Mackinac Center receives death threats in wake of FOIA filing for labor studies professors' emails
The Midland-based Mackinac Center for Public Policy says it's gotten death threats and bomb threats in the wake of a Freedom of Information Act request filed earlier this month seeking information from labor studies professors' emails, according to a Booth Newspapers report on MLive.
A report from the free market think tank's news service said threatening messages were left on the center's voicemail Thursday and Friday.
In one message, a female voice said, "Scotty Walker is dead. So are you. We know where you live."
Scott Walker is the governor of Wisconsin. The Mackinac Center's FOIA sought emails from professors at the University of Michigan and two other public universities referencing Walker, collective bargaining in Wisconsin, or MSNBC talk show host Rachel Maddow.
The police have been notified, the center said in its report.
Comments
snapshot
Thu, Apr 14, 2011 : 4:45 a.m.
The "Union Mentality" rears its ugly head
DeeAA
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 7:52 p.m.
I agree. Most likely a "false flag" operaton, like the one suggested by by a GOP prosecutor to help Walker in Wisconsin. At least in Wisconsin they had the sense to not go this route. Or maybe some Winconsinites decided to help their Michigan neighbors by trying this.
clownfish
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
Can anybody answer this for me: What is the reason for a politician asking for UM professors emails possibly referencing Rachel Maddow? Is this what you want staffers spending Other Peoples Money on while at work? Is that going to bring down our deficit or create private sector jobs?
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 4:14 p.m.
Not sure what all the threats are about - The Mack Center posts all it's commentary online. Reading their site -instead of phoning in threats - would arm Lefties with info. <a href="http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/pubs/mcc/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/pubs/mcc/</a>
clownfish
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 12:57 p.m.
Did the Mac center call the police (union), or the FBI (government workers)?
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 2:22 a.m.
"We know where you live" left on the Mackinaw Center's voice mail? Yeah, that's believable. Good Night and Good Luck
Marshall Applewhite
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 9:25 p.m.
Oh man, the unions are really getting desperate. It's almost sad to see them holding on for dear life like this.
clownfish
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 12:48 p.m.
Most union members have made sacrifices, what have you sacrificed in order for your state to save, or to earn revenue?
timjbd
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 6:31 p.m.
This sounds fishy (like the girl who carved the backward letters on her forehead and blamed the Obama followers) but then again, why should Sarah Palins followers have a corner on the nutjob market?
timjbd
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 12:35 a.m.
And: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/25/rand-paul-supporter-stomps-head_n_773857.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/25/rand-paul-supporter-stomps-head_n_773857.html</a> Jack Black's character carved Bob Roberts initials in his forehead later in this movie: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDZu-5UzWwo" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDZu-5UzWwo</a> Even the most wacko ideas are retreads on the right.
timjbd
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 12:28 a.m.
Ummmm, no: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1080189/Young-Republican-claimed-Obama-supporter-carved-letter-B-face-robbery-story-police-say.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1080189/Young-Republican-claimed-Obama-supporter-carved-letter-B-face-robbery-story-police-say.html</a> And then: <a href="http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/09/03/protester-bites-off-finger-of-obama-supporter-at-health-care-ral/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/09/03/protester-bites-off-finger-of-obama-supporter-at-health-care-ral/</a>
DFSmith
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 6:42 p.m.
Tim, you have it wrong. That girl who carved theletters was an Obama supporter who had claimed that she had been victimized by republicans.
DennisP
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 5:54 p.m.
Wow, nice guys these professors. It's common knowledge that emails on public university systems are subject to FOIA. Heck, if you didn't know that before the so-called "climategate" emails became public, you should now. Withi Wikileaks, even state secrets find their way into the public's eye. This has nothing to do with free speech. The professors are not being prevented from writing or expressing any views. They can express them in any forum they choose. However, when they choose to use publicly-owned computers, they are choosing a public forum. The first amendment doesn't protect them from revelation of their own indiscretions. Let's recall that FOIActs first came into being as a result of the awful Nixonian years. Nixon was just the ultimate example of governmental employees,at all levels--state, local, federal and university, who used the power of their offices to conceal skullduggery, misappropriations, or other misdeeds. We want a broadly-based and powerful FOIAct. Frankly, I don't think anyone would really care nor be surprised if a number of professors' emails displayed a bias against the Wisconsin legislation. So what? Nothing wrong with it as they are entitled to opinions like anyone else. But, concealing the emails makes it seem like there's more than there probably really is.
Kafkaland
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 5:35 p.m.
I smell a rat here - no one intheir right mind would get that emotional about an irrelaevant NON-think tank like the Mackinac Center to leave messages like this. Most likely a "false flag" operaton, like the one suggested by by a GOP prosecutor to help Walker in Wisconsin. The fifiteen minuteds of fame they got from their FOIA requests wasn't enough, now they have to posture as a vivtim of the left, by all means necessary.
timjbd
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 10:45 p.m.
Yeah! Them liberals: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0</a>
Marshall Applewhite
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 10:05 p.m.
After seeing how emotional/crazy people here get about others expressing their opinion, does any death threat from the libs really surprise you?
seldon
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 4:45 p.m.
Leftists and moderates who speak out against the "Tea Party" or who get identified as enemies of the right by people like Glenn Beck get death threats all the time. Assuming this even really happened, all it shows is that there at least a few nuts across the political spectrum. Whatever, move on.
Kathleen Kosobud
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 4:22 p.m.
Is this a verifiable, credible threat? Or is this another faux threat, designed to make the Mackinac Center appear to be the victim? While I think that the Mackinac Center's FOIA on the first amendment rights of scholars is deplorable, it is hard for me to believe that anyone would be so foolish as to threaten harm.
dextermom
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 12:12 p.m.
"Numerous threats" seems to say "numerous people" making the threats. One crazy person making numerous threats isn't the same as numerous threats. Seems this could have been made clearer in the "reporting"
DFSmith
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.
What is deplorable? If the profrssors are true intellectuals, with nothing to hide, they ough tto take this opportunity to debate their point of view, instead of sitting and whining about their "academic freedom being attacked".
snoopdog
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 2:52 p.m.
And if the perps get caught will the ACLU be there to defend them ? Good Day
David Briegel
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.
They will defend anyone and everyone whose rights a violated. Even Yours! You see, they beilieve in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights ALL the time. Not just situationally
David Briegel
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 8:05 p.m.
Yes, the ACLU are good Americans who believe in that Constitution and the Bill of Rights and are able to read and understand their meaning. They will defend any American whose rights a violated. Even YOURS!
fjord
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 3:25 p.m.
You seem to be under the mistaken impression that the ACLU is a left-wing organization. They defend civil liberties, regardless of ideology.
Moscow On The Huron
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 2:47 p.m.
Ah, yes, the left. The people of peace.
Moscow On The Huron
Tue, Apr 5, 2011 : 1:47 p.m.
Hey, I call 'em as I see 'em. I have lived many years in Ann Arbor. It would be impossible not to be familiar with how the left works and what they do.
clownfish
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 6:03 p.m.
More "proof" that "the left", in the form of the ACLU, ONLY defends speech that "is aligned with their own twisted ideals." <a href="http://www.aclufightsforchristians.com/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.aclufightsforchristians.com/</a>
clownfish
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 5:55 p.m.
MOSCOW, why do you think politicians asked for emails from UM professors referencing Walker, collective bargaining in Wisconsin, or MSNBC talk show host Rachel Maddow? could it maybe have something to do with peoples rights to Free Speech, or maybe "the lefts" being "for free speech ONLY when that speech is aligned with their own twisted ideals."? Or are you in favor of politicians going after people that may have expressed an opinion differing from the pols? What possible reason could a pol have for wondering if a UM professor mentioned Rachel Maddow in an email?
clownfish
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
Got any proof of your stereo types MOSCOW? What is it exactly that you find "Anti-American"? Civil rights for women? Civil rights for minorities? Child Labor Laws? Public education? Drinkable water? Why don't you lay out for me the destructive influence unions had on the American economy from the 1940's through the 1990's? If I take your moniker to mean that A2 is some sort of communist enclave, how do you explain the fact that A2 is an economic engine of SE Michigan? Why did Mr Snyder choose to live in a communist enclave, do you think? How did Dominoes get started so close to a Marxist commune, and become so successful employing A2 commie residents? Why is it that the "anti-American" UM spins off so many successful businesses? Do you think Mr Nugent is open to speech that comes from those that he disagrees with? Is that why he wants to feed Sen Boxer his gun, an open mind?
Moscow On The Huron
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 2:53 p.m.
Well, since you ask, I do have something else to say about the left: they're anti-American, anti-Constitution, destructive to the country, destructive to the economy, and are for free speech ONLY when that speech is aligned with their own twisted ideals.
clownfish
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 12:40 p.m.
Ahh, yes, the Followers of The Prince of Peace--- <a href="http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/crime/man-arrested-in-obama-death-threats" rel='nofollow'>http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/crime/man-arrested-in-obama-death-threats</a> Or how about the nice Family Man, Pundit, rocker, Theodore Nugent? ""I was in Chicago last week, I said, 'Hey Obama, you might want to suck on one of these, you punk!' Obama, he's a piece of sh*t and I told him to suck on my machine gun! Let's hear it for them. I was in New York and I said, 'Hey Hillary, you might want to ride one of these into the sunset, you worthless bitch.' And since I'm in California, how about Barbara Boxer? She might want to suck on my machine gun! Hey, Dianne Feinstein, ride one of these, you worthless wh-..(left out for .coms family policy) Or how about this nice message left for Sen Stabenow: -- In February 2009, a man left voice mail messages for Stabenow in several of her Michigan offices. "We're gonna [expletive] get you," he said in one message. "We're gonna get you with a lot of [expletive] bolt action. Like we did RFK; like we did MLK. We know who you are. We'll get you." So, MOSCOW, got anything else to say about "the left"?
fjord
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 2:38 p.m.
A disgusting act of intimidation. But that's no reason to make death threats.
DonBee
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 2:10 p.m.
I don't see a problem here, after all it is the American way, if you don't get what you want, you threaten someone. We threaten lawsuits, we threaten to cut someone's funds, we threaten to picket, we threaten to recall, we threaten to kill. It is the American way. It is SAD that this more than anything else is the basis of how we interact today. Dogma wins compromise loses.