Sheriff Dupnik's criticism of political 'vitriol' resonates with public

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik, who is overseeing the investigation of Saturday's mass shooting that critically wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D), became an overnight sensation with his remarks that the "vitriol" in today's political discourse contributed to the incident and that Arizona has become "a mecca for prejudice and bigotry."

Dupnik's name was a top search term on Twitter Saturday night, with many of the tweets thanking him for his candor, and overnight, a Facebook page titled "Clarence Dupnik is my Hero" sprung up.

In a news conference Saturday evening, Dupnik condemned the "atmosphere of hatred and bigotry" that he said has gripped the nation and suggested that the 22-year-old suspect being held in the shooting was mentally ill and therefore more susceptible to overheated messages in the media.

"There's reason to believe that this individual may have a mental issue. And I think people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol," he said during his televised remarks. "People tend to pooh-pooh this business about all the vitriol we hear inflaming the American public by people who make a living off of doing that. That may be free speech, but it's not without consequences."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011...-of-p.html

[Andy823]

He has put this in front and center, and no matter how hard the right tries to avoid the blame for any of this, comments like these are going to keep it in the publics eye! The majority of this country knows who he is talking about, and so do the republicans. If they don't take charge of this and condemn those who spew hate day after day, they will be making a huge mistake! This should not be a democrat or republican issue, and both sides need to address this problem, and I think the democrats are.

I agree there are nuts on both sides, but the fact is the right has the "hate mongers" speaking out every day telling people to take their guns to town hall meetings, saying we need 2nd amendment solutions to things, speaking about "revolutions" and much more. If the tables were reversed and it was the left with all the "hate mongers" and the person who was targeted were was republican, they would be demanding that something be done! The republican leadership has to take stand on this, if they don't they risk more violence by people who get worked up over what they hear on "hate" radio and TV!

[OptimistesMaddie]

(01-09-2011 11:57 AM)Andy823 Wrote:  He has put this in front and center, and no matter how hard the right tries to avoid the blame for any of this, comments like these are going to keep it in the publics eye! The majority of this country knows who he is talking about, and so do the republicans. If they don't take charge of this and condemn those who spew hate day after day, they will be making a huge mistake! This should not be a democrat or republican issue, and both sides need to address this problem, and I think the democrats are.

I agree there are nuts on both sides, but the fact is the right has the "hate mongers" speaking out every day telling people to take their guns to town hall meetings, saying we need 2nd amendment solutions to things, speaking about "revolutions" and much more. If the tables were reversed and it was the left with all the "hate mongers" and the person who was targeted were was republican, they would be demanding that something be done! The republican leadership has to take stand on this, if they don't they risk more violence by people who get worked up over what they hear on "hate" radio and TV!

We are already seeing the Tea Party members of Congress already trying to say that it's not them it's everyone. On MTP the TeaParty member said that oh it happened during George Bushes tenure, what he didn't say was that Bush put Democratic leaning protesters in cages and no one was allowed with a weapon anywhere near Right leaning politicians.

We have to stop them from using "all sides are responsible"., It's a bullshit strawman and it needs to stop.

[NJMaverick]

While the Sheriff's words were filled with wisdom, those words are not being heeded by those that needed to hear them.

[Andy823]

(01-09-2011 12:01 PM)NJMaverick Wrote:  While the Sheriff's words were filled with wisdom, those words are not being heeded by those that needed to hear them.

Sadly I think you are right. Those who spew their hate day after day are not going to admit they have any blame in this tragedy. They will point the finger at the "other side" and say they do also, or they will simply deny that their words have any power to make people do this kind of thing.

The only way to address this is for the leaders on the right, political, and religious to stand up and speak out against the hate that they preach, but that too is not something I see happening. I fear that the hate mongers have to many followers, and the leaders, especially the political leaders, will be to afraid of the likes of Beck and Limbaugh to stand up to them!

While I do believe the majority of americans are not supporters of this hate, the few that are seem to get the attention. If americans stand up and speak out maybe someone will listen, the question is will they.

[Ikonoklast]

And why would the Right suddenly see the light and throw thirty years of orchestrated hate speech down the drain over the lives of a few insignificant people?

Why would they go back to the days of being a permanent minority in the legislature? The tactic of divide and conquer has been a brilliant success, it will not change from within. They like the direction this country is taking.

The Big Money behind the Republican and Teabagger Parties do not give a care as to how many people need to die as long as they can cash in keep the gravy train rolling in their direction, all at a cost of a few billion dollars in political contributions, or a few million dollars spent each year subsidising the likes of Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity...and an innocent life here or there.

They have no moral compass to upset. They have no sense of shame. They don't care about anything except as far as they can profit off of it.

And they sure as shit don't care about a couple of dead bodies, it never bothered them before. The economic power structure of this country is built on them.

[Cha]

Wow, I'm so glad the hate and permission for violence that permeates the airwaves and websites are being called out by Sheriff Clarence Dupnik!

He's talking to you, Sarah Palin, fox "news", & all the hate radio that makes so much money from all your trash talk hate peddling. This is on you.