Tea Party Protesters Shout N-Word

The health-care protests are getting ugly. While exiting a congressional office building on Capitol Hill, Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) was assaulted with the N-word by angry Tea Partiers protesting the proposed bill. Lewis, who was subjected to beatings in Alabama during the civil-rights riots of the 1960s, responded by saying, “It surprised me that people are so mean and we can’t engage in a civil dialogue and debate.” Other lawmakers witnessed the N-word being shouted, and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) described it as a “chorus.” The Huffington Post also reported protesters referring to Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) as a “faggot.” Frank is one of the few openly gay members of Congress.