Progressives seize another crisis after Tucson shooting

After Jared Lee Loughner [allegedly] opened fire at Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ constituent meeting in Tucson, the 24/7 news cycle cranked up and so did progressive messaging. Bloggers leapt to the conclusion the suspect was motivated by a campaign strategy utilized by Gov. Sarah Palin who was working to get conservatives elected in 2010. Politicians spoke up, decrying the political rhetoric common in the U.S. today. At that point, media knew very little about Loughner.

Within 24 hours of the shooting, media were reporting a Democrat congressman’s intent to introduce a bill that would seriously impede first amendment limits on government power to control freedom of speech.

Progressives quickly seized another crisis to further a political agenda even as the wounded were being treated and forensics were conducted on the crime scene. From the town center to Facebook pages, progs were making lists and naming names—all of them of course the names of conservative media figures.

Progressives were not so vocal about political rhetoric after an eco-nut took hostages at the Discovery Channel headquarters in September. No one called attention to rhetoric about global warming “deniers”—primary promoter for anger towards that group is former vice-president Al Gore. TV channel KHON 2 (Maui) did a story about the hostage taker's concerns regarding overpopulation.

The most troubling response in all punditry, however, is the bill introduced by Rep. Robert Brady (D-Penn.) The Hill said Brady wants to “make it a federal crime to use language or symbols that could be perceived as threatening or inciting violence against a federal official or member of Congress.”

Certain trial lawyers may salivate at that prospect. Imagine the war of words in the courts over what actually threatens or incites violence.

Democrats may want to proceed cautiously however. One  of the leading influencers in today’s Democrat party is the Daily Kos. Founder Markos Moulitsas is not known for biting his tongue.

Radio KMRG (Tulsa, Okla.) described a problem Moulitsas had with what might be called situational rhetoric: “Shortly after news broke of the attempted murder of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., the left-leaning blog Daily Kos was swift to scrub its post from a Tucson writer explaining how the congresswoman was now ‘dead to me.’ One of the blog's diary writers, identifying himself as BoyBlue, had written a post only two days before the shooting titled 'My CongressWOMAN voted against Nancy Pelosi! And is now DEAD to me!'"

Bellicose rhetoric is not uncommon at Kos. In 2008 Moulitsas declared an intent to “break the conservative movement’s backs and crush their spirits.” He also said, “Remember, we want them broken, their ranks thinned, their treasury in heavy debt, their morale in the gutter, void of any leadership, discredited in the eyes of the public.”

What Loughner did in Tucson has nothing to do with political rhetoric. It has everything to do with a man who apparently had serious mental issues but who was still functional enough, after being apprehended, to refuse to talk to investigators. I suspect the shooter is a dedicated attention seeker, but we are still learning about his background so my suspicions are based on personal opinion.

Meanwhile the sheriff of Pima County got on the national punditry stump and took potshots at Republicans. I asked myself how people vest the safety of their community in such a man, but it’s not for me to tell Arizonans who to vote for.

Progressive politicians and prog friendly media are seizing a crisis with the objective of limiting freedom of speech. This tactic suggests great disrespect for the dead and injured and a lack of morality in fabricating information about a shooter whose political concerns have nothing to do with Palin. Shame on anyone who claims it did.

Related Articles

Digest of coverage and information about Jared Lee Loughner
Doug Ross Journal

Federal Complaint/News Release
US Dept. of Justice Press Release detailing federal charges against Jared Lee Loughner

The Blame Game and Prayers Begin
Commentary from Erick Erickson at Red State

Jared Loughner described by classmate as leftwing pothead
Phoenix New Times

(Commentary by Kay B. Day/Jan. 10, 2010)