so apalled by. I would highly doubt her bottom line is $6 million. I am all for her wanting John Mccain and Sarah Palin to stop with their very dangerous slander of Obama. While I don’t think justice would be served if she were to win, its still a marvelous sentiment. Why can”t MCCain and Palin focus on the issues? If they are such mavericks why continue the Republican tradition of slandering the other candidate. Be Mavericks and talk about the issues.
- Posted by Rachel WonderlandYou go Greenie. We don’t need no stinkin’ first amendment. Wait till O is elected and we have our demo house and senate. The it will be plainly written into law that you cannot criticize him.
- Posted by RobertStrange but true. Only in America.
How is it that this man can associate with an admitted unrepentant domestic terrorist (Ayers); pay people to commit voter registration fraud (ACORN); publicly admit his intention to implement socialist redistribution of wealth, attend a wildly racist congregation masquerading as a ethnocentric church (for tax evasion reasons) for years, and still be considered a viable candidate for the highest office in the land?
I havent seen Sen Obama rebuke any of his supporters for their out-of-line, comments or clothing have you?
And now this woman files a lawsuit to silence the discussion of Sen Obama’s obvious disqualifications ?! This isnt hate speech. This is the unvarnished truth!
The McCain campaign has been on the side of truth from the beginning and this woman wants to see the truth SILENCED.
- Posted by Tom HunterGood on Green! About time SOMEONE stopped that illegal, immoral, embarrassing behavior and held THEM accountable to the laws of our land! And there is PLENTY of news film footage to prove her case. You go, Green!
- Posted by ByTheSeaWhen did such non-sense become newsworthy? They hysteria of the Chosen One’s supporters is beyond belief.
- Posted by zevgoldmanThis law suit is beyond stupid. I think I’ll file suit against Mary Kay Green for the offense of being stupid. It is making me really afraid and nervous.
- Posted by Cindy