Sheriff attacks “vitriol” about “tearing down” govt. after Arizona shooting

One of Arizona’s top law officials has attacked “the vitriol… the anger, the hatred, the bigotry” in America today following the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Giffords in a shooting in Tucson on Saturday. Six people were killed in the incident, including a federal judge, a nine-year-old girl and an aide to Ms Giffords, who remains in hospital though this afternoon was described by surgeons as “doing well”.

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik spoke as it emerged that Sarah Palin had placed Gabrielle Giffords on a ‘target list’ of lawmakers she wished to see the back of - each represented by a pair of crosshairs.

At the time, Palin had written of Ms Gifford:

“If the vote failed, don’t retreat — RELOAD.”

The sheriff said:

“I’m not aware of any public officials that have not been receiving threats, she had two very unfortunate incidents occur during a very vitriolic campaign that just occured… She had an incident around the same time where windows were broken out of her headquarters. We understand that at her headquarters right now, that there’s a suspicous package that’s being investigated.

“I can tell you this, that the 22-year-old individual does have a criminal background and there are reports that he was a Prima college student and that there have been some difficulties with him but again I’d just like to say that when you look at unbalanced people, how they are, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government…

“The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country, is getting to be outrageous, and, unfortunately, Arizona I think has become sort of the capital. We have become the Mecca for prejudice and bigotry.”

The vitriol of which the sheriff speaks is typified by Glenn Beck, whose inflammatory rhetoric is given oxygen on the Rupert Murdoch owned Fox News. A chilling video of just some of his vitriol, focusing on his obsession with Nazism, was shown at yesterday’s Netroots conference by Ari Rabin-Havt, the executive vice president of Media Matters.

Watch it:

In it Beck says:

“I’m gonna be like the Israeli Nazi hunters, I’m telling you, I’m gonna find these big progressives, and to the day I die, I’m gonna be a progressive hunter.”

While in this Media Matters compilation, he warns:

“I’m gonna find these big progressives, and to the day I die, I’m gonna be a progressive hunter… drive a stake through the heart of the bloodsuckers.”

Meanwhile Palin’s fellow tea party extremist Sharron Angle said during the midterms:

“This congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking towards those second amendment remedies. And I’ll tell you the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out.”

These are just a handful of examples of the vitriol of which Sheriff Dupnik railed against; many more can be found here and on the Media Matters blog.

http://twitter.com/martinokeeffee/status/24182592844603392 Martin O’Keeffe

RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/mirrorjames/status/24182824814772224 JamesLyons

RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/martinokeeffee/status/24183708781121536 Martin O’Keeffe

http://bit.ly/i6HLjh Are the Tea Party about to find out what happens when you stir up hatred..
http://twitter.com/gordon1970/status/24183998947266560 Gordon S Wilson

RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/soozyshoes/status/24185926922010624 Susan Asquith

RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh reports @ShamikDas
thomas

It’s standard policy for Republicans to incite violence, then pretend they had nothing to do with it when they achieve their desired result.
http://twitter.com/t_among_js/status/24191322545987584 Tamara Jewell

Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh. This hate has to end…
http://twitter.com/hitchinengland/status/24191575298940928 Hitchin England

RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/hylomorphism/status/24193931596009475 Matthew Sackman

RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/blazerunner/status/24194158524628992 blazerunner

RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/paulineriggens/status/24194584535896064 Pauline Riggens

RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/anthonycrosby/status/24197756230828032 Anthony Crosby

RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/helleklein/status/24197959159644160 Helle Klein

RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/tarheelrifle/status/24199983481749504 Tar Heel Rifle Club

Sheriff attacks “vitriol” about “tearing down” govt. after Arizona shooting – Left Foot Forward http://ow.ly/1aNkbY
http://twitter.com/shamikdas/status/24213216703811584 Shamik Das

Ft vid of Fox News hate > RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh
mr. Sensile

Shamik I think the behaviour of the American Hard Right is nothing short of a disgrace.

In any event, though, I think this reminds us yet again of the balance politicians have to strike between protecting themselves and being accessible to their constituents. It happened last year with the case of Stephen Tims.
I hope she makes a recovery.
http://twitter.com/jaomahony/status/24254621581058048 Jennifer O’Mahony

@leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting http://bit.ly/f9wLvJ >Newsflash. Rhetoric matters!
http://thepalinexpress.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/links-to-liberals-hatred-and-death-wishes/ Links To Liberals’ Hatred And Death Wishes | The Palin Express

[...] Sheriff attacks “vitriol” about “tearing down” govt. after Arizona shooting (leftfootforward.org) [...]
Jen06

Considering that Loughner has been described by classmates and friends as a committed leftist, it seems rather outlandish to think that he ever listened to Glenn Beck or paid attention to Sarah Palin. He was probably listening to the “vitriol” from Van Jones, Bill Ayers, Bernadette Dorn, Jeremiah Wright, the New Black Panthers and Barack Obama (who said):

** Obama: “They Bring a Knife…We Bring a Gun”
** Obama to His Followers: “Get in Their Faces!”
** Obama on ACORN Mobs: “I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry! I’m angry!”
** Obama to His Mercenary Army: “Hit Back Twice As Hard”
** Obama on the private sector: “We talk to these folks… so I know whose ass to kick.“
** Obama to voters: Republican victory would mean “hand to hand combat”
** Obama to lib supporters: “It’s time to Fight for it.”
** Obama to Latino supporters: “Punish your enemies.”
** Obama to democrats: “I’m itching for a fight.”

Or checked out the DCCC page. A screengrab can be found here since it has probably been scrubbed:

http://www.verumserum.com/?p=13647
http://twitter.com/trakgalvis/status/24307304002232320 Trakgalvis

RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/backstorymom/status/24307531316727809 sharon hawkins

RT @trakgalvis: RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh repor …
http://twitter.com/leoslaire/status/24308004132233218 Leo McDevitt

RT @trakgalvis: RT @leftfootfwd: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting: http://bit.ly/i6HLjh repor …
http://twitter.com/aaronjohnpeters/status/24308091960958976 Aaron Peters

Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/C89d72l
Anon E Mouse

Shamik – I think the crosshairs is the American media going a bit over the top. I remember Guido when he rumbled Damian McBride did the same thing. It’s just about targets.

On the Fox News thing it is just that the left hates Murdoch and will highlight any little part of his empire to try to smear him. I remember the BBC which controls double the amount of news in the UK to Sky giving airtime to an unelected Labour spindoctor, Alistair Campbell, to lie so we could bomb Iraq with the very right wing US Republicans you describe.

Those more intelligent people in Britain, like ourselves Shamik, just get on with watching Sky Sports and Sky Movies and rise above it.

Mr.Sensible. If you believe the American right are really that bad aren’t you ashamed the Labour Party blindly followed them into illegal overseas wars resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent people?
http://twitter.com/quiltingpoint/status/24357110124904448 J.P.E. Harper-Scott

Bewilderingly offensive video of Glenn Beck's constant attempt to equate left with Nazism, via @jaomahony: http://bit.ly/f9wLvJ
http://twitter.com/broderickchow/status/24369169713598464 Broderick Chow

RT @aaronjohnpeters: Sheriff attacks "vitriol" about "tearing down" govt. after Arizona shooting | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/C89d72l
Mister Jabberwock

This is a pretty shameless post, you don’t think you should wait to see the evidence before jumping on a bandwagon. Particularly given the tragedy involved for so many families. Your first thought seems to be how do I take party political advantage from this – that is a disgrace. Wait and reflect.

You also completely ignore that the left’s use of vitriol is not without its moments. Who was the last British politician to use cross hairs to incite sentiment in a election leaflet – step forwards Phil Woolas.

Then don’t forget that little, left leaning, climate change video by Richard Curtis that involved teachers blowing the heads of school children for questioning dogma. Vitriol indeed…
http://eoin-clarke.blogspot.com/ Éoin Clarke

Is the a correlation between urban social decay, the election of a reforming president and politically related killings? History would suggest there was. Why does significantly more of this type of killing occur when a Democrat is in the White House?
http://twitter.com/1776libertybell 1776 Liberty Bell

I guess the progressive left in UK are just as clueless or liars as the progressive in the US are. Here are 4 examples of proof the left in the US are always more violent. They have been for 50 years. If you want more proof let me know. I can give you thousands of examples.

Frances Fox Piven Calls for Revolution http://bit.ly/etNSdG PROGRESSIVES CALLING FOR REVOLUTION

FL School Board Shooter Posted Suicide Note Railing Against the Rich Linking to Media Matters http://bit.ly/e9ateH

Shooter a “left-wing pothead” was he a donor? More likely than being http://tinyurl.com/LWHateMachine11

Jared Loughner, Alleged Shooter in Gabrielle Giffords Attack, Described by Classmate as “Left-Wing Pothead” http://bit.ly/hPhUD2
http://twitter.com/1776libertybell 1776 Liberty Bell

I forgot one big item too – You use Media Matters are your proof. You realize that is like asking the tobacco companies to say they did a study and found out smoking is good for you. Would you believe them? NO YOU WOULD NOT.

Media Matters just received millions from George Soros to attach Fox New & Glenn Beck. Why would you believe anything Media Matter claims to be true?! If you do then you believe smoking is good for you.
Anon E Mouse

Éoin Clarke – Does “does significantly more of this type of killing occur when a Democrat is in the White House?”?

Remember some nutter tried to kill Ronald Reagan.

Seems to me that in a society with guns so freely available this type of thing will just keep happening.
http://twitter.com/1776libertybell 1776 Liberty Bell

We also have 3 Presidents assassinated they were all REPUBLICAN. They attempt to kill Reagan another Republican. They tried to kill Ford another REPUBLICAN. So the left is WAY MORE VIOLENT then the right has ever been in the US.
http://billyblofeld.wordpress.com Billy Blofeld

American politics is nice and fluffy compared to our own home-grown climate extremists who recently distributed this video showing school kids being blown up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-Mw5_EBk0g
http://www.usmessageboard.com/politics/149812-is-vitriol-the-new-racist.html#post3185903 Anonymous

[...] [...]
Mike Thomas

That’s a bit rich, which political party has its supporter wanting an ex-PM dead?

Yeah?

I think one of the Aussie Herald bloggers had it right today.

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/the_abcs_vilification_of_sarah_palin

You should be ashamed of yourself.
Anon E Mouse

thomas – You say; “It’s standard policy for Republicans to incite violence”

Standard policy? Any evidence to back that remark up?

It is true that huge violence was dumped on Iraq, in collusion with the UK, where the government lied to the British people because of Labour’s blind bloodthirsty warmongering and love of George Bush.

But standard policy? Don’t think so…
http://eoin-clarke.blogspot.com/ Éoin Clarke

Anon E Mouse,

Yes, good point!:)
Mr. Sensible

Mr Mouse, NI controls 40% of our newspaper market, and if that Sky deal goes through (made a bit more likely I’d say thanks to Mr Cable’s antics) their share of the media market could well end up being more than the BBC.

This is something that NI’s supporters need to account for.

And Mr Mouse you and I do not agree on that point about Iraq. I think we will have to agree to disagree there.

Was Kenedy a Republican? I thought he was a Democrat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy
Anon E Mouse

Mr.Sensible – I mentioned Reagan who most definitely a republican:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan

News International in TOTAL control half the UK news media compared to the BBC:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2010/dec/30/murdoch-to-control-22percent

You really don’t agree that this country was misled over the reasons for going to war in Iraq?

Go on then Mr.S, why aren’t you at the Chilcott enquiry then? Because I still haven’t seen missiles capable of hitting Cyprus in 45 minutes or WMD…
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/01/time-to-tone-down-the-political-rhetoric/ Time to tone down the political rhetoric | Left Foot Forward

[...] it has reopened the debate over the rhetoric used by figures in the political media. A previous article on Left Foot Forward has discussed the language used by Fox News and in particular Glenn Beck and [...]
mr. Sensile

Mr Mouse I was not arguing with that; ’1776 Liberty Bell’ said that:
“We also have 3 Presidents assassinated they were all REPUBLICAN.”

I have to say though, I do agree with:
“Seems to me that in a society with guns so freely available this type of thing will just keep happening.”
Brandon

I think both democrats and republicans need to tone it down big time. Both sides have people that are WAY too passionate. When bush was in office I always was seeing posters that said bush was a terrorist and impeach bush. All of this hate can build up inside people and lead them to do crazy things. On the other side Glen Beck is way over the top as well, I mean come on comparing our country to Nazi’s… It’s crazy all these stupid politicians need to calm down and not make it such a big deal.