He posted this in April ’09, and since then they’ve done nothing but prove him right:
Sound familiar? Now they’re using a mass murder by a complete lunatic in a desperate attempt to get you to — yep, you guessed it — shut up. For the most recent example of this tactic, see the utterly transparent concern troll Mark Halperin. As Mary Katherine Ham reports:
During a discussion on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Tuesday, the panel conceded that conservatives and Tea Party activists were unfairly scapegoated in the wake of Jared Lee Loughner’s shooting spree in Tucson, Ariz., which killed six and left Rep. Gabrielle Giffords fighting for her life after a gunshot wound to the head. Mark Halperin of Time just thinks conservatives shouldn’t bother defending themselves, so as to avoid further political escalation…
“I just want to single out one thing. I think the media and the politicians have behaved pretty well so far. I’m worried about the anger of the right-wing commentariat,” Halperin said. “Fox and George Will and other conservatives are in some cases justifiably upset at liberals, but they’re turning this back into the standard operating procedure of ‘all this is war and fodder for content’ rather than trying to bring the country together…”
“They’re right, but rather than seizing on it and turning the other cheek, they’re back at their war stations. That’s not going to help us.”
“Us” meaning “the people who agree with Mark Halperin.” No, I don’t suppose it is going to help “us.” Remember when dissent was considered the highest form of patriotism? Now we’re told, “Sure, you were falsely accused of abetting a mass murder, but why are you responding to lies with the truth? Shut up.” After you, Mr. Halperin.
Before they even knew Jared Lee Loughner’s name, before they even knew how many victims there were, our moral and ethical superiors had convinced themselves that this psycho validated their “violent Tea Partyers” ploy. Whoops. And now, despite an utter lack of evidence of any connection whatsoever, they’re trying to bull through it and convince everybody that somehow we’re responsible. Hey, if a Democrat was shot, Republicans must be responsible. (Whereas if a Republican had been shot, the blame would fall on the Republicans.)
Stay tuned for further efforts to link you to the actions of a madman, and to therefore stifle your speech. Be prepared to remind your accusers of the facts. Don’t let these ghoulish vultures use the innocent dead to shut you up.
P.S. It’s been pointed out to me that the murdered federal judge was in fact a Republican. Well, I’m sure they can explain that away somehow. In the meantime, they’d appreciate it if you’d shut up.
P.P.S. Giffords’ surgeon says she’s 100% certain to survive. To most, a relief. To Mark Penn and his ilk (“Obama needs his own Oklahoma City”), just another factor in the equation.
P.P.P.S. Meanwhile:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxgJKNpjSNIP.P.P.P.S. Just last month, Halperin was longing for a “catastrophe” that would give Obama “a route to political revival.” Did I mention that these people are vultures?