In the aftermath of this weekend’s horrific shooting in Tuscon, I really can’t which I am more disgusted by…
The press falling all over themselves to be the first to declare Rep. Giffords dead. Story after story spewed forth from the Ordinary Ministers of the Media, citing no sources than each other, declaring her dead. Accuracy and integrity, be damned. The fact that family members may see these baseless reports never even entered into their minds. Disgusting. (Hats off to KOLD Tuscon for refusing to do so.)
In the absence of any real information, network after network filled the air with talking heads of various stripes spewing nonsense. One anchor said that “19 people shot meant an automatic weapon had to be involved and those are ILLEGAL!” Huh? Ever hear of an extended clip or maybe more than one gun? Another network had a doctor mouthing off about what kind of brain injury she must have, with no evidence at all. The lack of intelligence and the lack of humility is a bad combination. I wanted to throw things at the television.
But as bad as TV was, the interwebs was worse. I have never seen such a river of opportunistic vitriol. People on Twitter were disgusting. I followed the #Giffords hashtag for 30 minutes in hopes of getting the latest. What I saw instead was a rapid river of hate flowing faster than I could read it. I called Matt and read some of them over the phone. I stunned him into silence which, believe me you, ain’t easy to do.
But that was the interwebs, I consoled myself. But soon after the same hate made its way into TV and print commentary as well. Olberman, Krugman, et al. News agencies mention Sarah Palin in stories on Giffords a half dozen times for no reason. Unfathomable. In speaking about the rush off attacks on Sarah Palin, Glenn Reynolds makes a point about all the disgusting opportunists this weekend.
To be clear, if you’re using this event to criticize the “rhetoric” of Mrs. Palin or others with whom you disagree, then you’re either: (a) asserting a connection between the “rhetoric” and the shooting, which based on evidence to date would be what we call a vicious lie; or (b) you’re not, in which case you’re just seizing on a tragedy to try to score unrelated political points, which is contemptible. Which is it?
I understand the desperation that Democrats must feel after taking a historic beating in the midterm elections and seeing the popularity of ObamaCare plummet while voters flee the party in droves. But those who purport to care about the health of our political community demonstrate precious little actual concern for America’s political well-being when they seize on any pretext, however flimsy, to call their political opponents accomplices to murder.
Where is the decency in that?
Now some conservatives are falling into a trap by using scant information to try and paint the deranged loser gunman as a lefty. Don’t do it. Don’t be like them. He may be a lefty at the end of the day, but let the facts come out. At the end of the day, even if he is a Marxist, that really had nothing to do with it. I know some see it as a defense against the loony charges that he must be a tea-partier, but don’t do it. Don’t be like them.
Integrity. It comes down to that. In the rush to be first to news, in the rush to have titillating commentary, in the rush to score political points, and in the resulting rush to defend, so many threw their integrity right out the window.
We saw the worst aspects of human nature this weekend, and not just in Tuscon.
January 11, 2011 at 1:05 am
"If hunting/shooting/killing metaphors were used exclusively by one party."
hunting/shooting/killing metaphors and actual killing of innocent, helpless animals is copyrighted by Sarah Palin. I watched the show. She loves killing helpless animals and takes great pleasure in it!!
January 11, 2011 at 3:26 am
Paul:
Do a Google search and you will turn up dozens of pictures of racist signs and banners taken at tea party rallies. And don't call me a media dupe, because I have seen this first hand. In the weeks before Obama's election, and then again before this latest election, there were protesters downtown where I work and in the park not far from where I live. I saw their signs, I heard their racist chants, I saw the hate in their eyes — I was there, I saw it.
And Sarah Palin's congressional map did not have TARGETS (symbolizing accuracy), it had CROSS-HAIRS, emblematic of gun violence. This kind of symbolism and rhetoric about "reloading," with their unspoken threats of violence, has no place in a democratic society. Why haven't "responsible" right-wing leaders denounced it and the people who indulge in it?
January 11, 2011 at 4:51 am
Great article in the WSJ today about this very thing re the media:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703667904576071913818696964.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read
And counter-examples of Democrat politicians (esp. BHO) using warlike metaphors abounded in the media today.
January 11, 2011 at 5:16 am
I saw their signs, I heard their racist chants, I saw the hate in their eyes — I was there, I saw it.
You're either lying or exaggerating. I've been to a couple of tea party rallies, and I saw none of that, and to the extent that people do show up at these rallies carrying racist signs, they're usually booted off the overwhelming majority.
Why haven't "responsible" right-wing leaders denounced it and the people who indulge in it?
Because only truly despicable partisan hacks such as yourself see any connection whatsoever between this and the violent actions of a sick, twisted lunatic. It's almost like you're gleeful that people are dead, and instead of mourning the dead you choose to use this opportunity to make a non-sensical point. Keep ignoring the fact that the shooter had no connection whatosever to the tea party, and that there is no evidence whatosever that he was even a fan of Palin. Meanwhile, you ignore the violent rhetoric of the left and continue down this delusional rabbit hole.
I know that you like to play the contrarian, but this tact is a new low even for you.
January 11, 2011 at 6:02 am
Paul, what we're talking about here is a Vice Presidential candidate from one of the two main parties who is inciting people to violence.
Pointing up that there is "violent rhetoric of the left" only counts if there is an equivalent figure from the other party (like — someone nominated by that party for national office) who is making hateful statements, not just any hateful statements from some schlub.
My point is that it is past time for Republican politicians to step up and be counted by doing the responsible thing and denouncing hate-mongers like Sarah Palin, racists like the "birthers," and anyone who resorts to violence to subvert the democratic process.
When Tiller got shot I saw the responsible leaders of the Pro-Life movement do just that. Not twenty-four hours had gone by before I read emphatic denunciations of Roeder, his actions, and his philosophy of violence from major Pro-Life leaders like Joe Scheidler and Judy Brown, as well as seeing dozens of blog entries expressing grief and shock over the killing. I also note that Randal Terry has become persona non grata in the Pro-Life Movement in part because of his attack on Tiller in the wake of the shooting.
The vast majority of Pro-Life leaders have done the right thing and distanced themselves from violence and hatred, why haven't Republican leaders done the same?
January 11, 2011 at 9:57 am
The teabagger functions are not racist. It's just preferred of color don't attend.
January 11, 2011 at 12:40 pm
"In this case, supposedly reputable Sarah Palin has been using violent metaphors"
Show how this is exclusively a phenomenon of the Right.
"people have been showing up armed at events where the President has been speaking"
When and where?
"and "Tea Party" rallies have been peppered with racist banners, signs advocating violence, and Confederate flags"
Every time I've seen racist banners at tea parties, it's come to light that the person holding the banner was a left-winger trying to discredit the tea party.
"and I have yet to hear Right Wing commentators denounce this."
You must not listen to them, then.
"Now we are treated to the spectacle of Right Wingers going "tisk tisk" as if it isn't their fault when the hate-mongering and macho posturing they have indulged in comes home to roost."
Shall I break out Obama quotes of macho posturing?
"How many people will respond to Sarah Palin's incitements to violence before Right denounces her as the agent provocateur she is?"
Show causality between Palin's rhetoric from a year ago and the events on Saturday.
"Pointing up that there is "violent rhetoric of the left" only counts if there is an equivalent figure from the other party (like — someone nominated by that party for national office) who is making hateful statements, not just any hateful statements from some schlub."
A schlub like the President? He's angry, he wants to bring a gun to a knife fight, he wants others to get in our faces, he wants to shove things down our throats, he wants to know who's ass to kick.
You know what? Don't bother. You're so stuck in your mentality that Republicans are evil that nothing will convince you. You make good points at times, but undermine that with your clear biases, excusing the same behavior in Democrats that you condemn in Republicans.
One major difference I've noticed between Tea Party activists and leftist activists. Tea Partiers use strong rhetoric, while leftist activists actually commit acts of violence.
Thanks for point out the speck in our eyes, brother. Can I help you with that plank?
January 11, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Matthew:
I am really sorry if I have come across as a shill for the Democrats, because I don't much care for them either. I actually understand the frustration of the Tea Party supporters: they feel that however they vote, they lose.
Most Americans are fairly conservative on social issues. They think it's too easy to get an abortion. They think homosexuality is a private matter that should not be persecuted, but neither should they get special rights and privleges. They are worried about the break down of the family and the values they knew when they were growing up. And when they worry about the moral state of society, they vote Republican. But then they get government for the rich. Tax giveaways to the rich, bail-outs for corporations, their jobs shipped overseas or taken by illegal immigrants, and nothing is ever done to address their social concerns.
And, of course, most Americans are working class. The know in their guts that their economic position has eroded, their kids prospects are not what theirs had been, and that the financial sector is looting the economy. They know it's their boys who will be dying overseas to protect the oil companies, not the children of CEO's and senators. But when they vote Democratic to try to improve their lot in life, they get queers in the military and public funded abortion without any improvement in their position as a class.
Their frustration is real and understandable, but it's being channeled into violence, bigotry, and hatred instead of towards rebuilding this country.