An e-mail:

You wrote:
Has it dawned on anyone on the Left that if they keep talking about violent mobsters, they might wind up encouraging a genuine nutcase? Let’s all calm down a bit — especially those of us in the White House.
Honestly? ”Especially those of us in the White House?” Does that mean it’s Obama’s fault if he gets shot? Or did you not think that little bit of logic through before posting this nonsense? For eight years, all I’ve ever heard from conservatives is that the Left never had a chance because they couldn’t reign in the fringe. And, I’m sorry, Ms. Lopez, a good number of these people at these town halls, with their inability to do anything but yell or make hackneyed comparisons to the Nazis, are your fringe. A nut is a nut is a nut. And just because it might help you win a few polls for a few weeks, does not excuse pretending that these idiots have something to say other than the hateful misinformation that most of them spew. Anybody, be they a leftist or a Larouchie or a right-winger should be dismissed out of hand the minute they make comparisons to Nazis. It’s not only ignorant, it’s the sign of a weak argument and a weaker intellect. You may choose to blame the potential victim here, with your tortured logic, but it’d be heartening to see you go after the real problem and say enough’s enough. Oppose healthcare reform all you like, but wouldn’t it be nice if the debate were about policy or even reality, instead of the cooked-up ramblings of the worst of us?

I’m not excusing or blaming. I’m saying this whole thing needs to be turned down a notch. And since the media is on one side, the White House should take a little responsibility. I agree that the debate should be about “policy” and “reality.” We’re trying here. The president might try it, too.