Perriello slams GOP for threat response

The Virginia congressman who was the subject of threats from conservative activists slammed GOP leadership Thursday.

The Virginia congressman who was the subject of threats from conservative activists slammed GOP leadership Thursday for not taking possible violence seriously.

Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) told CNN that it was "outrageous" that House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), for example, urged conservatives to channel their anger into campaigns.

"I thought his statement was fairly outrageous," Perriello said. "What he was saying was, 'For those of you who are threatening people's children, we want you to channel that anger into the campaign.'

"No, we want those people to go to jail," Perriello said. "As my very conservative attorney general said, these people need to be prosecuted, not brought into the campaign room."

Boehner said Wednesday that Americans who were angry about healthcare reform should get involved in politics instead of resorting to violence.

"We need to take that anger and channel it into positive change," Boehner said. "Call your congressman, go out and register people to vote, go volunteer on a political campaign, make your voice heard. But let's do it the right way."

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