Poll: Most Americans Feel Rhetoric, Tucson Shooting Unrelated

CBS ^ | 1//11/11 | Daniel Carty

[redk]

"Overall, 57 percent of respondents said the harsh political tone had nothing to do with the shooting, compared to 32 percent who felt it did. Republicans were more likely to feel the two were unrelated - 69 percent said rhetoric was not to blame; 19 percent said it played a part. Democrats were more split on the issue - 49 percent saw no connection; 42 percent said there was."

[Steely Tom]

Earlier.

[screaminsunshine]

Talk Radio and Fox have slowly been smartening up the chumps.

[OpusatFR]

Told you so.

People do not like the blame game especially when it blankets the airwaves, web, and print media seconds after it happens.

It is seen, and rightly so, as political posturing and hyena-like opportunism.

As the left continues to flog this with some of their members attempting to back off, they will lose even more.

The entire emphasis and coverage should have been on the victims themselves, the witnesses and the mourning of a nation.

It’s too late to do so and Obama’s “healing” attempt is going to simply be another speech, nice, tidy, somewhat particular, but late in the day and if he doesn’t address the screeching of the LEFT whereas the right didn’t assign blame to any degree, he loses too.

[redk]

First of all it’s sick that these people want to make this his Oklahoma City, second he isn’t Bill Clinton and will never have the ability to connect with stupid people that Clinton had.

Even Saturday afternoon his speech seemed disconnected and I never felt like he really cared.

[4rcane]

I dunno, if they say if left wing vitriol is responsible for this violence, i may answer yes. The killer is a Statist, who was unhappy that a DEM was not left wing enough

[4rcane]

The DEM was shot dead straight after dailykos “she was dead to him” for voting against nancy pelosi

[4rcane]

theres a more direct connection there, than Palin’s target of district of political defeat at the ballot box

[pissant]

And the other 40% are the morons who believe what they read in the NY Times.

[dila813]

Where is the poll asking if the anti-war protests were political motivated since they all stopped after Obama getting elected?

[redk]

True. I never heard anybody on the right ever even mention her but the KOS kiddies and the far left seem to have hated her until this happened.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Yes. The people are more sensible than the pundits. This “debate” is nothing more than the left seeing an opportunity to promote its agenda.

[The Comedian]

Then 43% are too stupid to live here.

They need to be exported to Venezuela, Mexico, or Iran.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[messierhunter]

She was also married to a space shuttle commander who’s getting ready to fly, and this nutjob believes the space shuttle is a hoax and a gigantic conspiracy. It’s clear that conservative rhetoric had absolutely nothing to do with this, but his space conspiracy beliefs might have. Although he was clearly in favor of socialism whatever its form, which by itself indicates the political extreme he aligned himself with, this attack may have been less politically motivated than some currently believe. I have little doubt he would have done the exact same thing to her astronaut husband and anyone around him had it been him giving a public talk that day instead of her.

[messierhunter]

That was my thought too. I’m shocked that the number is that high, it’s quite sad really and a testament to how much influence the MSM still has.

[max americana]

>That was my thought too. I’m shocked that the number is that high,<

Considering this is C-BS, I have a feeling the number is lower. Factoring in the number of people who voted the Rats out of office 2 months ago and the recent poll that there are lesser Dems today in the past 22 years, c BS might be covering their losses..

[BAW]

Obviously the MSM must try harder. We the Unwashed are not retaining their message.

[ScottinVA]

I’m shocked that the number is that high, it’s quite sad really and a testament to how much influence the MSM still has.

I'd like to see a Rasmussen finding on this issue. Since this is a CBS poll, I have trouble believing its veracity.

[Flamenco Lady]

I am sick of all of the blaming of everyone else in this country as of late. A while back violence was being blamed on kids playing violent video games, before that it was violent TV shows and movies. This is just another example of the blame game.

Violence toward others except in self defense is not acceptable. Perpetrators of the violence are responsible for their own actions.

That said, it is becoming clear that in this particular case people around this individual were aware of his violent tendencies, as he had made previous threats that were not prosecuted. Perhaps if those threats had been taken more seriously, this individual might not have been out on the streets or have had access to a firearm, and the deaths might not have occurred. As is often the case we all tend to have 20/20 hindsight.

[thulldud]

Perhaps if those threats had been taken more seriously, this individual might not have been out on the streets or have had access to a firearm

He had recently passed a background check to possess a gun. I'm so glad that we have gun laws to protect us.

(NOT!)

I'd rather trust God to protect me. (And He has accordingly let me have several guns!!)