Nebraska Democratic Party official caught on tape wishing Steve Scalise 'was dead'
A Nebraska Democratic Party official was captured on tape saying he was "glad" House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) was shot during practice for the Congressional Baseball Game last week, Nebraska.TV reports. "I wish he was [expletive] dead," said the official, identified as technology chairman Phil Montag.
Scalise's condition improved to "fair" on Wednesday; he had arrived at the hospital in critical condition. Scalise suffered fractured bones, internal bleeding, and extensive damage to his internal organs after being shot.
"[Scalise's] whole job is to get people, convince Republicans to [expletive] kick people off [expletive] health care. I'm glad he got shot," Montag said in the recording. The audio of Montag's shocking statement was posted on YouTube, with Nebraska Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb confirming the voice belonged to Montag.
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Montag has since been fired from his position with the Nebraska Democratic Party. "Our country is better than the political rhetoric that is out there from both the far right and the far left," Kleeb said.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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