Former Attorney General refuses to apologize for violent remark: "A stake should be driven through Hayworth's heart"

There is a double standard out there when it comes to rude remarks directed at conservatives. Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods, a liberal Republican-mostly-turned-Democrat who appears to have some relationship with McCain (McCain's wife has advertising on Wood's website for Hensley beer, which is owned by her family), has not apologized for saying about JD, "Someone needs to drive a stake through this guy's heart." Instead, he is now making fun of Hayworth being upset over it.

Here is the article from the Arizona Republic covering it -

Hayworth: 'Violent remarks' show double-standard

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, who is challenging Sen. John McCain in the Aug. 24 GOP primary, today elaborated on his reaction to a McCain ally's suggestion that "Someone needs to drive a wooden stake through this guy's heart."

Hayworth characterized the comment by former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods in Newsweekmagazine as a "death threat." Woods said he was just using a metaphor (wooden stakes are used to slay vampires), but Hayworth compares the incident with a 2006 campaign television ad in which his Democratic opponent, Harry Mitchell, showed him in what appeared to be a sniper scope.

The Mitchell ad sought to symbolize that Hayworth was the "target" of a federal investigation (which Hayworth insists he never was), but Hayworth and others took it as a threat on Hayworth's life. Back in 2006, partisan bloggers argued about whether the commercial showed Hayworth targeted by a rifle or framed by a camera lens. Mitchell upset Hayworth, a 12-year incumbent, in that House race.

Hayworth continued to condemn the violent imagery used by Woods.

"Can you imagine if someone from this campaign had said that about Mr. McCain? I don't think Mr. Woods would be hiding behind the metaphorical argument," Hayworth told AZ/DC. "It continues to show a double-standard is alive and well. But I have no interest into getting into a battle of wits with an unarmed guy like Grant Woods."

Hayworth added: "But I do take umbrage at violent remarks, no matter how retroactively metaphorical they suddenly become. But then again, I guess there is a double-standard when different public figures can be put in the crosshairs of sniper scopes, et. al., and that's not newsworthy when other remarks about alleged threats suddenly do occupy center stage. But that's fine. I understood that and understand that."

PREVIOUSLY ON AZ/DC . . .

Hayworth wants apology from Woods for 'death threat'