Tucson rampage casts light on toxic political tone

[Babylonsister]

Tucson rampage casts light on toxic political tone
By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press

snip//


Whatever the motive, the toxic tone of the national debate is certain to draw greater scrutiny.

"We do know that politics has become too personal, too nasty and perhaps too dangerous," said Jonathan Cowan, president of the centrist Democratic group Third Way. "Perhaps out of this senseless act some sense can return to our public discourse."

In the aftermath of the rampage, the House's newly installed Republican leaders postponed Wednesday's scheduled vote to repeal the new health care law, the issue at the center of the harshest criticisms of Giffords and many other Democrats for the past two years. Lawmakers from both parties were deeply shaken.

Many lawmakers, especially Democrats, felt the 2009-2010 debate over health care sometimes got out of hand. It began with emotional town hall meetings in the summer of 2009, when some critics warned of government "death panels."

Giffords, 40, was among lawmakers who reported 42 threats or acts or vandalism in the first three months of 2010, a big increase over the previous year, law enforcement officers said. Nearly all the threats dealt with the massive health care bill that Giffords and other Democrats enacted over fierce Republican opposition.

In March, someone kicked in or shot out a glass door and side window at Giffords' office in Tucson, a few hours after the House passed the health care measure with her help.

more...

http://www.salon.com/wires/us/2011/01/08...index.html

[There Is No Spoon]

You'd think there'd be ONE Republican with the guts to point out that the compromise reached on the Healthcare Bill that was passed bears no relationship to the ridiculous fearmongering prior to it's passage. There are a LOT of people on our side who are still PISSED at the hateful town hall propaganda promoted by a few right-wing hate groups, but this side doesn't promote violence. Violence won't intimidate us however, it only makes us more determined than ever.

[Julie]

I wonder how the Daily Show/Colbert Report will address this. No doubt they will do what the "real media" does not.

Julie

[Treestar]

That goes all to the right; they are wrong to say it comes from both sides. The left spends more time criticizing its own anyway.

[Velleity]

Accountability is anathema to "conservatives." They never admit weakness nor error.

[KonaKane]

(01-09-2011 12:19 PM)Velleity Wrote:  Accountability is anathema to "conservatives." They never admit weakness nor error.

Oh, isnt that the truth. If anybody doubts this, go take a gander at the Letters To the Editor section of the Hawaii Star Advertiser, where I have been doing battle with these freaks since the shooting occurred.

Yes, I post under the same name there.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorials...ditor.html

[Cha]

I know it's not "both sides"..this is an example of weasels being weasels and trying to deflect the blame of their actions but it ain't gpnna happen.

[NJMaverick]

The right played fast and loose with our safety and now we are paying for their carelessness/malice

[Ikonoklast]

I seem to have a problem remembering all those violent leftists roughing up people at the town hall meetings.

I guess I forgot all those radical Socialist cadres dressed in camo and carrying semi-automatic weapons to political gatherings.

I might not have noticed all those signs carried by Democrats calling for the violent overthrow of the duly elected government of this country...because its president was a Black man.

I must not have been tuned into the radio that days that the Loonie Left radio shouters were imploring me with i nflammatory rhetoric to present a show of force and carry firearms to a speech by my congressperson.

I can't for the life of me recall being told by left-wing pundits in the media that my way of life was being threatened by 'those people' who want to take it away from me, and do harm to my family unless I threaten them with violence in retaliation.

I hate getting old, my memory just isn't what it used to be.

[Treestar]

"But it's not about what he intended — it's about how the least rational person in my district takes it. We run into some crazy people in this line of work."

Exactly. Boner should take responsibility for that.