Republicans Try to Blame Democrats, the Media, CRT for Shooting
By: Peter Wade (Rolling Stone)
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"The greatest threat to our nation right now is that we are horribly divided. Why are we so divided? ... I would argue that's what identity politics is about. That's what critical race theory is about"
Not long after the attempt to assassinate former president Donald Trump, Republicans began to blame the Democrats; the media; diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; and critical race theory as responsible for the shooting, even though law enforcement thus far has not shared information about the shooter's motivations.
"The greatest threat to our nation right now is that we are horribly divided," Republican Sen. Ron Johnson told Jake Tapper on CNN's State of the Union Sunday. "But again, in general, we share the same goals. Why are we so divided? Well, there are political figures, there are political groups. I would argue that's what identity politics is about. That's what critical race theory is about. So there are people who are purposely trying to divide us for political advantage. Resist. Don't let them get away with it, and again, start talking to each other. That's part of the problem."
Ron Johnson: "As President Lincoln said, a house divided against itself cannot stand. I've been saying for quite some time as much as we're not addressing our debt and deficit issue, I think the greatest threat to America right now is the fact that we're horribly divided." pic.twitter.com/xmtV02X6EM
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 14, 2024
Twenty-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a registered Republican who once gave $15 to a progressive anti-Trump political action committee, opened fire at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. A Secret Service sniper shot and killed Crooks seconds after he began shooting. Trump was injured and seen bleeding from his right ear and later said he was "shot with a bullet." One rally goer died and two others were injured in the shooting.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told The TODAY Show on Sunday that "there is no figure in American history at least in the modern era — maybe since Lincoln — who's been so vilified and really persecuted by media and Hollywood elites, political figures, even the legal system."
"Everyone needs to turn the rhetoric down." Speaker Johnson comments on today's heated political environment. pic.twitter.com/LVsiCxGVei
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) July 14, 2024
Johnson also said allegations that Trump poses "a threat to democracy" are untrue. Trump, who still refuses to commit to accepting the results of the upcoming presidential election, in December boasted that he wants to "be a dictator for one day" on his first day, should he return to the White House. "You know why I wanted to be a dictator? Because I want a wall, and I want to drill, drill, drill," he told a crowd in New York City. Trump more than a month later claimed his dictator comments were "said in jest."
Republican Sen. J.D. Vance, who once opposed Trump before becoming one of his staunchest supporters and a finalist for the vice presidential nomination, wasted no time Saturday blaming Democrats. "The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs," the Ohio senator wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination."
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham claimed that the rhetoric against Trump "is way too hot." During a Sunday appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, he said, "You know, if he wins, democracy is not going to end. He's not a fascist. He represents a point of view that millions share. The rhetoric is way too hot."
When host Kristen Welker asked Graham about Vance's comments as well as a tweet from Rep. Mike Collins claiming without evidence that "Biden sent the orders" to shoot Trump, Graham said, "There is frustration, on our side, about the way President Trump has been treated."
Conveniently, Lindsey Graham on Meet the Press doesn't want to talk about the absolutely unhinged rhetoric offered up by Sen. JD Vance and Rep. Mike Collins in the wake of Trump's shooting pic.twitter.com/PciutsDqOz
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 14, 2024
Another GOP politician on Trump's shortlist for VP, Sen. Tim Scott, on Saturday baselessly claimed that the "radical left" and the media "aided and abetted" in the shooting. "This was an assassination attempt aided and abetted by the radical Left and corporate media incessantly calling Trump a threat to democracy, fascists, or worse," Scott wrote on X.
Conservative firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in several tweets blamed the Democrats and "scumbags in the media." Law enforcement has not shared what, if anything, they know about the shooter's motives.
"The Democrats and the media are to blame for every drop of blood spilled today," Greene wrote Saturday evening on X. "For years and years, they've demonized him and his supporters. Today, someone finally tried to take out the leader of our America First and the greatest President of all time."
In a separate post, Greene accused Democrats and members of the media of being responsible for "the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump, death threats and attempts against me and other Republicans, and brain washing half the country with your sick violent rhetoric."
Greene in 2021 appeared in a campaign video holding a 50-caliber rifle and promising to "blow away the Democrats' socialist agenda." She then fired the rifle at a Toyota Prius with a "socialism" sign on its side. Footage showed the vehicle exploding with the words, "Target destroyed" displayed on screen. The video promoted a giveaway of the rifle "for Americans only."
Johnson wrote on X that the House will "conduct a full investigation of the tragic events today," including seeking testimony from Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle "and other appropriate officials from [the Department of Homeland Security] and the FBI."
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer sent a letter late Saturday to Cheatle indicating he is opening an investigation into the shooting and requesting that she voluntarily testify before the committee.
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let the "both sides" games begin ...
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JFC - hateful magat trolls fuck up everything
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[X]
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No one was wishing for Richard Simmons to die.
Yes, you really must remember to follow doctors orders
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your usual hive minded drone nonsense
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Why is this country so divided???
He look no further than the current GOP nominee. He made it fashionable to be a racist, misogynistic prick and people that have been holding it in for years are letting their freak fly
I can't believe, well I can, coming from the party of projection, that they're calling for unity, when like you say TG, their hero is the poster boy for division.
Their idea of unity is every American citizen vote republican, go to a Christian church, and don't have gay friends. Also, listen to what they tell you. How to dress, how to act, how to think, and how to be a true stick in the mud, colorless American
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bullshit! You and one or 2 of your buddies would like for all us to think just like you. No thinking outside the box, or coloring outside the lines. At least one of you wants us women back in the kitchen keeping our man happy.
I wasn't raised that way and I won't bow down to the authoritarian way of life. I would rather die first
Truth.
The gop/gqp wants everyone to be hive minded drones in lockstep with dear leader!
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that is pretty much the only thing you ever say here
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Yup nothing but the usual hive minded drone nonsense
how's that feel?
And you do give a shit otherwise you would have just ignored me instead of trying to change my mind
Or 'opinions vary'
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blah blah blah
same shit different day
You know any of those?
And even tho you claim not to give a shit you will keep posting because you have a certain word limit you have to reach every day and absolutely have to have the last word
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That and "TDS". Don't forget "TDS". It's always in there somewhere.
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gee, I guess that branch of service didn't need any more helmet polishers in their foxholes...