As speculation continues over what motivated Jared Loughner's shooting spree in Tucson Saturday, his actions have had a sobering effect on an increasingly hostile political atmosphere.
Debates between elected officials and members of the news media are often heated. But recent months have seen an increase in a type of hateful rhetoric among politicians, public servants and pundits alike that is intended to simply demonize opponents rather than argue with them.
Loughner's rampage ended with six dead and 14 critically wounded. Following his arrest, Loughner was charged with the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona), two counts of first degree murder of federal employees and two counts of attempted murder of federal employees.
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12 comments:
The left went on attack right off the bat while Obama looked the other way.Now that all the attacks have been proven to be false Obama calls for civility when the right defends itself from slander.He "Obama" has turned this tragedy into politics as usual and missed an opportunity to be a real leader.
What's most disturbing to me is reading the number of posts on this site from people who think "this is what happens when the government doesn't listen" or whatever else they have to disagree with. They were essentially saying, "oh well" to the attack on a congresswoman. I don't expect this to be posted, because it sheds real light on some real sickos. Joe, why do you post these remarks from these people? Is it to enrage the rest of us who have some semblance of sanity? I have noticed in the past whenever I ask a question that might make YOU look bad, it doesn't get posted. I get that. What I don't get is why you continue to court these neanderthals and give their sickness a voice. If you don't post this, could you at least address the issue somewhere down the road. A lot of people respect your opinions and when you post this kind of "this is what we should expect, we warned them, crap, they are dumb enough to think you support them. Please, if you don't, set the record straight.
I saw her father's first reaction. There was a reason for that and no one on either side wants to own that. You people don't get it as evidenced by your focus on left and right and not why the rhetoric is bad of all of us, regardless of whether that was this killer's reason.
8:40 what more can the man do? On national tv he said that the right was not to blame and that the people trying to score political points need to fall back. Should he move to censor these voices? Then you guys would claim "Obama is trampling the constitution". Sheesh
9:08...what are you talking about??? I haven't seen a lot of "this is what they get when they (the government) doesn't listen. This nutcase killed people because he was straight up crazy. Not because he wanted to make a political point or take out some liberal politician. Just crazy. What other inference can be made for someone who kills a 9 year old girl? He took aim at that kid and pulled the trigger. Not just crazy, but stone cold crazy. Thats all.
Imclain, go read the comments from Joe's 2:51 p.m. post on Saturday, Jan. 8th. Also, the post entitled Democrats Lash Out At Inflammatory Rhetoric Following Shooting. More of the same. Search Giffords and they will come up. Appalling!
The whole thing started almost immediately after the shooting when left-leaning media and others began to associate the killer with the Tea Party/Conservatives without a shred of evidence.
Then, even though it became clear that there was no political motives or associations (other than some vague left leanings), the leftists kept on trying to associate this with the conservatives and to generate issues that could be used to muzzle the conservative movement and strengthen gun control.
I never saw anything that was 'heartless', 'cruel', or insensitive.
I did see the conservative movement vigorously defend itself against a concerted slur campaign-- rightfully so. And we will continue to defend ourselves against the false allegations and attempts to silence us.
In the most recent polls I've seen, we are a significant majority in this country, and we intend to preserve our way of life, even if it means being called names and portrayed as vicious and evil by the minority who disagree with us.
I agree, Imclain, that the shooter is a nut job, but 9:08 is right. I was stunned to see what people on here were saying. Scary! It kinda makes me feel like I have to look over my shoulder - not just for criminals, but for some of the "patriots" as well.
No one is saying conservatives should be muzzled. Just saying any one, conservative or lib, should not promote violence or defend it as a way to settle political differences of opinion. We all want what's best for our children, our town, our country. We may disagree on the best path, but that makes neither side deserving to be shot. Anyone who thinks it's okay to shoot someone for their vote on an issue should be committed.
"No one is saying conservatives should be muzzled.."
Wrong, 6:08. There has been an outcry against conservative talk radio and calls for the "Fairness Doctrine", which would effectively do that.
Nobody but the few individual nuts are promoting violence, and that's exactly the point.
You see? The lie is already beginning to sink into people's minds that this incident was caused by violent rhetoric, because it's been stated and re-stated so many times, by so many people, and in so many ways.
There has been very little 'violent' talk, except that which has been manufactured out of thin air to try to create an issue and take action against opposing viewpoints.
And if you look at it carefully, that has been done almost exclusively by the left.
I'm not in favor of violence, or talk of it, but those who would steal our freedom from us need to be aware that there is only so much the people will take. I don't think that's threatening language, just a warning to the wise. And I think that's about all that's really been said.
He was a practicing Satanist.
6:34, you are so busy defending, you missed the point. I never suggested that the conservative talking heads were the cause of this shooting. I was referring to the kooks on Joe's blog who were justifying the act. But to be clear, while you aren't using "threatening language," what exactly are you warning?
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