Following the racist terrorist attack against Mexicans in El Paso, the shooting rampage in Dayton, and the recent mass shooting in Odessa, there’s a new GOP – NRA strategy just in time to help Donald Trump in 2020: downplay the angry white male angle and make the issue about anything EXCEPT white nationalism.
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The belief is that by keeping the White House and at least one branch of Congress in the hands of Republicans, the GOP – NRA will be able to control US Supreme Court confirmations and maintain the right for guns to remain in the hands of every (white) American in the land.
Their only potential roadblock is the recent string of mass shootings by white males in El Paso, Dayton, and Odessa, which has given credence to the narrative that white nationalism is on the rise and must be stopped via stringent gun control laws. So, the GOP – NRA has handed out a strict list of marching orders. Deny, deny, deny any connection between guns and white supremacy, ignore any discussion regarding white nationalism, and continue hammering home the narrative that mental illness, video games, and “violence from the left” are the actual causes behind the crazed killings.
According to a document obtained by the Tampa Bay Times, the GOP – NRA strategy involves a framework for how Republicans should respond to such questions as “Why won’t you pass legislation to close the ‘gun show loophole’ in federal law?” and “Why shouldn’t we ban high-capacity magazines?” as well as the million-dollar question: “Do you believe white nationalism is driving more mass shootings recently?”
The directed response is to steer all conversations regarding mass shootings by white males away from white nationalism and instead to the calmer implication that both sides are to blame.
“White nationalism and racism are pure evil and cannot be tolerated in any form,” the document said. “We also can’t excuse violence from the left such as the El Paso shooter, the recent Colorado shooters, the Congressional baseball shooter, Congresswoman Giffords’ shooter and Antifa,” it continued, using examples of leftist shootings (although the shooters were all white).
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The GOP – NRA strategy is to dig up every shooting by a non-conservative they can find in order to make the case that conservatives, Trump, or white nationalists are not solely responsible for the deaths but that people from both political spectrum’s are to blame.
However, with more and more mass shootings occurring on a regular basis at the hands of angry white males, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for Donald Trump and his cronies to blame the violence on Muslims and illegal immigrants. Additionally, Republicans are facing mounting pressure from all sides to address the root cause of these tragedies and demands that Congress take action.
Further, statistics are not on their side. According to the Anti-Defamation League, extremist-related murders have not only spiked within the last year, but 73% of these crimes are committed by right-wing extremists and white supremacists. Interestingly, not a single extremist-related murder in the United States last year was carried out by “the left.”
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According to ADL’s Center on Extremism, 73.3% of U.S. extremist-related murders in the past decade were committed by right-wing extremists, including white supremacists. Leaders must immediately take concrete steps to curb this alarming trend. #ElPaso pic.twitter.com/3MPbvzXo6e
— ADL (@ADL) August 4, 2019
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No matter what the GOP – NRA strategy would prefer us all to believe, white nationalism is on the rise and angry white men with guns is a huge problem in America. So, don’t fall for the smoke and mirrors. Disgruntled, white male terrorists are in the driver’s seat and Donald Trump’s racist rhetoric is still providing all the fuel.
I want to preface my responses by first saying- I am in total agreement with DJ on this:
“No matter what the GOP – NRA strategy would prefer us all to believe, white nationalism is on the rise and angry white men with guns is a huge problem in America. So, don’t fall for the smoke and mirrors. Disgruntled, white male terrorists are in the driver’s seat…..”
But here’s where I slightly disagree: “and Donald Trump’s racist rhetoric is still providing all the fuel.”
I would posit that Trump is providing most of the fuel….Not all of it. There are other motivations, Equally if not more venomous, at play when it comes to angry white males with guns terrorizing all of America.
Motivations such as FEAR and Self-loathing. Ignorance and isolation. Insecurity and Hatred. Oh and did I mention….FEAR.