Giffords Shooting Spotlights Palin Crosshairs Map, Kelly's Planned Gun Event
Violent Political Metaphors Under Scrutiny
Giffords herself had challenged the crosshairs imagery in March, according to a posting left Saturday by reader Andrea Kolich on Sarah Palin's Facebook page. According to the Kolich posting, Giffords said on Mar. 25:
"Sarah Palin has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district and when people do that, they've gotta realize there are consequences to that action."
Palin expressed condolences to Giffords and her family Saturday on her Facebook page. Responses on Palin's Facebook page included one post accusing Palin of having blood on her hands today. Numerous other hateful messages, both right and left leaning, are posted on Sarah Palin's Facebook page.
While few rational people would have taken Palin's crosshairs message as a literal invitation to murder, it nevertheless shows a lack of civility in dealing with opposing political viewpoints.
And it wasn't only Palin who demonstrated such callousness in analogizing political success with death to opponents. Giffords' opponent in the 2010 Arizona 8th Dist. Congressional Race Jesse Kelly scheduled then cancelled a shooting event during his campaign. Advertising for the $50 per person event read:
"Get on Target for Victory in November. Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office. Shoot a fully automatic M16 with Jesse Kelly."
The ad included a photo of a marine in uniform with a weapon in hand.
The man who did shoot Gabrielle Giffords and numerous others Saturday has been identified as one of her constituents, Jared Lee Loughner, 22. He described himself in a Youtube video as a military recruit.
Whether Lougher's motive was political and whether he was aware of either the Palin website or Kelly ad remains to be seen. But in a rambling Youtube video, he refers to himself obliquely as a terrorist after defining a terrorist as someone who uses terrorism as a political weapon.
Loughner apparently expected to die in today's shooting. He allegedly posted a goodbye message on his MySpace page before the shooting. That page has been removed from public view by investigators. The Youtube video that is still publicly available is described as his "final thoughts."
Published by Carol Bengle Gilbert - Featured Contributor in Travel and Lifestyle
2010 Yahoo! Outstanding Contributor of the Year, Carol has consistently been designated a Top 100 Yahoo! Contributor Network writer. She received a 2008 People's Media Award for "Best Article." Carol’s pr... View profile
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13 Comments
Post a CommentYou know, I really hate it when both parties make asses of themselves. I do think Palin's remarks are inappropriate, but not because I think they'll spur someone to shoot a politician. I just think they're mean-spirited, and make it sound like her side is SO right that they should basically start a revolution. As Keith Olbermann is wont to say, "That woman is an idiot."
I suppose up until this point, the results of Sarah Palin's idiocy has been rather benign.
Great coverage. Palin showed gross irresponsibility when she posted that Bull's Eye map. It was incitement to violence. Her comments about "Reload" show it was intentional gun imagery. She's an evil force in this country.
Sarah Palin is in no way responsible for this tragedy, but this will probably end any possibility of running for president.
Whether this dude was or wasn't motivated by Palin and others' 'let's shoot up the political opponent' way of campaigning doesn't change one thing. The tastelessness of those who have to stir hatred for those they disagree with because they can't make a convincing case for their own position otherwise. And also those who would excuse such tactics.
We cannot blaim Sarah Palin for all the Wacko's who decide to shoot up innocent people. This is a horrible tragedy, it should not be used for political advances by any persons or parties
Good article.
Maybe this will finish Palin's career.
When those in the public arena make statements about not retreating but reloading (Palin) or choosing to exercise your second amendment rights they have to realize that they may be playing into someones fantasies. This is shameful rhetoric and should be stopped.
Good report on some terrible news. :(
I saw another article on this gun event. Talk about screwed up...