Tolerance, Twin Cities style; Update: Crime wave?

Senator Norm Coleman heard from a few of his left-leaning constituents last night.  Local news stations report that graffiti artists vandalized his house, spray-painting accusations of “Scum” and, oddly, “Psalm 2″ (via Shot in the Dark):

Vandals defaced the garage at Sen. Norm Coleman’s home, his campaign and police said Wednesday.

Coleman and his wife, Laurie, live in the Crocus Hill neighborhood of St. Paul. Graffiti left on the outside of their garage reads: “U R A criminal resign or else”; “Scum,” which is written three times; and “Psalm 2.” …

Laurie Coleman, the senator’s wife, told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the family’s garage has been marked at least once before, but the latest incident was worse.

“This is just threatening,” she said.

Psalm 2?  “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”  I’m not sure what that has to do with Senator Coleman, but one doesn’t find too many Biblical scholars among political vandals anyway.

If this sounds familiar, there’s a good reason.  Apparently, political vandalism has become all the rage (pun intended) in the Twin Cities this year, especially against the center-Right and conservatives.  I’ve had a yard sign stolen, but that’s nothing compared to one local man who had both of his cars spray-painted with Obama slogans — for nothing more than having a McCain bumper sticker.

In these times, perhaps Psalm 23 would be a better passage:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Tomorrow, I’ll do my show from the University of Minnesota, where Senator Coleman will speak live on energy policy and other issues from 1-2:15 pm ET, a special time for tomorrow’s show.  You can find more information at the Smart Politics blog at the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.

Update: Apparently this was a coordinated action, and not just against Republicans:

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.

My guess is that we’re looking at some leftover anarchists from the Republican convention.  (via Ladies Logic)

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