The horrific news out of Minnesota, where Vance Boelter committed a politically motivated attack on state lawmakers, including the assassination of Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, should serve as a stark reminder of the dangerous rhetoric poisoning our political landscape. Yet, as details emerge about Boelter’s conservative views and targeting of Democratic officials, the response from many in the GOP has been, predictably, muted or even worse, deflective. This stands in stark contrast to the outrage often expressed when violence is perceived to originate from the left, exposing a profound and dangerous hypocrisy.
Just a few weeks ago I published a post about James Comey’s “8647 Seashell Art” which highlighted the hypocrisy of GOP members calling for Comey’s arrest while they themselves call for actual violence and civil unrest. My point was simple: the casual embrace of incendiary language by Republican figures, including Trump and the immediate dismissal or even justification of actions by their supporters, created a climate where real-world violence has occurred.
So here we are. Vance Boelter, described by friends as a devout Christian with deeply conservative views and a Trump supporter, is now charged with assassinating a prominent Democratic leader, her husband, and attempting to murder others. Reports indicate he had a list of over 45 Democratic officials as potential targets. This wasn’t a random act; it was a premeditated, politically motivated assassination.
So where is the outrage from the GOP? Where are the swift, unequivocal condemnations that would be unleashed if the perpetrator had been linked to progressive ideologies? Instead, we see right-wing commentators attempting to muddy the waters, even trying to link Boelter to Democratic appointments from years ago, an absurd attempt to shift blame. Senator Mike Lee of Utah even posted on X (formerly Twitter) suggesting Boelter was a “Marxist” — a blatant and baseless attempt to smear the victims and their party, while simultaneously absolving his own.
This is hypocrisy laid bare. When imaginary hints of political violence align with their perceived enemies, it’s quickly condemned and used to score political points. But when it emanates from their own ideological flank, the condemnations are weak, the blame is deflected, and the focus shifts to discrediting the victims or downplaying the severity.
We cannot afford this double standard. Political violence, regardless of its source, is an attack on our democracy and shared values. The escalating rhetoric from Right Wing political leaders, who demonize opponents and paint them as existential threats, directly contributes to environments where individuals like Boelter feel emboldened to act.
The time for performative outrage is over. If we are to truly address the rising tide of political violence, Trump and the GOP must unequivocally condemn all such acts (fat chance), hold their own accountable for inflammatory rhetoric, and stop using tragic events to score partisan points. Anything less is a tacit endorsement of violence and it puts our elected officials, and indeed our entire democratic system, at grave risk.
