Do I detest it? Yes, ever since the nineties when I became aware of it. The right wing was ratcheting it against Bill Clinton then.
I would very much want for it to stop.
But is there any connection between hate speech and the recent tragedy?
Apparently not. The shooter was a mentally ill man with a fixation on Gifford dating since 2007. It was more the celebrity element that led to the killing of John Lennon than any political coherent thought.
I tend to agree with this point of view from Slate which considers
The awesome stupidity of the calls to tamp down political speech in the wake of the Giffords shooting.
The article goes to tackle the inflammatory pronouncements of the sheriff in the case
Embedded in Sheriff Dupnik’s ad hoc wisdom were several assumptions. First, that strident, anti-government political views can be easily categorized as vitriolic, bigoted, and prejudicial. Second, that those voicing strident political views are guilty of issuing Manchurian Candidate-style instructions to commit murder and mayhem to the “unbalanced.” Third, that the Tucson shooter was inspired to kill by political debate or by Sarah Palin’s “target” map or other inflammatory outbursts. Fourth, that we should calibrate our political speech in such a manner that we do not awaken the Manchurian candidates among us.
And, fifth, that it’s a cop’s role to set the proper dimensions of our political debate. Hey, Dupnik, if you’ve got spare time on your hands, go write somebody a ticket.
Indeed, it was what sent this in the stratosphere of recriminations and excitement over political opportunity to score points.
Hardly the right response to this tragedy.
Again, a madman shot into a crowd – aiming at a woman he was obsessed with. She happened to be a Congresswoman.
One can take it in as the tragedy that it is, or use it to escalate the atmosphere of vitriol in politics today.
I say, look at the facts. It was not about politics.
Now go home put the pitchforks and torches down and chill out.
12 comments
January 10, 2011 at 11:23 am
DeniseVB
My problem with Sheriff Dupnik, if he felt the political climate was so volitile, why wasn’t he protecting her?
I know in my area, any outdoor political event requires local law enforcement presence. I believe Rep. Giffords had an unarmed shopping center guard ?
January 10, 2011 at 11:39 am
Tweets that mention Enough with the hate speech already! Β« Not Your Sweetie -- Topsy.com
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Edge Oforever. Edge Oforever said: RT @Notyourfsweetie: Enough with the hate speech already! http://wp.me/p38IU-4nD […]
January 10, 2011 at 12:26 pm
myiq2xu
Sadly, people are spending more time talking about Sarah Palin than Gabrielle Giffords.
January 10, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Not Your Sweetie
I guess you just summed up what’s wrong with this.
January 10, 2011 at 12:29 pm
cj
One can take it in as the tragedy that it is, or use it to escalate the atmosphere of vitriol in politics today
Amazing how fast that happened. I can’t stand Sarah Palin. I can’t stand her repugnant “macho” RW woman schtick, including that sickening target graphic, or the outrageous nutjobs she promoted to office. But having said that, watching the Bots rapidly turn this tragedy into one more burn the witch moments is absolutely chilling.
These ugly Obama people have nothing in common with the kind of Democrats I’ve associated with all my life, just as the O-press has nothing to do with the kind of journalism I used to respect:
Fate works in strange ways. This event is the first on the watch of Obama’s new chief of staff, and a deal-making, turn-the-heat-down approach to politics is what Bill Daley is all about.
As was the case with Clinton, Obama may be able to remind voters of what they like best about him: his sensible demeanor. Amid the din and ferocity of our political culture, he respectfully keeps his voice down, his emotions in check and his mind open.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/08/wtc-oklahoma-c…
January 12, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Buttered
Barack Obama (2008): βIf they bring a knife to a fight, WE BRING A GUN.β
Barack Obama (2008): βI want you to ARGUE with them and GET IN THEIR FACE.β
January 10, 2011 at 1:41 pm
cj
And who couldn’t have predicted this?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47348.html#comments
Isn’t that special? Barack Obama’s chance to shine.
January 10, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Janis
cj, think about what happened to Palin since 2008. Think about the avalanche of violent imagery and outright death threats that she, her daughters, and even her younger kids have had to suffer through. Think about the rape-her-to-0death murk-that-cunt comments.
Then, think about why she might have started posturing and talking tough. Think about what that might have served her, instead of collapsing, crying over it, telling everyone she was Just So Skairt, and acting like a fainting flower. We already know that pretending it’s not happening doesn’t work.
We’re talking about a woman who has probably been subjected to more death-dealing threats and language than any woman in the history of politics. I’m talking maybe 8,000 years or so. It’s terrifying. What should she have done in response? Sniffled on camera and begged for safety? Shown the world the back of her neck?
I for one an glad that she met the absolute terrifying AVALANCHE of UNSTOPPING violent imagery directed toward her and her family with comments that indicate in unmistakable terms that SHE WILL NOT BE FUCKED WITH OR INTIMIDATED.
Christ, how the hell is a woman supposed to react when she’s constantly subjected to direct, highly personal threats to rip her apart from cunt to eyeballs? “Now, keep your hands folded, dear. Speak in a low, ladylike voice. Don’t be pushy! Be pretty — not that pretty! Dab your damp eyes becomingly.”
January 10, 2011 at 5:32 pm
cj
That’s not what I’m talking about Janis. I know Palin’s been horrifically attacked, and I like admire her toughness. I like that she’s one of the few who were willing to take on Obama/messiah during the campaign. It’s the militaristic “lock & load” crap, or posing with a bloody head of a freshly killed moose that bothers the shit out of me. The whole thing strikes me as being purposefully provocative, and totally unnecessary IMO.
I think she had a lot of promise as a national politician, but instead she squandered her celebrity on making big $$$$ spouting RW talking points from the sidelines. I’ll still defend her against misogynist attacks, but I’ll do that for any woman, even a woman I don’t like very much.
btw, maybe I wasn’t clear, but I don’t think she had anything to do with mass killing in AZ. None at all.
January 10, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Janis
I’m also absolutely aghast over watching supposed feminists going on about Palin’s language — like the judges and cops they love to badmouth telling the rape victim that if she were just more ladylike about how titillatingly frightened the rape made her, maybe they might have more sympathy.
Palin is an overwhelming TARGET of violent hate speech, not a source of it. PERIOD. I will not brook this shit without calling it out.
January 10, 2011 at 5:34 pm
cj
See above. I agree with you.
January 10, 2011 at 9:16 pm
DeniseVB
Wow edge….a hat tip from Michelle Malkin ! She leads with your MILP graphic…then further down, a larger graphic with your h/t.
http://michellemalkin.com/2011/01/10/the-progressive-climate-of-hate-an-illustrated-primer-2000-2010/
I haven’t been this excited since one of my dumb blogposts got a pingback from Pajamas Media π