My response to right wing co-worker re: Rep. Gifford's shooting

[Mortos]

I posted on facebook the news of the shooting earlier today and stated there is a consequence to the heated political rhetoric of people like Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin and subsequent action. It didn't take long for some of my right wing friends to take exception to my remarks.

RW co-worker:

I find it interesting that while we know almost nothing about the assailant some are already attributing his motivation to "heated political rhetoric" in an attempt to spin against conservatives. From the limited information I've read about... the shooter it seems he is an anti-religion dope head who was rejected by the military and was "obviously very disturbed" according to one college classmate.

Rep. Gifford is a former Republican who has supported border security and gun rights, who voted against Nancy Pelosi for Speaker, and who has a husband that is active duty Naval Officer (assigned to NASA). Sounds like she could draw fire from some of the wacko left too...oh wait, is that inflammatory political speech that is going to cause her to actually "draw fire?"

How about we just agree this is a horrible tragedy, no matter which side of the political aisle you're on, and quit trying to score political points while she's still on the operating table.

My response:

By some, you mean me. Just say me.

I am not going to back off the assertion that there is a correlation between rhetoric encouraging people to "assert their second ammendment rights,"water the tree of liberty with the blood of patriots," "Don't Tread on Me," "Don't retreat, reload," and Glen Beck's paranoid ramblings about a new world order and President Obama brainwashing children.

Was this guy crazy? It appears so. But that doesn't preclude the probability that his psychosis was either seeded or re-enforced by the self serving, politically and financially motivated ramblings of right wing politicians and pop stars who tiptoed along a line between free speech and encouraging violent revolution.

Rep. Giffords windows were shot out and she received hundreds of threatening phone calls after she voted for health care reform.

When her 75 year old father was asked if she had any enemies, he responded, "Yeah, the whole tea party."

I agree it is a horrible tragedy but time and time again, it is a tragedy that consistently ends up with Democrats and liberals as victims and right wingers piously praying for the same people they demonized and dehumanized.

[MrModerate]

1. You might also point out that the "wacko left" -- defined as followers of . . .

Daily Kos and Mike Malloy -- simply don't threaten their political opponents with death by firing squad, which is very, very, very, very, very common among Becksnots and Limbaughterians.

[Liberal In Texas]

2. Good response.

Trying to find out who is responsible for inflaming these nutballs to commit violent acts is not "scoring political points".

[AsahinaKimi]

8. I am so glad I don't have FB anymore

There are too many RW Bullies to contend with.

[Selatius]

3. When was the last time a liberal blew up a federal building? Or drove a plane into an office tower?

Sorry, liberals don't play those kinds of games, not the ones who are around now anyway. Weather Underground aside. Keep defending yourself from arguments that equivocate the leftists with the rightists.

[wtmusic]

4. Nice. Don't expect a response. nt

[47of74]

5. Your response doesn't have anywhere near the number of four letter words mine would have

And your right wing coworker sounds just like the teabagger we have at work.

[lanlady]

6. I got similar right wing crap on my FB page

After I posted that I hold Sarah Palin partly accountable, I got a screed about how the shooter must be a leftist "commie" because he read the Comminist Manifesto and... Mein Kampf.

[LawnKorn]

11. Mein Kampf is required reading for right wing, skinhead, white supremacists

The Communist Manifesto is a road map for national take over and control.

Both publications would be great handbooks for teabagger operations.

[Duppers]

7. bravo.

good job.

[rbrnmw]

9. My FB post and a reply

Me: Prayers for the Arizona victims and their families. Time to tone down the rhetoric in this Country. It's just politics we may hate another person's ideas but, we don't have to hate them. We are all humans we should use that as common ground and work from there, to find other commonalities. Let's focus more on those than our differences.

Reply: Ok, back up the truck. A mentally ill person went rampant. The results were terrible but it happens. It really doesn't appear to be a hate crime, but yet the work of a very unhealthy mind. Definitely sending out my prayers from New York

[xchrom]

10. Recommend

[bobzilla69]

12. TLC boycott

I'm starting a grassroots campaign against TLC on their depiction of Palin,she is responsible

[surrealAmerican]

14. Welcome to DU.

I don't know that a boycott will make much difference to them. but I'm not going to be supporting them either.

[GoCubsGo]

16. No boycott necessary.

They won't be renewing her show for another season: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/08/sarah-palins-alaska-not-coming-back-for-second-season-report_n_806173.html

[kickysnana]

13. Unfortunately they are saying what they know from their sources...

They do not have the research and analysis that is available here on DU. The right wing has PR firms and 24/7 paid bloggers to make sure those folks know what to believe.

This is just an observation, in no way lets them off the hook.

Hopefully this will not be bungled at the Federal level and the truth will be evident for everyone instead of those who work to find facts and formulate opinions outside the commercial propaganda we call media.

[qanda]

15. I know it's a co-worker but that person would not only be defriended

But only blocked from my page. I have no problem doing it to anyone who bothers to piss on my wall or something I post, forget throwing off on me like I'm not even the person who just posted.... WOW!!!! You are very nice.

[GoCubsGo]

17. Same here.

Odds are that I would not have "friended" that person on my FB page in the first place. And, family members know better.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Leftist Agitator]

19. "...my right wing friends..."

There's your problem.