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Subscribe to RSSIf one word summed up the past two years in American politics, it was this: anger.
Anger at the nation’s unemployment and all the foreclosures. Anger at President Obama and his health-care effort. Anger at the Tea Party.
And this anger sometimes manifested itself into over-the-top vitriolic rhetoric, especially coming from the right.
In the summer of 2009, we saw those rowdy, contentious town-hall meetings protesting the health legislation. We saw a few protestors carrying weapons and reciting Thomas Jefferson’s quote, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
During the campaign season, we saw a Tea Party candidate for Congress produce an advertisement with the message “gather your armies”; we heard Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle talking about “2nd Amendment remedies”; and we saw former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) create a “target” list with bulls eyes around vulnerable Democrats who voted for the health-care bill.
And in Arizona, Republican Ben Quayle, who won his congressional contest, ran an advertisement calling Obama the worst president in U.S. history and vowing to “knock the hell” out of Congress.
Of course, not all the over-the-top rhetoric came from the right (liberal Congressman Alan Grayson, who lost his bid for re-election, described his GOP opponent as “Taliban Dan” in one TV ad), and some of it wasn’t new (there were plenty of angry protests directed at George W. Bush’s presidency, and political duels and canings are chapters in the nation's history).
But the recent accumulation of political anger -- in addition to all the attention it received -- created a potent powder keg that was ripe to explode, as it did yesterday in Arizona, when a man opened fire at Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ (D) event for constituents, killing six and wounding 14 others --including Giffords, who remains in critical condition.
"We need to do some soul searching," Pima County (AZ) Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, a Democrat, said yesterday. "It's the vitriolic rhetoric that we hear day in and day out from people in the radio business and some people in the TV business.”
Dupnik added, "People tend to pooh-pooh this business about the vitriol that inflames American public opinion by the people who make a living off of that. That may be free speech but it's not without consequences."
To be sure, it appears that the alleged shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, wasn’t a Tea Party protestor. A YouTube site that’s apparently his contains political rhetoric that’s far removed from either the political right or left. ("... I know who's listening: Government Officials, and the People. Nearly all the people, who don't know this accurate information of a new currency, aren't aware of mind control and brainwash methods. If I have my civil rights, then this message wouldn't have happen," the YouTube page says.)
And members from both political parties quickly -- and strongly -- condemned yesterday’s violence. "An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serves,” House Speaker John Boehner said on Sunday morning. “Such acts of violence have no place in our society.”
But the tragedy in Arizona raises this question: Does the political rhetoric from both sides now begin to change, at least in the short term?
Already, House Republicans -- who gained control of the chamber last week and who are committed to rolling back some of Obama’s legislative achievements -- have suspended all legislative activity for the coming week, including their vote to repeal the health-care law.
Or does the rhetoric worsen? As the New York Times’ Matt Bai writes, “The more pressing question, though, is where this all ends — whether we will begin to re-evaluate the piercing pitch of our political debate in the wake of Saturday’s shooting, or whether we are hurtling unstoppably into a frightening period more like the late 1960s.”
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Play it like you want, but the fact is that most of the hate talk came from the GOP and the Far Right. They are responsible for the angry mood in this country and their gross inability to compromise and work with others.
Like I said David, the critics trying to place the blame, are a problem, not the answer. The Right, trying to stop the Obama march to socialism, has nothing to do with this nutjob, killing poor innocent people. Oh, and for your information, the Democrat's and the Far Left are causing the same angry mood. Please grow up.
Paul,
He sent emails to his friends two days ago, telling them good bye. Don't you listen to the news?
david huebner....please provide the factual source for your claim that the GOP is guiltier of inflammatory rhetoric than the left. I think calling someone "taliban dan" is pretty bad. I think the president calling the opposing political party his "enemies" is pretty serious. So please provide the factual source. Certainly this isn't just your OPINION.
They are also co-conspirators in the decades long aim to so dumb down this country --They've had particularly good luck with the homeschool BS and the pimping of radicalized evangelicalism to cause a fear of knowledge lest it blow their concept of special I-am-going-to-heaven-and-you're-not crap right out of the water.
Creationism does not foster critical thinking.
Trying to explain that words and deeds have consequences to the convenient "faith trumps all" and hating the "other" is okkk crowd is an exercise in futility.
I am still only hearing boooo hooo from the libtards out there. Now they are attacking other peoples religions. Not that I am a follower of religion just saying how hypocritical these loons are.
Barack Obama - "It will be hand to hand combat. If they bring a knive, we will bring a gun" This from our president who should be setting a different tone, and should be leading all people, not just the progressives/far left.
It's on both sides and it needs to stop. The special interest groups are the least tolerant of any group out there at this time. They are demanding that everyone be totally tolerant of them and their ideas yet they have no tolerance for a person with a different opinion. That is a fact and is easily confirmed if you just open your eyes and see what's going on around you.
Feel free to provide a list of people who are dead because Barack Obama called out his political opponents for obstruction and inflammatory language.
Just read the facts that have come out thus far. It has nothing to do with anyone political group or person. You could make an argument by this postings on either side of the political spectrum. So stop the crap.
Sarah Palin can't coin extremist, violent statements and not expect blowback when something like the Arizona shootings happen. Gee Sarah, how's that big-mouthy thingy working for you?
Jan 644445
Wow, this is really civil discourse right? You are helping to make Ms. Palin even more important than she already is. Chances are pretty good that this deranged young man couldn't tell you who Sarah Palin is. But you go ahead and spew your hateful rage. Just sort of demonstrates hypocrisy to the extreme.
This lone gunman appears to be more of a secular humanist,not a Republican....
It's not just a lone attacker. In July of 2008 Jim Adkisson walked into a Knoxville church and killed people because he hated "liberals and Democrats." In December of 2008 Jim Cummings, who was killed by his wife, was found to have been stockpiling radioactive material and explosives to create a dirty bomb to set off at Obama's White House. In April of 2009 Richard Poplawski killed three police because he thought Obama was going to take his guns away. In May of 2009 Dr. George Tillman was killed after Bill O'Reilly spent 28 shows telling his audience how evil Dr. Tillman was. In March of 2010 someone tried to kill Congressman Tom Perriello's brother's family using propane in Virginia because of the healthcare vote. Now 20 people shotin Tucson. Rightwing terrorists are as hyped up on anger as Islamic fundamentalists like the Fort Hood shooter. Rightwing hate promoters are as guilty as radical Imams for stirring up violence against innocent Americans.
well? do you have an answer, scientist X? should I feel threatened by your statements and use my computer skills to track you down to protect myself?
No john, we can and will continue to speak out against Conservative extremist bullying and threatening until everyone understands exactly how destructive to society it is.
Scientist x is right. This ISN'T an isolated incident. The Right has REPEATEDLY incited people of questionable mental stability to take violent action against people Conservatives freely describe as threats to America. This is a pattern and it's past time for Conservatives to take responsibility for what they've done. When people are REPEATEDLY killed for breaking no law, only for being politically Liberal it IS terrorism.
with people like johnstephens around every one needs to be afraid
You need to be reminded of the intolerance and bigotry that the far-left has engaged in..Everytrhing from the most vicious and mean-spirited comments and threats aimed at Palin and Bachmann to the bigoted anti-Catholic and anti-Christian rhetoric that has been commonplace amongst the left....Ans don't even get me started on the anti-life ugliness of the pro-abortion movement....
Feel free to post a list of people who are dead because someone was inflamed by rhetoric from the Left.
John B, Des Moines, IA
John, when you have someone like Glenn Beck asking himself on national TV if he COULD kill Michael Moore, and then saying "yes, I can" then there is no denying implied violence.
What did Michael Moore do? He made bunch of liberal movies that Beck did not like.
" Rightwing hate promoters are as guilty as radical Imams for stirring up violence against innocent Americans". Would this qualify as "hate speech"? Could this sentence be used by a nutjob on the left to decide to go kill a member of the GOP? Should I feel like my life is being threatend by ScientistX and use my computer skills to backtrack through his ISP to find him and get him before he gets me?
See post 27. MULTIPLE PEOPLE have died because of incitement to hate from the Right.
The leftwing of this country is NEVER condemned for the vile hatred it spills out to everyone including males,Catholics,Christians,capitalists the unborn and even Sarah Palin and her family....Over-heated rhetoric is even more a province of the liberals of America than anyone else.
Stephens, do you think John B should consider that you threatened him and should get you before you get him? Isn't this your statement?
And YOU are among the worst @!$%#r. As usual you are despicable. If YOU would stop posting the level of civility would improve. Go put a gun to your head and make the world a kinder place. John B of des moines should stop representing the liberal dems.
But then after reading your posts I realize John B is safe, you're not smart enough.
Fletch2: johnstephens is an angry, bitter, stupid man, that post should cause him to be banned from First Read.
Let’s get this straight. The killer is responsible for his actions. Period.
That said, we collectively are responsible for allowing the cauldron of rhetorical hate and violence to slowly come to a rolling boil. When the rhetoric evoking violence is ratcheted up a notch at a time, and all parties on all sides of the debate shrug and accept the new normal – we are collectively responsible for the inevitable results.
The lexicon of hate and violence would vanish if it didn’t work. And it will continue to work as long as the faithful on both sides of the issue accept such thoughtless words without protest.
If a republican suggests violence against the other side and the only voice of protest comes from democrats – nothing will change.
The call for reason and responsibility must come from fellow republicans. The same is also true of misguided democrats.
Those of us who engage in political debate need to act as watchdogs for our own spokespeople and ourselves.
So let's hear from democrats about how wrong and hateful it is for the president of the United States to call his political opponents "enemies" as he did when discussing the immigration issue. DON'T deny it because that just makes it worse. Google it if you are not familiar with it but he DID say it when addressing a Hispanic organization.
Here:
en·e·my
(n-m)
n. pl. en·e·mies
1. One who feels hatred toward, intends injury to, or opposes the interests of another; a foe.
2.
a. A hostile power or force, such as a nation.
b. A member or unit of such a force.
3. A group of foes or hostile forces. See Usage Note at collective noun.
4. Something destructive or injurious in its effects: "Art hath an enemy called Ignorance" (Ben Jonson).
adj.
Of, relating to, or being a hostile power or force.
Where, in that word, do you see a call for weapons?
And he apologized for doing so and retracted it. But that is more than anyone on the right will ever do, until they are threatened with a loss of money through civil suit or job loss through contract dissolution.
To all the GOPers out there that are somehow trying to justify this act, or say it is some sort of liberal conspiracy. This crime was politically motivated and our rhethoric has taken the lives of at least five people, one of them a child born on 911.
If you really stop and think about it does it matter if he's a liberal or a conservative? The fact remains that a woman is fighting for her life because of her beliefs. Words matter.
When her office was vandilized where was the outcry over the violence from the GOP leadership, why is it so wrong now but not then, because then it was good for there politics to say nothing and now it is good for there politics to cry foul.
Do Man...........a deranged 22 yr old who believes he has discovered conscious dreaming and says the govt is brainwashing him is somehow an agent of the GOP? Really? I mean REALLY? Perhaps you should quickly seek counseling if you truly believe that before you start hearing voices.
Where was the outcry from the democrat leadership when Eric Cantor's office was shot up last year during the obamacare debate?
I think you're hearing voices. There was a bullethole found in a window in an unoccupied office of Cantor's. See how words spin things?
It wasn't even Cantor's offices, it was on a lower floor in the same building. And Stephens was already told all of this,"NEWS".
So let's hear from democrats about how wrong and hateful it is for the president of the United States to call his political opponents "enemies" as he did when discussing the immigration issue. DON'T deny it because that just makes it worse. Google it if you are not familiar with it but he DID say it when addressing a Hispanic organization.
John,
The very next day, he apologized, said that it was a poor choice of words and he should have said opponents. I did Google it to find his entire speech rather than quotes off of additional inflammatory boards and it needs to be put in context. Having said all that, when and if, Palin, et al come forward and apologize and say that they stepped over the line, as Keith Olberman did then we have a discussion. There are unstable people in our population that respond to inflammatory rhetoric, and it is no more disingenuous to say that the psychiatrist that shot up Fort Hood acted that in a vacuum than to recognize that he responded to the zealous spewing of a radical Islamic imam. This is the climate we have created, and we have to accept the outcome of our actions.
I like the guy up top saying "john kill yourself the world...will be a kinder place" Wow not by my calculations. Placing blame at this time is way out of line. THAT SAID.
I live in Arizona. I know what its like to be a Blue voter in a Red state. There is more hate in this state than anywhere except a third world country.
I do know this, YOU ARE IN DENIAL TO STATE "WORDS DON'T MATTER". They do...and if nothing else results from beautiful people dying (like all of you bickering here) it should be...Stop the hateful rhetoric.
NO NAMES-NO PARTIES-NO EXCUSES; We all own this. Our country needs healing...not new wounds.
I feel for ya. Any representative of mine who was yelling for "second amendment remedies", or politico who was preaching "if ballots don't do it, bullets will" would scare the s..t out of me.
so, Rush/Palin, how's that target/crosshairs thingie workin' for ya'?
you betcha ;)
Pretty good Sheryn-lyn. Thanks for asking. I am sure you will hear more tomorrow.
Stephens is pretty hysterical....kind of like the Tea Partiers....same thing over and over.....wouldn't be a bit surprised if he wasn't kind of pleased that someone finally picked up the torch for Second Amendment remedies and did something about it....probably too cowardly to actually do something himself.....except mindlessly repeat everything he's heard from Limbaugh and Beck and Palin and Bachmann etc. etc. etc. .....and no Stephen this is not a civil discussion....your people today kind of changed all that...and no you're not important either....except perhaps to remind us of how effectively the right has brainwashed the weaker minded of us.
Mr. Stephens here is the police findings on the shooting at Cantor's office. WOW the bullet did go through the window...but could not penetrate the blinds. C'mon man really:)
"A police statement this afternoon said that a preliminary investigation shows that a bullet struck a window, landing on the floor about a foot from the window. The round struck with enough force to break the window but did not penetrate the blinds."
Words to remember...if you're not parts of the solution you must be part of the problem.
Lets wait for more info huh...Peace out!
Wow
What a load of organic fertilizer from each side of the politcal arena.
The tragedy in Arizona was just that a tragedy, no one wanted anything like this to happen anywhere, anytime and people who say otherwise are simply lying.
Was the rhetoric uncalled for, unwise, uncivil and stupid? Yes! Were the people who uttered some of the more infamous rhetoric ill-advised? Yes!
Are they responsible for this tragedy? No.
The time has come to realize that the political parties are the "opposition" to each other not the "enemy"
You people do not want the rhetoric to go away and be replaced by civil discourse and responsible governing rather than the hate fest that we have in Congress now. Because if that were to happen you would need to find lives and have real opinions about real issues.
May God be with the Congresswoman and other victims and may he comfort the survivors and families.
Beware the right-wing nutcases...The shooting in Tucson is the product of people like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, etc., etc and their fueling the hatred that so many "so-called pariots" harbor...These are very dangerous people....
Big Rog
With all the demonization of banks and bankers by the left of late, should we assume that future bank robbers are acting on the inspiration of the liberal democrats?
Sounds stupid doesn't it.
Much like what you and others have posted
Did some liberal 'crazy" shoot a banker and 19 other people?
Robert in Ohio,
except this has a beautiful signature of George Sr.
"I didn't see any liberals at rallies carrying guns. There were no anti Gifford rallies where people were encouraged to bring their guns. There were no liberal political ads suggesting second Amendment solutions.
Your constitution gives you freedom and the means to keep it. I can tell you if people took the second as it should be taken that man would never had gotten a shot off before falling dead. The second is your protection from things like this and when this country started there were laws requiring people to go about armed in order that people should defend this nine year old child.
You may think your words high and mighty, I think they're cowardly.
As far as hate talk goes, no ones exempt. Both parties have painted a doomsday message if the other were elected. A gun is only one way to take a life, Bernie Madoff is a democrat.
history,
Do you honestly think that a crowd of armed civilians all reacting to gunshot sounds would have made this situation better? Not even the trained police or military would agree with you. If this wacko could get a gun think of how many more wackos could have been there with guns. I hardly think that a group heavily armed shoppers is what the founders had envisioned as protection of our rights and welfare as a country.
Those of us on the left have been living in fear that this very situation was going to occur. From the minute Sara Palin stepped on stage I knew we were in big trouble. Her lack of understanding of the most basic issues was the first sign. Her running away from what she refered to as Lame Stream Media. Fox News brainwashing so many of our citizens and they don't even know it has happened.
When I try to explain to friends that they are listening to a network that only speaks for Republicans and that the Network only tells you what they want you to believe is true, they don't get it. The Christian Right has also played a major part in the rhetoric we have been hearing since George Bush was in office.
Their words have insighted these acts of hatred. It is against the law to insight people to react. They should all be charged with this crime
EXCELLENT comments Diane!
*BIG round of applause*
In light of the fact that Loughton planned this in 2007 I submit that rantings and calls for the killing of Bush by your people was the influencing factor......
How about eight years of extreme abuse & verbal violence aimed at Pres. Bush including movies about his assassination ?
The Jihadist shoots up Ft Hood but we're told not to "rush to judgement" but yesterday's events lead to an overwhelming rush to judgement and to apoportion blame.
Pitiful bias on display yet again.
These "journalists" are nothing of the sort, just lowlife hacks.
Your comment would only make sense if a political leader had made that movie.
David, Your not going to win. These people have been too brainwashed by Fox News. They can't see that a Tabloid network only reports what they want the viewers to believe. It's all one sided. No matter what you say they won't get the logic..........Logic is gone.
The President called the G.O.P. his enemies because that is all you heard from the right during the campaign. The past election had nothing to do with what these Representative's would do for their district. It was all about how terrible President Obama was. Once they one, the rhetoric was quiet. Now the Republicans are having a hard time following through with the campaign promises.
Just as the Bush Administration was all about the Christian Right and the abortion issue, once in office you never heard another word about it. That was true throughout both campaigns.
You now have Fox News screaming about President Obama not responding fast enough after this horrible event, yet it took Bush 2 days to respond to 9/11 and 3 days to respond to "Katrina" They will fluff this off as well. They will never take responsibitly for their actions and never have.
"If they bring a knife to the fight, we'll bring a gun". BHO
Why did they bring a knife to a political debate?
I can just see some of these right wingers getting so angry because of the blame they will go out and shot somebody else.
The gun sales skyrocketed the day after the election because Fox News told their listeners that Obama was going to change the laws. another lie.
Just for the hell of ... Google Fox News;Lawsuits. All because the the lies. Google MSNBC or CNN.... no lawsuits. Go figure!
Rupert Murdock made his first billions on a tabloid in Europe called the Daily Mirror. It was even worse then The National Inquirer. They have always settled out of court as to minimize the negative publicity just as the Inquirer has always done.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x150578
http://www.thedemocraticstrategist.org/strategist/2011/01/the_slippery_slope_of_violent.php
http://www.politicalarticles.net/blog/2009/04/12/the-torrent-of-violent-revolutionary-rhetoric-being-unleashed-by-right-wing-media/
For those of you who never, ever heard of any calls for Bush's death......and there are more.
Look at just a few assassinations in history - Lincoln, JFK, RFK, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, John Lennon, Columbine, attempt at Ronald Reagan- all shot by those with motives that only they understood - where was Sheriff Dupkin and his police while all this was going on yesterday ?? NOT protecting Rep Giffords, that's for sure !! Police cannot be there to protect you - they come after to investigate - no crime, no cops !! Secret Service protect Gov't officials - bodyguards protect celebrities and the wealthy - the average citizens must be able to protect themselves with proper and safe handgun training and various other methods of self defense and be prepared to use it !!
Ever notice how all the Rightwings mentors are hatemongering bigots who only suupport the wealthy. hate and violence is their mantra. To their lcok and load,take aim BS only a moron can't see what they stand for. Timmy McVeigh is another Rightwing mentor.
Most of the posters here are in their 20's and don't realize this has been going on forever. Of course you have been taught by the liberal elite class and union teachers. What don't you understand about "Never waste a crisis". You are being used. The democrats have been the party of no compromise. They locked the doors and allowed no Republican debate. They told you to attack at every turn. You are doing very well. Of course had you read real history and not listened to a bunch of reborn 60-70's radicals you would know this stradegy always fails. But, continue on. You are putting your on goals so far "in back of the bus". I hope one day you wake up. Maybe not. Smoke somemore crack and get back with me. God help us all.