DC Trawler

David Axelrod knows what terrorism is and what it is not

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This is terrorism:

Makes sense.*

This, however, is not terrorism:

“And the word has taken on a different meaning since 9/11. You use those words and it means something very specific in people’s minds. And I’m sure what was going through the president’s mind is, ‘We really don’t know who did this.’ It was tax day. Was it someone who was pro– You know, you just don’t know. And so I think his attitude is, ‘Let’s not put any inference into this, let’s just make clear that we’re going to get the people responsible.'”

Calling it “terrorism” is racist. It’s not terrorism, despite the clear use of terrorist tactics — and terrorism is a tactic, not an ideology, but never mind that right now — because you wouldn’t want people to get the wrong idea and think it was done by someone from a Designated Victim Group. For everybody’s sake, at this point it’s safer to assume a crazy teabagger did this.

Thinking like a leftist is easy, once you stop thinking.

Update: I’m really trying to put my finger on why this is so maddening. It’s absolutely perverse to avoid calling this bombing what it is, terrorism, just because that word has certain associations. We didn’t create those associations. Hell, the word “terrorist” is good enough for Axelrod & Co. when they’re trying to pressure Republicans into supporting their stupid, harmful policies. “This is economic terrorism! You’re a terrorist!” But when somebody blows up a bunch of people, hey, wouldn’t want folks to start getting any funny ideas. It’s completely demented.

Update: As Bryan Preston told our friends on the left back in Aug. 2011, “You called us ‘terrorists’ when you thought you could get away with it… We won’t forget it.” No, we will not. Especially when you’re so reluctant to use the word when it actually applies.

*Since apparently there’s some confusion: No, Axelrod’s formulation did not actually make sense. It was nonsense. I thought that would be a given, considering it’s Axelrod. But at least he spewed that nonsense for a good cause.