I think we are seeing a pattern emerge showing that the right is starting to get worried about the increased violent and slanderous rhetoric from some of their extremes. Let me give a couple of examples pointing to this.

First we have Tom Coburn this weekend. Coburn has never been considered what one would call a “nice guy” when it comes to discussing the opposition, however this weekend he did something that shocked a lot of political observers – he defended Nancy Pelosi and blasted FOX News.

But in a recent town hall meeting Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) offered some kind words for her, saying “she’s a nice lady.” Coburn added that although he and the Speaker differ on policy issues, she’s a “good person.”

Perhaps even more stunning than Coburn’s conciliatory words for Pelosi was his criticism of Fox News.

“What we have to have is make sure we have a debate in this country so that you can see what’s going on and make a determination yourself,” he said, adding: “So don’t catch yourself being biased by Fox News that somebody is no good. The people in Washington are good. They just don’t know what they don’t know.”

Then yesterday we got news of the FBI arresting Charles Alan Wilson, a 64 year old Washington state man who phoned some very threatening calls into Senator Patty Murray’s office. Here are some of his rants against a sitting U.S. Senator:

“I hope you realize there’s a target on your back now. There are many people out there that want you dead,” one message said. “Now that you’ve passed your health care bill let the violence begin.”

Another message included this threat: “I want to (expletive) kill you.”

As I pointed out yesterday, there has been an eerie silence from the right side of the blogosphere on this story. That silence continues today.

Finally we get to messages left with Rep. John Lewis. Yesterday Lewis’ office released a message his office received:

This is on the heels of the right attacking Lewis as a liar, saying he didn’t have proof of racial insults thrown at him. Well there’s the proof and once again the right is silent on it.

The hate filled and racist comments sent from the right over the past few weeks seem to be catching up with the Republicans. Given the silence in the wake of actual proof of what Democrats have been charging, one can only determine that the right must be seriously reevaluating their position, especially given their strong defense and attempted discrediting of the charges prior to this week. At to that the comments of Tom Coburn and we can see that the problem the right has fueled is now coming back to haunt them.