It turns out it's not just Republicans who are being harassed while trying to go about their everyday lives. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi found herself on the receiving end of verbal abuse this weekend while attending a campaign event in Florida. A group of hecklers yelled, "communist!" and called her a "piece of s**t" as she was entering an event to campaign for Democrat Donna Shalala.
(Warning: graphic language)
Mob rushes Nancy Pelosi on her way into a campaign stop calling her a "F**king communist!"
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) October 19, 2018
Security had to hold back the anti-communism protesters as a frightened Pelosi was rushed into a doorway.
Mob chanted "Communism sucks!" while beating on the doorhttps://t.co/5EAgqOq3Ma pic.twitter.com/SqMlPKYKfx
"You don't belong you here, you f***ing communist!" one man is heard yelling.
The more innocuous chants included, "socialism sucks!"
Some people even banged on the door and demanded the organizers "open up!" so they could harass Pelosi some more.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) regretted the incident and hoped these hecklers would channel their passion differently.
I don’t agree with Nancy Pelosi’s agenda, but this is absolutely the wrong way to express those disagreements. If you want to stop her policies, don’t threaten her, VOTE! That’s how we settle our differences. https://t.co/mr4sov7gSK
— Rep. Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) October 19, 2018
Pelosi blamed President Trump for the mayhem.
"It is deeply sad but unsurprising that we now see that ugliness rearing its head," she said. "It is stunning that Republicans have the gall to call courageous survivors of sexual assault a 'mob', at the same time they incite and condone violent actions like this. Republicans must condemn this vile and dangerous conduct, and stop the reckless and dangerous rhetoric that encourages it."
Some Republicans would point to a few different culprits: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), and, more recently, former Attorney General Eric Holder, for starters. The former told supporters to harass Trump supporters in the streets, while the latter instructed a crowd to "kick" Republicans. After those calls to action, several leading Republicans like White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) were heckled out of restaurants or bullied in other formats.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also dealt with some unpleasantries this weekend. While dining out with his wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, McConnell sat and listened while a young man encouraged others to join him in heckling the lawmaker. His antics failed. Most of the diners seemed uninterested in the protesters' antics and one even told him to leave McConnell alone.