The AP is reporting the hanging death of a census worker in rural Kentucky. The report says that the man was found hanging near a cemetery with the word “fed” written on his body. The FBI is investigating whether or not the man’s death was murder or suicide.
The U.S. Census Bureau has stopped all door to door operations pending the outcome of the investigation. The name of the victim is Bill Sparkman, a part-time census worker and teacher. His truck was found near the area where he was working with a computer inside that he used for work.
The question has already been asked by investigators, if this was a killing, was it due to anti-government sentiment or just the simple fact that Sparkman worked for the government. The U.S. Census has been the subject of much scrutiny for the last several months due to groups such as ACORN being involved. The Census Bureau has severed ties with ACORN.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s office put out a report in the spring warning of a resurgence in “right-wing” terrorist activity. One can only hope that this isolated incident will not result in those who speak out against the government being lumped in with a killer.
Bill Sparkman, 51 years old, had worked for the Census Bureau since 2003. Often working in the county that his body was found.
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said in a statement:
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our co-worker,” “Our thoughts and prayers are with William Sparkman’s son, other family and friends.”
The FBI and Kentucky State Police are conducting a joint investigation into the Census worker’s death. We’ll keep you informed as more information develops in this case.
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Wow. Just wow.
Here’s a better question: Did ACORN/leftists murder him in order to make it “look like” right-wingers did it in an effort to create more anti-right sentiment, and/or force martial law?
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Very, very scary.
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
“Here’s a better question: Did ACORN/leftists murder him in order to make it “look like” right-wingers did it in an effort to create more anti-right sentiment, and/or force martial law?”
Here’s an answer: no.
Try loosening your tinfoil hat, tard.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Obama is polarizing this country is what you get when you assume Presidency without proving you’re even legally American. Something’s gotta give. Dems going to destroy much before sanity resumes.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Hey Hoss concerning Turtle’s comment: I’m not agreeing or disagreeing, but considering the political climate and the current conversation in America, anything is possible.
But I’m leaning more toward some redneck idiot with too much time on his hands.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:12 pm
This sicko was more than an idiot. Try sociopath, no matter who he voted for.
And Jacob, go away with the birther BS.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Hey Jacob, How about laying blame where it belongs. Obama has been pledging bi-partisanship since he began campaigning. He is not the one tearing this country apart. The republican politicians and talking heads are the ones who are tearing America apart. They are the ones who are spreading lies, like yours, that Obama is not a US Citizen. Do you have any idea how CRAZY you sound to any reasonable person? Blame the right for this terrible division America is in now. Obama is going against his own advisors trying to create an atmosphere of cooperation.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
No doubt this is the new face of the Republic Party. Carrying guns to rallies where our President attends, and now this.
It was inevitable, most likely just another of a series of right-wing terrorist attacks in this country in the last few months.
Blame Michelle Bachman and Glenn Beck if you want a public figure to blame.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
When Tim McVeigh blew up the Oklahoma City federal building in anti-government terrorism, the press was all over speculation of how this must be some kind of Middle Eastern terrorist plot.
So it’s not surprising that loons from the right would try to blame this on anyone, ANYONE but a member of their own violent, un-American, crazy right-wing anti-government ranks.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Tim McVeigh did not kill the most federal government employees when he did his crime. it was a group of muslims that flew a plane into the pentagon on Sept 11, 2001 that kill the most federal employees. As usual, AP, along with its mindless minions, tries to distort the truth.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Tom, actually, I think we should start an Oklahoma City for Truth commission. Personally, I think it was the Clinton administration who intentionally blew up the federal building there and McVeigh was just the fall guy. I mean, have you ever seen fire melt steel? What about the federal building #7, I wonder who had the biggest insurable interest in that? Al Gore I’m sure.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
>Tim McVeigh did not kill the most federal >government employees when he did his crime. >it was a group of muslims that flew a plane >into the pentagon on Sept 11, 2001 that kill >the most federal employees. As usual, AP, >along with its mindless minions, tries to >distort the truth.
Oh, so since right-winger terrorists kill FEWER people than Bin Laden, they’re not a problem. So Idi Amin is a pretty good guy, because he killed fewer people than Hitler, is your argument.
With nutters like you on the right, no wonder our country is so messed up after Bush.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Everybody needs to take a Chill pill, as this area is knows for all kinds of Illegal activity, from Moonshining, to Pot Growers, and Mexican Meth labs.
So before anyone starts accusing Right Wing Tea-Party Protesters, let the Facts be established first, and let’s see where the Investigation leads to!
As this may be just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time for Mr Sparkman, when he stumbled upon a Drug Gang Protecting their Business.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
This is what happens when you keep telling lies about the census and the people who work for the Federal govt.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:53 pm
QUOTE: Tim McVeigh did not kill the most federal >government employees when he did his crime.
Anyone remember this picture? I guess this child doesn’t matter much to you. Take a look in the mirror!
http://olbroad.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/oklahoma-city-bombing-1.jpg
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I’m wondering if he stumbled onto someone’s meth lab, and the word “FED” was written on his chest as a diversion. Just a thought. Regardless, at this point in history, the right wingers are the “dividers” and the left wing are the “uniters” The preamble to the Constitution starts with “We the people” and that’s who’s interests our Federal government should protect. Who benefits from people in our country being so divided? Big Corporations who are stealing us blind at this very moment. We’re victims to the biggest bank heist in world history, and because we’ve been pitted against each other we are not pursuing the real criminals.
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:19 pm
[...]
The most deadly attack on federal workers came in 1995 when the federal building in Oklahoma City was devastated by a truck bomb, killing 168 and injuring more than 680. Timothy McVeigh, who was executed for the bombing, carried literature by modern, ultra-right-wing anti-government authors.
A private group called PEER, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, tracks violence against employees who enforce environmental regulations, but the group’s executive director, Jeff Ruch, said it’s hard to know about all of the cases because some agencies don’t share data on instances of violence against employees.
From 1996 to 2006, according to the group’s most recent data, violent incidents against federal Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service workers soared from 55 to 290.
Ruch said that after the 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, “we kept getting reports from employees that attacks and intimidation against federal employees had not diminished, and that’s why we’ve been tracking them.”
[...]
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8656394
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:38 pm
I have a shocking idea. Why don’t we wait and find out what actually happened here before we start to rant on about right wing extremism or left wing provocation. It will save at least some of you from looking like morons later.
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
“I have a shocking idea. Why don’t we wait and find out what actually happened here before we start to rant on about right wing extremism or left wing provocation. It will save at least some of you from looking like morons later.”
Good advice but the blood dancers have a narrow window of opportunity to create the “narrative” for an event like this to be interpreted. That means they have to jump on it right away and start trying to shape opinions before any facts get in the way.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 pm
What probably happened, this guy ran across a meth lab doing his door to door.
Course that won’t matter to these left wing nuts who are looking for any excuse to scream
Radical Right.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Well, what the heck is the government asking all these questions on the census, anyway?
It’s none of their damned business and if they continue to stick their nose into business they shouldn’t, people will continue to be mad as hell.
If they continue in their merry ways, it will surely produce a major upheaval in this country.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:33 pm
“One can only hope that this isolated incident will not result in those who speak out against the government being lumped in with a killer.”
“Isolated incident”?! People are bringing guns to presidential events, openly threatening to kill the President. Jim David Adkisson shot up a UU church for their political liberalism. In two cities, cops were killed because people feared a non-existent Obama gun ban. The conservative media keeps inciting violence, which will continue to manifest as impotent acts of terrorism against low-level government workers and voters.
But I’ll be fair to American conservatives. The same way they were fair to American Muslims.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:47 pm
It’s convenient to forget the ideology of the murderer of JFK, the abortion protestor a few weeks ago, the Black Panthers (both modern and from 30 years ago), the Weather Underground and countless other liberal groups. To claim that all the whackjob fringe crazy people exist on the right ignores the vast history of this country, they exist on both sides, so quit being an ideologue.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I love George W. Bush
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:52 pm
George W. Bush will be remembered as the one who tried to tell us, but it will be too late and WWW3 will be in high gear. Obama will be the reviled as the one who ruined the USA.