In the wake of the death of one census worker under mysterious circumstances, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) went on Fox News last night to warn the country about evil census employees, implying that child molesters and rapists will be coming to our doors in April 2010.
This despite Senate testimony from GAO Executive Director of Strategic Issues Robert Goldenkoff that the Census Bureau is well aware of past problems screening potential employees and has implemented a new double-check system for fingerprints (even the linked Fox News article admits as much).
Okay, I know the GOP wants to discredit the census, the better to be able to cry foul if the new population numbers/distribution redistrict them out of a few safe Republican seats in Congress. Not to mention the man-reactions they get from criticizing any and every thing the Obama administration does. But this guy is basically inviting the public to break the law — at the least by refusing to participate in the census and at most by meeting the workers with force. Sounds like he’s channeling crazy Michelle Bachmann (R-MN).
He needs to stop, now, before someone (else) gets hurt.