After virtually every shooting attack in which a gunman took the lives of innocents in this country, the instinct of the mainstream media and the liberal chattering classes has always been to look for a reason to blame conservatives. Whether it was the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords or the Aurora, Colorado movie theater tragedy, the initial assumption by many has been that the violence was the result of incitement or direct involvement by members of the Tea Party movement or other conservative groups. In each instance, the accusations or insinuations have had to be quickly, though often grudgingly, withdrawn when the shooter turned out to be either mentally deranged or devoid of political intent. That leaves us wondering what those who have been so quick to use these tragedies as political soapboxes to denounce conservatives or to promote liberal patent nostrums will say after today’s incident in Washington.
Only the heroism of a security guard who was wounded prevented the shooting attack at the Family Research Council, a Washington think tank devoted to promoting social conservatism, from turning into a massacre. The shooter who barged into the group’s headquarters expressed disagreement with their policies and began shooting. Fortunately, the guard was able to disarm the perpetrator before he could do more harm. His avowal to police that he was there to oppose the FRC’s stands makes it clear that this is an open and shut case of domestic terrorism. The fact that he was carrying a bag from a Chick-fil-A restaurant — the chain that has come under intense fire from left-wingers because of its founder’s public opposition to gay marriage — should cause those who have been working overtime to demonize conservatives to do the same sort of soul-searching liberals ask the right to perform because of gun violence.
Let’s specify that blaming the act of this individual on those activists and writers who have publicly opposed the Family Research Council’s stands is simply wrong. Debate is integral to democracy and it is just as much of a mistake to blame all liberals for the violence of a single leftist as it is to blame all on the right for anything done in their name but without their consent.
But liberals who have often jumped to the conclusion that all Tea Partiers are violent racists because of stray comments from extremists need to remember that such tactics cut both ways. Those who have repeatedly cautioned conservatives to mind their tongues and be careful about using language that would delegitimize their opponents now must think about what they have been saying in recent weeks and months about the so-called “war on women” or supporters of Chick-fil-A. If they thought violent rhetoric emanating from the right was a problem that could be linked to violence, then they must understand that incitement against conservatives is just as noxious. That is all the more true because almost all of the accusations of right-wing involvement in violence have been proven false while the Washington gunman’s statements make it clear that he was motivated by left-wing politics.
Civility is important and the need to speak with respect for one’s opponents and their positions is a lesson that both sides of our great political divide should heed. But as we learned today, it is not one that should be limited to just the right.
Right,let's make it easier to obtain guns. Let's have gunstamps.
I have no idea what 'gunstamps' are or what you are babbling about. If you mean "let's make sure that everyone who has a gun is ipso facto a criminal, the sad truth is the gun control laws do not stop people who are determined to commit murder. You also seem unaware that the District of Columbia and neighboring Maryland have some of the strictest gun laws in the US. n nMaybe we can get a law requiring idiotstamps.
Play of words on Foodstamps
so this guy must have had gaystamps–if you shoot a conservative you get a bonus coupon book.
Not sure how this relates to the topic at hand, but I guess we must not miss an opportunity to spew talking points, eh?
that's just what I was wondering. n neven tho the word "shooting" is in the headline, rex, turns out the article's not about gun laws at all, but rather how liberals "think." they're delighted to blame "the tea party" for everything from Gabby Giffords to Aurora, but when conservatives are shot at, they don't seem to realize their own complicity–by their own standards! n nwhy don't you read the article and then come back and make a pertinent comment?
Great article!! What astounds me is that this is immediately being investigated as a case of "domestic terrorism" while the Ft. Hood shooting remains a case of "workplace violence"
that Ft. Hood report is a joke. the words "Islamic fundamentalism" do not appear in it at all. talk about head-in-the-sand investigations.
By the way, thank you for knowing the difference between heroism (which this was) and heorics (which they weren't, but that is how the illerati, the ignorami and those of ill will will describe it).
Has there been left wing extremist rhetoric calling for violence towards Chick-Fil-A or the FRC? And has it been confirmed that the shooter is a liberal? Would any self-respecting liberal would be caught with a bag of Chick-Fil-A on them? This incident will only solidify the general disdain mainstream liberals have for violence and guns. There is no place for political violence in this country, left or right.
will the Left "pause" and realize their hypocrisy? c'mon, is this a trick question? of COURSE they won't. n nthese are the people who were GLEEFUL when Breitbart died. they've successfully depersonalized their opponents and they no longer think of us as humans. I would bet you anything that the comments on huffpo and similar sites are running along the lines of "too bad he didn't plug any of the homophobic Christian b@stards."
Most of the huffpo posts I saw deplored the shooting, but there were some: n"at least hit the right people… " n"We who who detest the message of intolerance that comes from these groups need to insure we do all we can to not stoop to their level. " {So FRC is going around shooting at people?] n"Regardless of the odd exception, there is no doubt gun toting right-wing maniacs will out-score gun toting progressive maniacs to an embarrassing extent " n"I had a chick fil a once. Made me want to rape and kill.. n"It's not freaking surprising since it's their *business* to try and convince LGBT people that we just have to take it and corporate money can buy the government against our civil rights, human dignity and all that" [cont'd] n
Don't forget that bozo at the Discovery Channel a couple of years ago– another crazed Leftie loon whose politics were never brought into the discussion. n nAnd of course, the more paranoid types like to think that this fellow or Mr Discovery are actually false-flag agents whose purpose is to discredit the Left's viewpoint on an issue (read some of the allegations about how the Occupiers were "infiltrated," by those in league with the 1%, to explain some of the excesses) but it never dawns on them that the same could be alleged the other way around, and with just as much substance or lack thereof.
More from huffpo: n"Sometimes we bash back. " n"Isn't there a saying that goes, "As you sow, so shall you REAP!"???? " n"it would not surprise me if the far right planned this whole thing themselves ! " n"oooh.. someone actually hurt someone on the right wing? Now that's going to be a very, very big deal, what with the number of violent attacks by right wing idiots outnumbering those against them by 50 or 100 to one in US history.. " n"So one of their own turned on them? Karma is a beeyatch, " n"I was always told that you "Get what you give", and sadly if you promote hate, that's what you will get in return…….. " n nThat was as much as I had the stomach to read. Excuse me; I have to go wash my eyes now. n n
The left is made up of very, very angry people. I know some of them quite well – have worked with them for a long time. Nice people, good people, in most ways- but if you happen to push one of their buttons, accidentally, watch out. I've had that experience with three folks over the years. You peel back the outer layer and realize they are capable of extreme hate. One woman had a melt down over the military one day that was frightening and sad to behold; another was practically spewing spittle while damning Republicans over health care. Interesting. I can never look at them quite the same way afterwards.
Obviously the libs won't change. If a nut shoots somebody, anybody, anywheres, well let's look into the Tea Party connection. If the nutter turns out to have lettuce bacon garnishing and tomato on their Chick -fil-A or have posted ecowarrior claptrap before barricading themselves in a Discovery office, well, let's move on shall we?
Can you imagine the extent of MM coverage (and hysteria) had the incident occurred at the D.C. headquarters of a left-wing organization? Their attitude because it happened at the Family Researh Council? No biggie.
Not only will they not pause but as they lose the argument with words we will see more of this.
We already saw plenty of SEIU violence during the 2008 elections and at town hall meeting afterward. Are we in for a reprise of violent union mobs invading headquarters of GOP candidates?