[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H2322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONDEMNING VIOLENCE IN HEALTH CARE DEBATE

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, the American people don't want a government 
takeover of health care. The policy, the backroom deals, and the 
arrogance have angered millions. But that is no excuse for bigotry, 
threats, or acts of vandalism, and I condemn such things in the 
strongest possible terms. People who engage in such acts undermine our 
cause and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
  But I also rise to condemn the efforts to smear millions of law-
abiding Americans who oppose Obamacare and their principled opposition 
with these criminal acts. The American people have every right to 
oppose this government takeover of health care without being lumped in 
with bigots and vandals by liberals in Congress and in the mainstream 
press.
  I say to my countrymen, end the threats, end the vandalism, and let's 
also end the smears of law-abiding citizens exercising their First 
Amendment right to speech and peaceable assembly.

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