Brady Wants 'Target' Websites Banned
Target List Map Still On Palin's Facebook Page
PHILADELPHIA - Congressman Bob Brady (D-Pa., 1st) says he'll introduce a law to make it a crime to publish Web site that places "crosshairs" on a Congressional member, in a reaction to a map that appeared on Sarah Palin's Web site.
That map was taken down by Palin's web editors from the Web site Sarahpac.com on Saturday soon after Rep. Gabriel Giffords was shot in Arizona.
On Sunday, Palin's spokespeople said the images on map of Palin's "target list" were directional locators, and not gun sight crosshairs.
Palin also offered her condolences on Facebook.
"My sincere condolences are offered to the family of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims of today's tragic shooting in Arizona," she said. "On behalf of Todd and my family, we all pray for the victims and their families, and for peace and justice."
But the target list map still remained on Palin's Facebook page as on Monday morning.
Giffords criticized Palin last year when her named appeared on the list, which target Congress members who support President Obama's health care bill.
Palin is also being criticized for a past Twitter message about the list, which said "Don’t retreat! Instead – RELOAD.”
Brady isn't buying that, and he thinks people who deliberately publish such maps should pay a price.
"I spoke with Gabby on Friday," Brady said. "She is not a firebrand."
"There was a Web site out there with crosshairs on a Congress lady. And somebody around that table said, 'Wait a minute, what happens if somebody actually gets hurt or gets shot?' And somebody also said, 'that won't happen, don't worry about it.' Well, I'm worrying about it."
"This is not a knee jerk reaction, Brady said. "This legislation makes it illegal to place crosshairs on a Congressman's district."
Brady said he isn't asking for the type of security for Congress that the President receives, but the law should help.
Fox 29 asked Brady to confirm that he was referring to Palin's Web site and he nodded yes, and then we showed Brady an image of the Palin Web site.
He didn't believe the explanation from Palin's camp the icons were crosshairs on the map.
"I'm not buying it, and I don't think the families of the people who were killed, the families of those people who were injured and Gabby lying in a coma are buying it," Brady said.
He also isn't concerned that such a law couldn't withstand legal challenges.
"Let the Supreme Court deal with Freedom of Speech," he said. Brady said the job of Congress is to pass laws.
He also told Fox 29 the law would apply to Congress and federal judges and gives them many of the same protective measures as the President has.