Members of Congress Homes Vandalized

I don't know what's going on here in Minnesota but more political craziness this time bipartisan in its targetting.

http://www.startribune.com/politics...yqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUX

Police: Coleman, Klobuchar, four others have property vandalized
By PATRICIA LOPEZ and PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: October 22, 2008 - 3:08 PM

Vandals struck the garages and homes of at least six Minnesota members of Congress Tuesday night, spray painting angry graffiti including a Biblical reference to "Psalm 2."

When Laurie Coleman, wife of U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, hauled her trash to the alley at 7:30 this morning, a chilling sight greeted her.

Spray-painted in black on the wooden siding of the garage in the couple's Summit Hill neighborhood, in letters nearly a foot high: "U R A CRIMINAL RESIGN OR ELSE! PSALM 2"

On the alley side, each double-bay stall door had the word "SCUM" spray painted in black ink, as a did a wooden partition in between.

Also vandalized in similar fashion: U.S. Sen Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Reps. Keith Ellison, John Kline, Michele Bachmann and Jim Ramstad. Klobuchar and Ellison are Democrats; Coleman, Kline, Bachmann and Ramstad, Republicans.

Ellison's appears to be the only incident so far in which the home itself was vandalized. Campaign manager Larry Weiss said that Ellison's wife, Kim, went out this morning and found graffiti that said "Traitor. Resign now. Psalm 2" across the side of their corner home. The word "SCUM" was spraypainted above the garage door -- high enough, Weiss said, that the culprit probably would have needed a stepstool.

Weiss said the incident had been reported to Minneapolis police this morning.

Ramstad discovered the vandalism early this morning and notified Minnetonka police, said Ramstad spokesman Lance Olson.

Olson said the word "SCUM" was spray painted above Ramstad's garage door and "U R A sellout!!! Psalm 2" was painted across the door. Ramstad found the incident disturbing, he said.

A spokesman for Kline, Troy Young, said similar language was spray painted on the congressman's garage door, although he declined to say what the words were or when the incident occurred. He said that what was written wasn't phrased a threat. Young would not say whether Kline was home at the time.

Panos said that officers will increase patrols near Coleman's home. He said no claims of responsibility have surfaced nor any indication of who may have struck Coleman's garage or why.

Psalm 2 in the King James version of the Bible reads in part: "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord ..."

"It's frightening," Laurie Coleman said, standing in a light drizzle this morning, examining the damage. "It kind of takes your breath away," she said, holding a hand to her chest. "Sarah and I were home alone last night." Sarah Coleman is the couple's daughter, home on break from her freshman year at the University of Notre Dame.

Laurie Coleman said that Sarah Coleman had returned to the house about 10 p.m. on Tuesday and that the garage was unmarked at that time.

"It must have happened some time in the night," she said, a sweater wrapped around her as she held a cup of coffee. "We never heard anything."

Norm Coleman was campaigning in Walker, Minn. Campaign spokesman Tom Erickson said this afternoon that the senator would comment on the incident later this afternoon.

Panos said the threatening remarks elevate the graffiti beyond vandalism. "We're looking at this as an actual threat," Panos said. "We're taking it quite seriously. Vandalism threats are pretty rare in this city."

Panos said the department would have officers canvassing the neighborhood for information through the evening and would assign extra security to the Coleman's neighborhood.

Coleman's opponents in the heated race were quick to add their condemnation of the acts on Wednesday.

Andy Barr, spokesman for Franken's campaign, said that "everyone here at the campaign strongly condemn this and all other such cowardly acts of vandalism. There's no place for this unacceptable behavior in our political process, or in our communities."

Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley said that political candidates "subject themselves to a lot," in the course of running for office, "but attacks against homes and family members are absolutely inappropriate. I wish Sen. Coleman well and hope this kind of trash isn't repeated against him or any other candidate for office."

Staff writers Kevin Duchschere and Pat Doyle contributed to this report.

Patricia Lopez • 651-222-1288

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482