Brianna Lyman of the Federalist criticizes “generic” condemnations of political violence.
Charlie Kirk’s murder should have been a watershed moment for the Republican Party. A conservative leader was assassinated for his beliefs, and the alleged assassin’s motive was clear: silencing Kirk’s voice because he disagreed with it. But instead of treating the murder as a wake-up call to the growing, dangerous trend of left-wing violence, too many Republicans are hiding behind generic calls for “unity.” …
… Despite the long list of targeted attacks, too many Republicans respond with vague statements without calling out the evident trend.
Take Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, who, following Kirk’s assassination, said, “Political violence has no place in America. What we saw yesterday … is sickening, it is disgusting. It was a political assassination.” But she followed this up by saying, “The time for unity, the time for peace, it is now.”
Take Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, who was asked to respond to White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller’s comments about holding left-wing organizations accountable for fomenting violence. In his response, Lankford brought the Oklahoma bombing and “white nationalists” into the discussion to essentially both-sides the issue of Kirk’s assassination.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said last week that while we “can always point the finger at the other side,” we have to find an “off-ramp.” …
… What these Republicans fail to fully acknowledge is that, … “Left-wing politics in this country has always been violent” because such violence and intolerance are “foundational to the left’s entire revolutionary political project going back more than a half-century in this country.” It’s why we see Americans in large numbers cheering on or mocking Kirk’s assassination, and it’s why Republicans must fight against the leftist cause specifically.
This means urging Congress to investigate funds going to left-wing causes and censorship. It means using federal resources to go after the “Violent factions of the establishment left, often fomented online and funded by mega donors.” …
