Chuck Todd had a great show yesterday: Elizabeth Warren & the Ohio Shooter

[wyldwolf]

I know he isn't too terribly popular in these parts, but Chuck Todd had a great show yesterday with guests that included a terrorism expert (sorry, his name escapes me now, but I'm looking for the show's podcast of the ep.)

Essentially, so some MAGAts have gleefully pointed out the Dayton shooter, Conner Betts, supported Elizabeth Warren. "See?" they say. "Democrats do it, too!" Not only is this 'whataboutism' at it's most craven, it's a completely ignorant false equiavalence.

An act of violence alone does not qualify as domestic terrorism. But when that act is committed as a result of a political or religious ideology, or to advance said ideology, it then meets the definition. The FBI defines domestic terrrorism as acts "perpetrated by individuals and/or groups inspired by or associated with primarily U.S.-based movements that espouse extremist ideologies of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature."

Connor Bett’s politics are irrelevant because there is no evidence they were the motive for his actions in Dayton. This is why law and news sources have said they've found no motive. It isn't that they don't know the individual had certain political views, they're not hiding the shooter's allegeded political views, it's just that they have no relevance to the shooting.

Patrick Crusius left a manifesto using the same language Donald Trump and white nationalists use. He targeted Hispanics to stop an "invasion." His politics were front and center and were the motive for his actions in El Paso. HE is a domestic terrorist and is being treated as one.

This doesn't mean one tragedy is better or worse than the other. It does reveal one of them believed himself a soldier carrying out orders from the commander in chief.

Very refreshing to see our candidates united in their support for stricter gun laws and I hope the next debate gives the issue plenty of attention.

On edit: She show segament featured Nick Rasmussen. Video here:

Full Rasmussen: 'Absolutely none of my time' in government was spent on domestic terrorism https://www.msnbc.com/mtp-daily/watch/full-rasmussen-absolutely-none-of-my-time-in-government-was-spent-on-domestic-terrorism-65435717748

[Cha]

1. It's hard to believe

anyone who really supported a Dem would commit such a heinous massacre.

[crazytown]

2. I posted early OPs about this in GD and Warren 2020

because I believed it had political implications - might be taken up by the RW - not because I thought there was connection between his politics and his actions.

Betts was BiPolar, he killed his Sister, his parents have lost both their children and may never know a reason why.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. The personalities

of shooters are not totally logical and sorted out into one side or the other. They likely have inconsistencies like everyone else. They are conflicted, troubled, maniacal. So they could believe something that doesn't mesh with something else. Do they even know why he killed his sister? He was in a rage, did he know he did it, or was it random? Was her boyfriend an issue for him? Authorities may never pin it all down, some answers may not be knowable.

Politics has to be a good fit for the action and the crime before it becomes a primary motivation.