Because of some of her incendiary statements, Palin’s critics postulated that she had been responsible for the shooter who shot Giffords, just as Republicans often suggest that Democrats (collectively) are to blame for gun violence in response to their rhetoric. But the CBS article you referenced (which those on the far right consider nothing but fake news), said:
“The gunman began just spraying everybody at point blank range. It wasn’t like he was picking people out, he just began shooting at everybody who was close to him and kind of a constricted area,” Dr. Steven Rayle, who witnessed the shooting and offered medical attention to the victims, told CBS News.”
So although many on the left wanted to blame Palin for the tragedy, eye witness report like the paragraph above, indicated that Loughner had no rhyme nor reason about who he shot or why — be they Democrats or Republicans, black or white, rich or poor, christian or Jew, etc. He was just a madman! And even though Palin was initially implicated for blame, Lougher could have responded to anything he heard at all — including hate speeches made by Democrats. And since the NYT found it had been wrong about Palin how can you say that placing blame on Republicans was anything more than a temporary response Made by SOME democrats, and some mainstream media outlets, NOT all!
Like many news outlets the NYT has a habit of printing stories too early in an attempt to be among the first to run an interesting story. But when they are proven wrong later, they do publish retractions and apologies i.e. meaning that they are responsible enough to value truth over partisan sensationalism. But anyway you slice it, the spotlight on Palin was removed and many journalist backed off of their (making mountain out of mole hills) mistakes. And some Democrats never held her personally culpable at all for such a violent act.
And why do you keep accusing me of claiming that Palin did inspire the shooter — in practically every comment I’ve made, I have admitted that I feel Democrats freaked out needlessly over this and were truly making it into something that was far more damning than it actually was.
Do you really think that all Democrats or all member of the media, placed complete blame on Palin for all that happened to Giffords — well they didn’t! And it also didn’t take long until they found out that the shooter was merely a madman who wouldn’t be politically motives if an ideology bit him in the nose.
The person who shot Scalise may not have been hospitalized by a mental illness, but he did drink to excess, and the police visited his home on domestic assault calls frequently. He also did not engage in forums like this but preferred a platform that allowed him to rant and rave in delight and post any vilifying vitriol he desired. Those who are truly politically motivated by a desires to change the system, and to create a better society, are usually not madmen, nor are they violent in their dedication, and both Republicans and Democrats produce such people i.e. did you hear John McCain's great and candid speech about healthcare legislation today?
Because I am trying to be a voice for fairness in order to see beyond the polarization that so many of us feel today, you keep insulting my internet skills and repeatedly call me a liar. So go ahead and ignore all my future posts if you want, if I am still able to post what I believe is the truth for other readers to evaluate, (just like you do) then at least my comments will be here for them to see.