FLASHBACK: Rep. Cantor Dismissed The Threat Of Violence Against Members Of Congress

In recent days, there have been a number of reported threats on Democratic lawmakers who voted for health care reform. Yesterday, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) became the first Republican to report a similar incident.  "Just recently, I have been directly threatened," he said at a press conference. "A bullet was shot through the window of my campaign office in Richmond this week, and I've received threatening emails." Cantor added, "It is reckless to use these incidents as media vehicles for political gain."

As it turns out, however, Cantor omitted some important details. The Associated Press reported:

Richmond police said in a news release that the bullet had been fired into the air around 1 a.m. Tuesday. It finished its random arc back to earth at a sharp downward trajectory, breaking a window pane on the bottom floor of the two-story brick building where Cantor's campaign leases the top floor.

The bullet penetrated the window, but did not even break through the blinds.  The police are officially describing the episode as "an act of random gunfire."

Regardless, it wasn't long ago that Cantor dismissed the threat of violence against members of Congress as a fantasy.  In September, after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) warned that hysterical right-wing rhetoric might incite violence, Cantor accused her of living "in another world."

"I think she's living in another world - I really do," Cantor said of the California Democrat. "I'm not condoning any of the things that, you know, the media may catch in terms of messages on the signs and what have you. But I have not run into any violence. I have not run into crowds running over people. We should want spirited debate, although civil, ... and I've not been anywhere over the last several months where I would even think such a situation where violence is in the offing exists."

Similarly, when asked about the disturbing images at an anti-health care rally on Capitol Hill in November, Cantor blamed Democrats.  "They don't like the extreme policies being proposed by the White House or the majority here in Congress," he said.