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Most Patch Poll Voters Say Grassley's Tweet Was Out of Bounds — What Do You Say?

A Twitter message from Sen. Chuck Grassley that said voters are not as stupid as President Obama when it comes to Supreme Court rulings. Did Grassley tell it like it is or insult the presidency? Tell us below in comments.,

 

Most of the Iowa Patch readers taking part in our poll this week say Sen. Chuck Grassley should be smarter than to send a Twitter message that called the president “stupid.”

Sixty-six percent of those voting said no matter how a politician disagrees with another's view, the office of the presidency must be shown respect. Twenty-five percent said Grassley's meaning was clear in his Tweet and he should keep using Twitter as a way to communicate with voters.

The tweet was part of Grassley's reaction after Obama said it would be “unprecedented” for the Supreme Court to overturn the health-care law.

The message -- in Grassley's shorthand style with typos -- caused a stir online.

Here’s the gist of it:
On April 7, Grassley set off a 139-character blowup with this:

“Constituents askd why i am not outraged at PresO attack on supreme court independence. Bcause Am ppl r not stupid as this x prof of con law”

Here are excerpts from a few of the 30-plus comments on our initial story:

Steve Wilson said: "When the government branches can't get any work done, It doesn't help any of us. Let's stop being so reactionary, and get some work done!"

Another commenter said: "I love Chuck. He calls 'em as he sees 'em! He is so right on."

Marlin Cayton writes: "This is a dust-up over nothing. Politics is not about "getting along". It is war. One side wins, one loses."

And, Bob Young weighs in: "Our Senator Grassley has a lot to learn about what constitutes an attack on the Supreme Court. … It may confuses people in the middle but not Democrats who will always remember Grassley's roll in the Banking Scandal; Mr. Chairman."

Was Grassley out of bounds or is this just part of the normal rough-and-tumble game of Washington politics? Last chance to share your comments below.

Related Topics: Barack Obama and Chuck Grassley

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Todd Richissin

11:30 am on Thursday, April 19, 2012

Personally, I want my representatives to show some passion. I really don't think going the "stupid" route, though, was the smartest of ideas. Get ready for more of this kind of talk from both sides, though: Both parties will be doing what they can to fire up their base for the general election.

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Jessica Miller

1:18 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012

Grassley seemed to apologize for his comment in this Ames Tribune article: http://www.amestrib.com/sections/news/ames-and-story-county/grassley-says-‘stupid’-tweet-should-have-been-more-diplomatic

He said he didn't have enough characters to say what he really meant.

--- From the article

“He has no business interfering with the courts because they are the independent arbiters, so we all make stupid comments from time to time and what he said was wrong,” said Grassley, first elected to the Senate in 1980. “He ought to be showing leadership and respect for the constitutional division of power.

“So if I had more than 140 characters, that’s how I would have said it.”

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