Chris Van Hollen, chair of the DCCC, released a statement condemning the lynching-in-effigy of Maryland Rep. Kratovil at a conservative anti-health care protest:

This shocking and despicable act of hate has no place in any debate and Republicans must condemn it.

While there should be a robust exchange of ideas about the best way to reform our broken health insurance system, violent expressions are beyond the boundaries of a respectful and civilized debate. With skyrocketing health care costs hurting more families each day, we cannot afford to have this serious debate sidetracked by outrageous displays like this.

Members of the lobbyist-funded, tea-bagging front group Americans for Prosperity attended this event, as admitted by their spokeswoman:

"We held an event the previous night, where this man passed out flyers asking people to join him the next day at the office for a protest. That is how some AFP members ended up coming, but they were disgusted by his behavior. I repeat, this gathering WAS NOT an AFP event or sponsored by us in any way," writes AFP’s Amy Menefee.

AFP allowed whoever organized this protest to organize their members, and those members attended. While AFP went through pains to distance itself from this torrid display, they have yet to condemn the message that politicians who are in favor of health care reform deserve to be hung for it.

So, AFP, will you reign in the violent tendencies of your members and those they consort with? Will you absolutely condemn violence or threats of violence at any events you are part of? Will you pledge to council your members about the law, non-violence, and the history of violent threats such as this? Will you make sure no displays like involve your members in the future? Are you even able to express that level of control over your members? 

Because right now, this is the face of the health care opposition, and it doesn’t look very mainstream – or lawful, for that matter.