The Window War: "For better or worse, this is clearly protected speech" -- Well, nice to have that on the record.

"If this is the way Mike Vanderboegh believes democracy should work, then God help us all." -- Mark "The Montgomery Castrato" Potok of the Southern Preposterous Lie Center

Folks,

Well Potok is right about that. I do believe that this is what should happen to "democracy" unrestrained by constitutional limits and he's going to need God helping him and all his collectivist friends if they push this any further toward our doorsteps.

The article below appeared in the Birmingham News this morning. Strangely, there is no link for it on the Birmingham News or AL.com websites. Thus I am having to transcribe it. Appearing on Page 1B, it is headlined:

Pinson Man says his blog inspired political vandals.

by Kent Faulk
News staff writer

A Birmingham-area man believes his call for breaking the windows of Democratic offices in response to the party's push for health care overhaul led to at least three readers doing just that around the nation.

Mike Vanderboegh of Pinson posted the call on his blog March 19. Sons of Liberty, this is your time. Break their windows. Break them NOW," he wrote.

Vanderboegh said he believes windows broken in Democratic offices in Monroe County, N.Y., Wichita, Kan., and Hamilton County, Ohio, were in response to his blog remarks.

"I think it was the politest way I could find to send the message," Vanderboegh said.

The broken windows are part of a rash of nationwide incidents and threats leveled against Democrats before and since Sunday's congressional vote to approve health care legislation.

Sean Hart, director of communications for the Monroe County Democratic Committee, said local authorities, the FBI and the District of Columbia Capitol police are looking into the brick-throwing incident there. A window was also broken in the office of U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, at the Monroe County committee office.

"This action was done in anger, whether related to health care or another issue," Hart said.

Everyone has the fundamental right to free speech, Hart said, "But that right does not extend to criminal activity or vandalism . . . We just don't believe this is the proper way to voice your disagreement."

The committee has not yet pressed charges against anyone with the broken windows, Hart said.

Vanderboegh said Thursday he had not been contacted by law enforcement about the incidents or about his blog.

It may be tough to press charges against Vanderboegh, said an official with one group that monitors extremist groups.

"For better or worse, this is clearly protected speech," said Mark Potok, of the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center.

While he doesn't believe Vanderboegh could be arrested for his blog comments, Potok said it is important to put a spotlight on him.

"Mike Vanderboegh is already encouraging others to commit criminal acts, and he also suggests a civil war is around the corner if these acts don't work. That's enough to merit attention," Potok said.

Vanderboegh is among the people the Southern Poverty Law Center has monitored for extremist activities, Potok said. Vanderboegh has been involved in militia activity and with the Minutemen who try to prevent people from illegally crossing U.S. borders.

"If this is the way Mike Vanderboegh believes democracy should work, then God help us all," Potok said of the call to break windows.

Vanderboegh said he made it clear he was only talking about Democratic offices and did not advocate attacks on congressmen and their families. Vanderboegh said he has received death threats. "You want to talk about irony," he said.