Shots Fired—Again

And who's really to blame for cultivating an atmosphere of violence in America?

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Is there a connection between the broad Left’s virulent anti-Trump rhetoric and the two attempted assassinations of the former president? Stuff and nonsense, the comrades insist. Well, they may be right, but they’re not entitled to make the argument.

When a home intruder attacked Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer, all the usual leftist suspects blamed it on Trump, the Republicans, and conservatives—whose rhetoric, they alleged, was fostering a climate of violence. When former Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords was severely wounded by an unhinged shooter in 2011, the comrades put the blame on Sarah Palin. And every time there’s a mass shooting, they indict Republicans and conservatives—who have “blood on their hands” because they don’t support gun control.

Why, therefore, should not Republicans and conservatives point the finger of blame at the Left, suggesting that the virulence of its anti-Trump rhetoric incites violence? It’s certainly a more plausible charge than the ones cited above. Or how about the “anti-Zionist” rhetoric of progressives and leftists, especially since 10/7? Is it not plausible to suggest that such rhetoric has generated the horrifying wave of antisemitism that has swept over this country?

The Left’s over-the-top denunciations of Trump include the claim that if he’s elected president in November, American democracy will die. It’s claimed in addition that the former president is an actual Nazi: the American Hitler. During their debate, Kamala Harris opined that “Donald Trump left us the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.” She also charged that if elected he planned to “terminate” the Constitution.

I think most people would agree with me that the various attempts to assassinate Hitler during World War Two were morally justifiable. If, therefore, Trump really is our Hitler, would it not be morally justifiable to eliminate the threat he poses, by any means necessary?

The Left’s denunciations of Israel and Zionism are equally extreme. They include the claim that Israel is a racist, fascist apartheid state. The Jews of Israel are said to be “white settler colonialists” oppressing “indigenous brown people”: the Palestinian Arabs. Israel is alleged to be conducting genocide in Gaza. On the bottom line, Israel is an illegitimate entity that should and will be eradicated, by any means necessary. If all this is true, is it not morally justifiable to denounce, harass and assault Jews all over the world who may profess belief in Zionism and support the Jewish state?

And in both cases: If not, why not?

The Left would have us believe that its rhetoric is somehow privileged, even when it’s delivered in the voice of hysteria and drips with poisonous hate. It could not possibly incite violence, because it’s deployed in the service of worthy causes: anti-fascism, anti-racism, the two-state solution, transgender rights, etc. and so forth. Only speech that questions the worthiness of those causes or worse, mocks them, qualifies as violent rhetoric.

It will be noticed, however, that the American Left has no objection to violence itself when it’s deployed in a worthy cause. That was the theme of the violent but “mostly peaceful” protests after the death of George Floyd in 2020. I trust it’s not necessary to review all the rationalizations for that violence that were barfed out by journalists, Democrats, and progressive/leftist activists.

The first attempt to assassinate Donald Trump came within an inch or less of blowing his head off. And what was the reaction of many on the Left? They immediately began circulating conspiracy theories to the effect that the whole thing was staged by Trump & Co. to make him look like a hero. How disgusting was that? But perhaps it betrayed a certain consciousness of guilt.