Rep. Fortenberry takes to Twitter after sign appears in yard; 'Do not frighten my children in their home'

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WEBVTT KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S MICHELLEBANDUR IS HERE LIVE.REPORTER: THE FORTENBERRY FAMILYCALLED LINCOLN POLICE AFTERTHEIR 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FOUNDTHE SIGN IN THEIR FRONT YARD.IT HIT A NERVE WITH THECONGRESSMAN WHO WANTS TO LETPROTESTORS KNOW THEY'VE GONE TOOFAR.>> HEY HEY HO HO, FORTENBERRYHAS GOT TO GO.REPORTER: ANGRY CONSTITUENTSCOME WITH THE JOB WHEN YOU'RE ANELECTED OFFICIAL.PROTESTORS PAID A VISIT TOCONGRESSMAN JEFF FORTENBERRY'SLINCOLN OFFICE UPSET OVER THEHOUSE REPEAL OF THE AFFORDABLECARE ACTBUT A GROUP OF ACTIVISTS SAYTHEY LEFT THIS SIGN ONFORTENBERRY'S FRONT LAWN ANDTWEETED ABOUT IT. NEBRASKA BETSIES DECIDED TO HELPJEFF FORTENBERRY ENHANCE HISHOME'S CURB APPEAL.THE CONGRESSMAN TOOK TO FACEBOOKAND TWITTER TOO. THE FIRST-DISTRICT REPUBLICANPOSTED A PHOTO OF THIS SIGN,LEFT ON HIS LAWN FOR HIS FAMILYAND CHILDREN TO SEE.TRAITORS PUT PARTY ABOVECOUNTRY, IT READS, DO THE RIGHTTHING FOR ONCE.WITH AN EXPLETIVIN THE TWEET, FORTENBERRY SAYSBE ANGRY WITH ME, DIRECT YOURPROTEST AT ME.BUT DO NOT FRIGHTEN MY CHILDRENIN THEIR HOME.>> IT HAS GOTTEN UGLY.REPORTER: CONGRESSMAN DON BACONSAYS SINCE TAKING OFFICE INJANUARY, HE TOO HAS CALLED THEPOLICE AFER RECEIVING THREATS.>> LAST WEEK WE GOT A NOTE WEHOPE YOUR FAMILY DIES A SLOWDEATH.REPORTER: BACON SAYS HE TRIES TOIGNORE THE MESSAGES AND MOVE ON.>> IT REMINDS ME I'M DOINGSOMETHING IMPORTANT, TO GET THATKIND OF PUSH BACK.IT EMBOLDENS ME.REPORTER: WE REACHED OUT TO

Advertisement Rep. Fortenberry takes to Twitter after sign appears in yard; 'Do not frighten my children in their home' Congressman Jeff Fortenberry directs tweet to protesters who left profanity-laced sign in his yard. Lincoln police are investigating. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Angry constituents come with the job when you're an elected official. Protesters paid a visit to Congressman Jeff Fortenberry's Lincoln office. They're upset with him over the U.S. House repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Another group of activists said they left a sign on Fortenberry's front lawn and tweeted about it. "Nebraska Betsies decided to help Jeff Fortenberry enhance his home's curb appeal." The Congressman took to Facebook and Twitter too. The First District Republican posted a photo of the sign, left on his lawn sometime Wednesday for his family and children to see. "Traitors put party above country. Do the right thing for once." In his tweet, Fortenberry wrote, "Be angry with me. Direct your protest at me. But do not frighten my children in their home." "It's getting ugly," Representative Don Bacon (R) said after seeing the tweet. Since taking office in January, Bacon said he has called the police many times over threats. "Last week we got a note, 'We hope your family dies a slow death.'" Bacon said he tries to ignore the hateful messages and move on. "It reminds me I'm doing something important, to get that kind of push back. It emboldens me," Bacon said. Others on social media reacted to the sign. They said they may not agree with Fortenberry's politics, but don't like those tactics. Jessica Hall Wagner wrote, "I don't agree with the way you voted, period. But you have a private life and children deserve to feel safe in their home, no matter WHAT. I am sorry that someone did this." Heather Rhea wrote, "I disagree with you on much, but 100% agree that a sign like this at your home is terrible." Amy Dorssom McKenna wrote, "Wow, it's really sad that people no longer have any civility in the way they protest/express their opinion. Your children and your home should be 100% off limits." Rep. Fortenberry was not available for comment on this story.