Are Democrats and the Radical Left Seeking an Assassin?

This is a commentary that I never expected to write. I have written in the past about the rise or political rhetoric-driven violence – mostly from the left – and how it has produced three would be presidential assassins. But I stopped short of saying that the assassination attempts were the result of willful incitement. In more recent days, however, the most prominent Democrats and their left-wing media cronies have arguably crossed the line from unintended consequences to proactive recruitment. There can be no doubt that their statements are potentially motivating the next assassin wannabe – and I do believe there will be another one in the future because of the extremely provocative rhetoric.

Democrat hyperbolic language and absurdly false accusations have already produced three would-be assassins eager to knock off President Trump. We know what motivated them because they told us – in statements and so-called manifestos. Fortunately, they failed — but they were almost successful. Two were stopped short by Secret Service before the killers could get Trump into the crosshairs. The third came uncomfortably close – inches, in fact – from accomplishing the mission. The bullet nicked Trump’s ear. A sharp-eyed Secret Service sniper took out the shooter before he could fire a second round. Unfortunately, the bullet that grazed Trump killed an innocent young father.

Rather than toning down their demonization of the President, Democrats and the left-wing establishment — frustrated by failure — are intensifying their reckless rhetoric.

In the past, Democrats and their media cronies appeared content to demonize Trump — hoping that labeling Trump as an existential threat to the Republic and comparing him to Hitler – would be sufficient to incite some nutcases to take action. And they succeeded in finding three crazies.

The frustration of failure, however, appears to have resulted in an intensification of the rhetoric – often calling for an attack on Trump and the GOP. While they do not come out and call for assassination in so many words, their language no longer leaves any doubts about their desire. They promote violence against Trump by less-than-subtle innuendo.

Through extreme rhetoric, Democrats have produced a grassroots constituency – driven by hatred and fear – that sees assassination as a legitimate way to deal with the Trump presidency. We see it all over the Internet and social media. One can see people expressing sorrow that past shooters missed and the hope that another will come forward – and be more successful. They say it in plain language and with memes and postings. At protest, they carry signs calling on Trump to be assassinated. The Internet reinforces the reckless language of Democrat leaders and left-wing activists.

Prior to the controversy surrounding former FBI Director James Comey, the meaning of “8647” was obscure. Since then, the numbers have evolved for many to mean “assassinate Trump”. There can be no doubt that those using it in a political context today are messaging the darker meaning. That is why when such Democrat officeholders as Larry Lang, the vice mayor of Los Altos, California, who posted 8647, it is literally a call for action – deadly action.

Of course, the vast majority of those hoping to see Trump assassinated would never do it themselves. But they must certainly understand that their encouragements can have an impact on the nutcases, who will take action.

As bad as the grassroots hatred and calls for violence are, they pale in importance compared to the similar statements from elected leaders, major media personalities and left-wing activists who use their prominence and platforms to send the same messages – who strongly suggest that Trump needs to be taken out by whatever means are necessary.

Does that sound overly dramatic? Then consider these statements over past years.

• Senator Mark Warner’s exact quote. “We are at war now to save the country. So, we have to do whatever is necessary …”
• And this. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said, “Never before have I called for mass protests, for mobilizing, for disruption. But I am now. These Republicans cannot know a moment of rest.”
• Or … Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, “No one has been more dangerous to this country than Donald Trump – and he is a fascist to the core.”
• According to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffreys, “We are in an era of maximum warfare.”
• Actor Robert De Niro has made the rounds of left-wing media to condemn Trump as a fascist who will destroy American democracy. “We got to get rid of him. He’s gonna ruin the country — everything that this country has worked for and represents.” “We gotta get rid of this idiot. We will vanquish … we will ger rid of this guy.” “He will never leave. It’s up to us to get rid of him.”“The goal is to get rid of Trump. Because everything goes if he’s not gotten rid of.”
• New Hork Congressman Dan Goldman said Trump is “destructive to our democracy – and he has to be eliminated.”
• New Jersey Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman stated that “If we wanted to eliminate abuse and fraud, we’d eliminate the president of the United States from the office right now,
• Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett called Trump “a wannabe Hitler” who has to be removed from power.
• Actress Lea DeLaria said she wanted to “take out” Trump and Republicans “with a baseball bat.”
• The late actress Carole Cook asked, “Where’s John Wilkes Booth when you need him?”
• Actor Johnny Depp wondered, “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?”
• Actor Woody Harrelson said, “Luckily, I didn’t become a Secret Service Agent. I’d be having to protect Donald Trump right now and that just wouldn’t sit well. I’d be one to slip him some cyanide instead of jumping in front of a bullet.”
• Songstress Madonna confessed that, “Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House.”
• Actor Charlie Sheen posted his wish that “God would take” Trump.
• Comedian Kathy Griffin posted an image of herself holding Trump’s severed head.
• Star Wars actor Mark Hamill posted an image of a deceased Trump.
• Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich repeatedly compared Trump to Hitler – and saying “he has to be stopped.”
• Virtually every host and panelist on MS NOW – Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O’Donnell, Ali Velshi, Nicole Wallace and others have repeatedly called Trump a fascist or Hitler who is an existential threat to the American democracy – calling for his removal one way or another.

And the list goes on and on. These folks know that their hyperbolic rhetoric is provocative – that it incites hatred and promotes violence. They most assuredly know that there are mentally unstable individuals who will see saving the Republic as a noble mission. We already have three examples. Minimally, those professing support for violence do not care. Even worse, their hatred is so intense that many of them are essentially recruiting the next nutcase – one they hope will be more successful.

There is much to criticize about President Trump. But he is not anything like Hitler – and is not a fascist or Nazi. Those who believe that are, themselves, nutcases.

The latest wannabe assassin was stopped before he got into the ballroom at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. But, what if he had breached the door and opened fire? He may have killed some of the very people promoting the violence. Did that ever occur to the obsessive hate mongers?

So, there ‘tis.