I've singled out Lauer because of an interview he conducted this morning on the TODAY SHOW with Arizona State Representative Steve Farley (D). My criticism, however, would apply to all who dismiss the role that the political climate, fed by the violent rhetoric coming from those on the right, played in this tragedy.
After Farley mentioned that he felt that politics played a role in the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Lauer (D-AZ) pushed back by interrupting:
"Let me just interrupt for a second, Steve when you talk politics, when you say 'heal our politics' its easy, the temptation is to say this is politically motivated in someway but, but this young man, this alleged shooter didn't only target a member of Congress, he shot a 9 year old girl, thats not about politcs thats about insanity isn't it?"
What Lauer doesn't admit, even after acknowledging that Giffords was targeted, was that Christina died because she attended an event for the Congresswoman who was shot. Was the bullet that hit Giffords political while the bullets that hit the other 19 people were not?
Make no mistake this was a political shooting and all of those wounded or killed are victims of political violence.
Some things to consider that are not in dispute:
- Sarah Palin literally put Giffords in the "crosshairs" on a map as a candidate targeted for defeat.
- Palin constantly reminded her supporters "Don't retreat, reload"
- Giffords Republican opponent, Jesse Kelly, held a campaign event where participants were encouraged to participate in an event and "to get on target for victory in November to help remove Gabrille Giffords from office."
- There are 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 members of the Senate, yet it was Giffords, who was "targeted" with a lot of gun based rhetoric, that became the first member of Congress since 1978 to be shot.
Restraint tells us that we should tread lightly when it comes to placing blame on anyone but Loughner, however it would be irresponsible to believe that restraint prohibits us from taking a look at the environment that may have influenced him.
The toxic political environment we have played a role in this, to what degree we might not know, but it played a role. Everyone, regardless of ideology, needs to take a long hard look at themselves and consider what we say, what we do and how we do it contributes to the conversation.
I know I will.
I hope that when Lauer and others who are quick to dismiss the role that politics played in this tragedy reflect on the facts that are not in dispute before they declare that politics had nothing to do with this.
2 comments:
Thank you for this post. I agree with you on this point.
When you say, " Everyone, regardless of ideology, needs to take a long hard look at themselves and consider what we say, what we do and how we do it contributes to the conversation", you are correct.
However, when you say, "My criticism, however, would apply to all who dismiss the role that the political climate, fed by the violent rhetoric coming from those on the right, played in this tragedy", I couldn't disagree more.
We of course all need to watch what we say. Words can never be taken back. I have never been a registered Democrat or Republican. Being an Independant helps me stay non-partisan in my view of the world. That's very important, and when Ronald Reagan was shot, I didn't go looking to blame liberal Democrats, dispite all the hate talk against then president Reagan.
That guy was a nut, as is Loughner. Loughner is also a registered Independant... not a Republican. What would you think if he was a Democrat, and why would it even matter in the face of this crime.
It is all about the tone. Had anyone, of any political stripe openly put a target on Reagan he or she should have been called out.
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