How Would the Right React...
As former Governor Tim Pawlenty said multiple times on his New York media circuit yesterday for his upcoming book, Saturday's events should not suppress our passion for our ideological beliefs - we're supposed to be passionate about these sorts of things. Ultimately, I'm grateful to be part of a nation that allows me to be as involved or distanced from politics as I choose.
Whether I like it or not, I have engaged in debates over the politicization of the Giffords' shootings multiple times over the past few days, and while I can defend the unjustifiable measures that the Left-wing media has taken to find some connection to Rush, Fox News, Palin, etc., I keep running into one central stumper: "Well, wouldn't the Right react in some political way if the roles were reversed?"
My belief system, and emotional connection, would hope not, but I would appreciate any insight and even proof as to why we believe the Right would behave differently in these types of crises. I don't just seek this information as material for the next debate, but for my own comfort as a young conservative.
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May '10
Re: How Would the Right React...
The Right acted admirably almost across the board here, including people I wouldn't have expected it from.
But I think the question here is valid: Conservatives are prone to the "cultural decline" stuff and blaming actions/events on said decline. I suspect (though I don't know for sure) conservatives have traditionally been more likely to blame D&D, video games, porn, etc for bad things that happen.
I can imagine a scenario where the shooter had attributes such that the situation would have been reversed. Certainly where people like Rush are concerned.
If that's true, hopefully our prolonged exposure to this poison from the Left has helped inoculate us from going down the same path when the temptation arises, which it will.
Jun '10
Re: How Would the Right React...
It's like you read my Christmas list.
Aug '10
Re: How Would the Right React...
Maurilius: Conservatives are prone to the "cultural decline" stuff and blaming actions/events on said decline. I suspect (though I don't know for sure) conservatives have traditionally been more likely to blame D&D, video games, porn, etc for bad things that happen.
I can imagine a scenario where the shooter had attributes such that the situation would have been reversed. Certainly where people like Rush are concerned.
Though I sympathize with what you're saying, I'm not sure that the conservative tendency to look to cultural decline or social problems as an explanation of violent behavior can be equated to blaming "the other side's" political ideology for said behavior.
If a mentally-fragile person were raised in a broken home, for example, and snapped and turned violent, I think it's consistent with reality to be prima facie more concerned with his home environment than his politics. People from good homes may turn out violent, too, but it seems less likely.
Nov '10
Re: How Would the Right React...
I think the answer lies somewhere between the two extremes. I can certainly see the right making hay of the fact that an attempted assassin held far left views, but at the same time I can't see them going off half-cocked like the left did in this case. We might make a big deal about the shooter's political leanings, but I trust we'd wait for actual evidence rather than assuming that Barney Frank is to blame.