Conservative media figures, including Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and others, are unbelievably successful and incredibly rich, because they know how to stir up emotional rhetoric and play into the ignorance and fears of their followers. But now their divisive vitriol has gone too far.
After Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot Saturday by a crazed gunman, who was presumably angry at her voting record (including the Obama health care bill), political pundits are wondering out loud if the political tone has grown out of control. Although the shooting seized the news cycle over the weekend, this is not the first time political rhetoric has caused citizens to act out in violent ways:
In 2008 when then candidate Barack Obama was running for president, several conservative citizens in Phoenix who opposed his candidacy brought guns to an Obama rally. Limbaugh and Palin approved of their right to bear arms, while stirring up those members of the “birther” movement, who still believe to this day that President Obama is not an American citizen and is therefore ineligible to hold the office of President. John McCain himself had to often calm down several angry mobs of “birthers” who attended his political rallies spewing hatred and venom toward Mr. Obama’s candidacy.
Last year when President Obama promoted health care reform, several Democratic congressional members were threatened with intimidation, death threats and acts of violence, if they backed the new health bill. Several local congressional offices were vandalized, including spray painted epithets on buildings and a shattered glass front door of the office of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona.
While joining forces with the Tea Party movement last March, Sarah Palin took to her Twitter page with a message for “Common sense conservatives,” saying: “Don’t Retreat. Instead — RELOAD!” On her website, Palin placed a list of Democratic politicians in the crosshairs of a rifle, suggesting to her followers that these were the liberals they should “target.” Immediately, Democratic leaders criticized her political methods, arguing that it could spur crazed citizens to take her message literally. But Palin rebuffed their pleas, claiming no one would think to take her words literal. Incidentally, Gabrielle Giffords was one of those Democrats listed in Palin’s crosshairs.
In Nevada, Tea Party Senate candidate Sharron Angle advocated “second-amendment remedies” to some of the nation’s problems., which was a veiled message to her followers to take matters into their own hands.
It’s one thing to be passionate about ones political beliefs. But it’s another thing to pump up the emotional decibel level, to the point where followers feel it is their duty to act out violently. When crazed citizens attend a political rally carrying a semi-automatic rifle and are applauded for their actions; or when they call in to conservative radio talk shows spewing venom and make potentially dangerous threats, yet are encouraged instead of reprimanded for crossing the line, we have a problem. The continued “Willie-Nellie / Win-at-all-costs” antics by Palin, Limbaugh, Beck and others, will only stir up the pot for more possible violence. And it’s time to CUT THE CRAP!
NOTE: Although the GOP doesn’t have a chance in hell of overturning the health care bill, Republicans intended to stage a repeal attempt of President Obama’s signature legislation in a display of their partisan mettle. But in light of the Giffords shooting, Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner announced that their planned exercise in partisan politics has now been cancelled. Is it possible just maybe they’re getting the message?
Finally somebody is telling the truth!!!!Sarah Palin and these other politicians have been stirring up trouble for a long time. Back when they were briging guns to the Obama rallies I said then there was going to be trouble. You can't tell people go target other politicians and put them in a rifle scope then not expect a problem. She didn't pull the trigger but she might as well did. That video with the congress woman was scary. She said there was going to be consequeses and then it turned she was the one to get attacked. We're living in sad times people.