Shame On Them
On "Right Turn," her new blog at the Washington Post, Jen Rubin says what needs to be said:
It is as noxious to associate Saturday's shooting with conservative campaign rhetoric, even that which is over-the-top, as it would be to claim that violence is the doing of those who labeled Tea Partyers un-American (as Democratic leaders did during the health-care debate) or of those who accuse senators of being unpatriotic (as a liberal newspaper columnist recently did). If a lunatic attacks a businessman, are we to blame Obama for vilifying the Chamber of Commerce? Was the attack on an Arkansas recruiting station the fault of anti-war liberal Democrats? Of course not. The impulse to blame political opponents for tragedy and to convert human misery into a political weapon -- both of which were played out on Twitter and the Internet by liberals as diverse as Paul Krugman, Jane Fonda, and the Daily Kos crowd -- is deeply regrettable. But it has unfortunately become par for the course.
Supposedly respectable political groups followed suit: "'It is fair to say -- in today's political climate, and given today's political rhetoric -- that many have contributed to the building levels of vitriol in our political discourse that have surely contributed to the atmosphere in which this event transpired,' said a statement issued by the leaders of the National Jewish Democratic Council." Fair? How so, and on what evidence is this string of flimsy assumptions based? Shame on them.
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Comments:
Jun '10
Re: Shame On Them
The political rhetoric of our founding father was quite intense, too.
Jul '10
Re: Shame On Them
A Torrie is a person with his body in the colonies, his head in England, and who deserves to have his neck stretched!
Rhetoric from the founders.
Jun '10
Re: Shame On Them
A word from one of the "villains" fingered for blame (9/17/2010):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoWLzgpd6fo
Jan '11
Re: Shame On Them
This is the politics of association, where the game is to link your opponent to anyone objectionable. Connect them to Nazis, racists, gay-haters, or any other pack of haters. It's politics by slime.
This is an attempt at intimidation: if you oppose them, they'll accuse you of whatever seems hateful at the moment. And the media will gleefully serve as the vehicle for that intimidation. They gin up indignation and use it as a weapon.
May '10
Re: Shame On Them
This is just Bill Clinton's Oklahoma City strategy. It was extremely effective for him, so of course the Left is going to go all out to try and reproduce it. If they can't demonize the weepy suntan guy, they'll use the nutcase as a proxy. If they can control the narrative, it'll work, too.
At minimum, they may be able to separate nervous Republicans from the Tea Party, and discredit citizen organizing and protest of the Tea Party variety.
For the Left, everything is political. They are shameless, and will do and try anything.
Jul '10
Re: Shame On Them
In contrast, I found this Atlantic piece from James Fallows linked on NRO's first page. A responsible and informative survey of American assassins and their political motivations, clear, muddled, or missing. Such things are still possible in the Internet Age.
Jun '10
Re: Shame On Them
Mara Liasson this morning on Fox News Sunday expressed that the Tucson incident should make people stop and think about using such "metaphors" as nazis, socialists, etc. Britt Hume thankfully stepped in and said that using "nazi" was over the top but that many on Hill ARE self-avowed socialists (I'm paraphrasing but this was a fairly accurate account having just run to my computer). Liasson said essentially (paraphrasing) okay, but many people think that communism and socialism were movements that needed to be countered with armed force (which they were). In other words, invoking the terms today could incite Americans to use armed force against people labeled socialists...and that would be unacceptable, so think twice about using the term.
Given the history of genocide, murder, liquidation, famine, torture and slave labor - all resulting in the deaths of millions under socialism, somehow it's still an acceptable political ideology in this country; and one that others want to use to replace our current constitutional republic. I for one will not shrink from excoriating anyone who embraces the tenets of this abhorrent ideology. They deserve to be embarrassed and called on the carpet for their promotion of it.
Edited on January 9, 2011 at 6:31pmJun '10
Re: Shame On Them
I tried to copy and paste a small section of a Google search page that has many articles on political campaigns "targeting" this group or this opponent or that issue. It is a common phrase used in politics and has been for generations. When Palin used it in this last election (as if she were the only person using that word) she was ATTACKED for it. Notice the bold word. Am I advocating or accusing others of advocating violence? This is stupid. But when even some on our side accept these castigations and even promote them, even right here on this site, just because they are not favorably inclined towards a specific personality...well, it makes winning the debate much more difficult.
Edited on January 9, 2011 at 6:52pmJun '10
Re: Shame On Them
Also on Fox News Sunday, Juan Williams in an effort not to politicize the motives of the Tucson shooter, essentially politicized his motives by labeling the anti-government, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant group that Loughner is associated with as "right wing". So-called "liberal" pundits like Williams continue to smear conservatives who have always repudiated anti-Semitism and are not anti-immigrant nor anti-government. In point of fact, those on the "Left" have an embarrassing history of embracing anti-Semitism, and supporting anti-immigrant and anti-government movements that they would like forget but now foist their embarrassment onto conservatives.
For an illuminating exploration of terms see Jonah Goldberg's wonderful presentation in 2008 at the Heritage Foundation when he promoted his book "Liberal Fascism". All four episodes are worth watching, but he starts to hone in on labeling in Episode 2.
Oct '10
Re: Shame On Them
Peter-This situation is worse than you think.
The Democrats are trying to fundraise off of this situation. FUNDRAISING !! The group entitled “21st Century Democrats” send out a fundraising email blast Sunday morning.
Politico ran a story quoting a Democrat strategist: “They need to deftly pin this on the tea partiers,” said the Democrat. “Just like the Clinton White House deftly pinned the Oklahoma City bombing on the militia and anti-government people.”
Allegedly unbiased CNN has run constant Sarah Palin references, based on zero evidence. FYI--I am not a Palin fan, but the backlash against these media attacks will drive even more outrage at the injustice of linking her to this heinous crime. Ed Morrissey at HotAir.com said it best: “CNN owes everyone an apology for their nasty, hysterical, and biased coverage in the aftermath of the shooting yesterday, perhaps especially Sarah Palin.”
On the Sunday shows, no Republican or conservative stood up against this “violent rhetoric” mantra with enough force to shame these left wing outfits into toning it down. We need to fight back with vigor against this evil practice that the left employs at every tragedy.
Jul '10
Re: Shame On Them
No surprise here.
The Left will exploit anything for political gain.
Heck, we all know that here at Ricochet. The Code of Conduct specifically cautions against the sort of rhetoric that could have us branded as angry crazies. In a couple of instances, when passions ran high and talk of Second Amendment rights got a bit edgy, Members stepped in to remind us that we wouldn't want to find ourselves dragged through the gutter of DailyKos someday, in the event of a a tragedy such as this.
Sadly, Sarah Palin never read our COC, so now she's stuck with her ill-considered Tweet: "Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: 'Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!'"
To suggest that her little Tweet in any way contributed to this tragedy is utter nonsense, of course. But she chooses to do battle in the octagon of American politics, where the rules are stacked against conservatives.
And one of the rules is: Don't hand them the brush to tar you with, because they surely will.
Jun '10
Re: Shame On Them
From: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/10/former-sen-ted-stevens-dead/
August 10, 2010 (CNN) - Aviation gave and aviation took away throughout Ted Stevens' adult life. The former U.S. senator, who died with several other people aboard a plane that crashed Monday night near Dillingham, Alaska....
------------------------
(some comments)
MN Hockey Mom
Oh PLEASE tell me that Sarah Palin was on the plane too!!!!!
August 10, 2010 02:49 pm at 2:49 pm
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jphilly08
GOOD RIDDENS!!!! this guy was as corrupt as they come. he was just another puppet for big oil. Rot in hell Ted Stevens, you earned it!
August 10, 2010 03:01 pm at 3:01 pm
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Frustrated Republican
Too bad Palin wasn't on that plane!
August 10, 2010 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm
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Liberals are poison
600 comments in the CNN headline story wishing that Palin was on the crashed plane, and saying that they're glad he's dead. Liberals and Democrats are the REAL party of "NO."
NO:
No Class
No Couthe
No Tolerance
No Ethics
No Honesty
August 10, 2010 03:21 pm at 3:21 pm
Sep '10
Re: Shame On Them
Must.Maintain.The.Narrative.
A Muslim shooter yelling "Allah Adbar" in Fort Hood is an isolated incident indicative of nothing.
An insane shooter is Tucson is clearly a Tea Party supporter, sent forth from Sarah Palin's wintery dungeon in Wasilla to take out political opponents.
Rhetoric of bringing guns to knife fights and destroying political enemies by the President of the United States is conveniently forgotten.
There, the narrative is maintained. That was easy!
Jun '10
Re: Shame On Them
Kenneth "Sadly, Sarah Palin never read our COC, so now she's stuck with her ill-considered Tweet: "Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: 'Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!'"
Just like I said at #8. Perfect example. Thanks Kenneth.
Jul '10
Re: Shame On Them
Richard VanderHoek: Must.Maintain.The.Narrative.
A Muslim shooter yelling "Allah Adbar" in Fort Hood is an isolated incident indicative of nothing.
An insane shooter is Tucson is clearly a Tea Party supporter, sent forth from Sarah Palin's wintery dungeon in Wasilla to take out political opponents.
Rhetoric of bringing guns to knife fights and destroying political enemies by the President of the United States is conveniently forgotten.
There, the narrative is maintained. That was easy! · Jan 9 at 11:54am
And that's another rule of American politics: hypocrisy exists only on the Right.
Jul '10
Re: Shame On Them
cdor: Kenneth "Sadly, Sarah Palin never read our COC, so now she's stuck with her ill-considered Tweet: "Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: 'Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!'"
Just like I said at #8. Perfect example. Thanks Kenneth. · Jan 9 at 12:00pm
Yawn.
May '10
Re: Shame On Them
This guy was insane, crazy, nuts. There was nothing left or right about his ravings, he was simply mental. He may have been a lefty before he lost his mind, but we can't even blame the progressives for his act. He was simply insane.
If you read the polls, there are some simple truths that should be a source of comfort:
Most Americans know the media is biased
Most Americans don't trust/listen to the MSM
Most Americans are conservative
Most Americans identify with the tea party
There aren't millions of Americans sitting in their living rooms saying, "How could I have been so stupid! The liberals and the media were right all along!"
Oct '10
Re: Shame On Them
Kenneth:
Don't hand them the brush to tar you with, because they surely will.
Better hide those plastic pistols our kids are playing with, post haste! Wouldn't want to give the left more ammunition -- oops. My bad.
Jun '10
Re: Shame On Them
A pertinent quote from Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit:
"Let me be clear, as a great man says: If you’re using this event to criticize the “rhetoric” of Sarah Palin or others with whom you disagree, then you’re either asserting a connection between the “rhetoric” and the shooting — which based on evidence to date would be what we call a vicious lie — or you’re not, in which case you’re just seizing on a tragedy to try to score unrelated political points, which is contemptible. So which is it?"
Read the whole article and check the links to VS:http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/112816/
h/t GW @ Wolf Howling blogsot: http://wolfhowling.blogspot.com/2011/01/tradgedy-in-arizona-politics-on-hudson.html#links
Edited on January 9, 2011 at 10:17pmJul '10
Re: Shame On Them
cdor: A pertinent quote from Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit:
"Let me be clear, as a great man says: If you’re using this event to criticize the “rhetoric” of Sarah Palin or others with whom you disagree, then you’re either asserting a connection between the “rhetoric” and the shooting — which based on evidence to date would be what we call a vicious lie — or you’re not, in which case you’re just seizing on a tragedy to try to score unrelated political points, which is contemptible. So which is it?"
Read the whole article and check the links to VS:http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/112816/ · Jan 9 at 12:57pm
Oh, gee, since Glenn Reynolds says it, it must be Gospel.
Gosh, I'm chastised.
That's what's known in logic as "an appeal to authority". But trying to make an argument that way is a fool's errand. Because one could just as easily quote Nancy Pelosi to make one's point.
Logic is a hard discipline, but do keep trying.
Edited on January 9, 2011 at 10:04pm