How can you condemn hate speech while accusing your opponents of murder?

London Telegraph Blogs (U.K.) ^ | January 10, 2011 | Daniel Hannan

[Schnucki]

The immediate aftermath of a tragedy is the worst possible moment to draw broad policy conclusions, let alone to toss blame about. Sadly, the modern technological environment militates against patience. Bloggers and Tweeters rush to make judgments, to infer lessons, to discuss ramifications. On both sides of the Atlantic, the horrible shooting of Gabrielle Giffords, and the killing of six bystanders, have been laid at the door of the Right in general, and the Tea Party in particular.

In its front page story, The Independent described the abomination as “an event that seemed to grow out of America’s present disturbed and angry climate, like a killer-tornado or hurricane: awful, yes, but part of the weather, and, in some sense, only to be expected” [my italics]. Nor was the Indy unusual. The same accusation has been made by several commentators, bloggers and columnists.

There is something repulsive about chiding your opponents for hate speech while in the same breath accusing them of murder. There is something blindly narcissistic about calling for a calmer debate while at the same time attacking Sarah Palin in terms that come close to incitement. Odium is not confined to any political faction. Spend five minutes reading the online reactions to the atrocity to see how readily Leftists resort to accusations of evil.

[kara37]

Well said, I always liked Daniel Hannan.

[Hotlanta Mike]

“Spend five minutes reading the online reactions to the atrocity to see how readily Leftists resort to accusations of evil.”

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Evil is as Evil does...

[popdonnelly]

It’s called scapegoating. Someone wants to use this event for political advantage.

[Emperor Palpatine]

This won't fly no matter how hard the Left tries to smear the Tea Party and conservatives.

Loughner's favorite book was Marx and Engels' "The Communist Manifesto"

Not exactly prime conservative reading material.

[Interesting Times]

This cuts to the heart of the matter.

[BitWielder1]

The left are notorious for accusing others of what they themselves are doing.

[winkadink]

I have written my senators asking if they know of a leader in the Senate who will ask the media and the left “How can you condemn hate speech while accusing conservatives of complicity in murder?” I will post the responses from my Texas senators as soon as I receive them.