The Danville TEA Party had planned a “Fired Up For Freedom” rally for this Saturday, which would have ended in burning Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th District, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in effigy.

The rally,  that had been scheduled on U.S. 29 in Blairs, has been called off after Tea Party leaders were criticized for carrying their opposition too far.

“We were outraged to find that Tom Perriello had voted in favor of this (health care) bill. I was with dozens of 5th District voters in his office two days before the vote, and we pleaded with him to stand with us against the Pelosi plan,” said Danville TEA Party chairman Nigel Coleman.

We too were very disappointed with the Congressman’s health care vote and agree with the sentiment of the tea partiers, but burning him in effigy surpassed the extreme.

Reminds one of protests seen on television occurring in third world countries, not here.

Have we gotten to that point of showing utter disregard, disrespect and this kind of venomous hatred for our government officials? Have we crossed that line?

Granted, the TEA Party Patriots who promote fiscal responsibility, limited government and free market principles, have their first amendment right to burn the congressman and house speaker in effigy.

And yes, we know many 5th District constituents are very upset with the congressman and house speaker who have voted on every turn for bills that will ultimately cost us money and further limit our freedoms.

But would burning Perriello in effigy have gotten the congerssman’s attention. Probably not.

If all the letters, phone calls and emails have fallen on deaf ears, this stunt probably would have too.

In our opinion, the only thing that will get Perriello’s attention will be next year’s election when all of the people he has ignored go to the polls and elect his successor.