GOP lawmaker: Trump 'partially to blame for demons' making Americans act 'weird and different'

[DonViejo]

TRAVIS GETTYS
15 JUN 2017 AT 07:36 ET

-snip-

Rep. Mark Sanford appeared Thursday on “Morning Joe” to discuss the shooting that wounded two of his colleagues, along with two Capitol police officers and a legislative aide, and the anger he’s encountered during public meetings with constituents.

“I would argue that the president is at least in partially — not totally, but partially to blame for demons that have been unleashed, whether it’s what I saw at a senior center back home and people saying, ‘F-you, f-you and f-you,’ at a retirement center where they’ll see each other playing croquet the next day,” said Sanford, a longtime Trump critic. “The fact you have the top guy saying, I wish I can hit you in the face — why don’t you, and I’ll pay your legal fees.'”

“That’s bizarre — we ought to call it as such,” Sanford added. “What I’ve said back home, some of these people have been frankly weird and different in a town hall meeting, I say what is going on? They’ll say look, if the guy at the top can say anything to anybody at any time, why can’t I?”

Co-hosts Scarborough and Brzezinski blamed the increasingly polarized political situation on gerrymandering — which seals lawmakers and their constituents into bubbles — and purveyors of “fake news” on social media. Brzezinski counted President Donald Trump himself among those social media crackpots.

“I think, very carefully, we have to talk about the added dynamic here because you have the right and left, the extremes on the right and the left,” she said. “You have fake news, you have conspiracy theorists who are really muddying the waters, and we have become desensitized.”

“We also have a president who pushes fake news and conspiracy theories, from birtherism to promoting violence on the campaign trail — this is the new dynamic here,” Brzezinski added. “I’m not putting anything squarely on the president, but I have to say that this is the new added dynamic to what is a very dangerous climate.”

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http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/gop-lawmaker-trump-partially-to-blame-for-demons-making-americans-act-weird-and-different/

[bagelsforbreakfast]

1. And now the "DEMONS" wing surfaces... n/m

[Willie Pep]

2. I think Scarborough is right.

This country has changed. I talk to some older people in my family and they say that decades ago Republicans and Democrats could argue about things but still be friends. Now I am afraid to discuss politics outside of close friends and family and even with some friends I keep quiet because I don't want to lose their friendship over politics.

I don't know if gerrymandering is the only problem. You also have the decline of civil society that Robert Putnam and others talk about. Decades ago people were much more likely to belong to various civic organizations and that promoted involvement with the community and kept people from being isolated. Now most Americans just go from work/school to home, watch TV or go on the Internet and never really interact with people much outside of family and maybe a few close friends and coworkers. This means that people are living in bubbles. I know people who consume nothing but right-wing sources for news and opinion and their views are way more radical than people who utilize a mix of sources. I am sure some left-wing people do the same.

I thought the Internet would open up new opportunities for people to learn and interact but it seems to have made things worse. At least newspapers and TV would have opposing views represented. Now with the Internet you can craft your own ideological universe and never have to leave. On top of that you have the proliferation of fake news and conspiracy theories. So I think this problem is bigger than Trump although he certainly didn't help matters.

[Yavin4]

4. This country has a looooonnngg history of politically motivated violence.

This is not anything new.

[ananda]

8. While gerrymandering is a big problem..

.. there is also vote-fixing, election-machine tampering,
and now of course, Russia.

[Dustlawyer]

30. It is a complicated issue for sure, but I lay the majority

Of the blame on the propaganda from the media. We have 6 companies control 95% of what we read, see and hear. They are influenced by TPTB and their advertising dollars. RW media get higher ratings by making their viewers, listeners, and readers angry and afraid. It also assures they will get out and vote. That is why Republicans vote in off year elections and many Democrats don't.

[ecstatic]

3. Trump is fully responsible for this! I know people who wouldn't hurt a fly

who are now full of rage and hatred due to Trump's 2 year long assault on this country. Trump owns this. People hate him and what he has done and said. Many people don't feel safe. This can't be blamed on Bernie or Hillary. It's all trump!

[ProfessorGAC]

5. This

This is on "it". Nobody running for office on the Dem side said anything about solving things with violence. The R's did that. They own it, 100%

[Foamfollower]

32. I certainly don't feel safe.

My wife and I have discussed purchasing firearms to protect ourselves from the possibility of out of control Alt-Right lunatics.

[Cracklin Charlie]

6. Funny he should mention retirement homes.

I once read a letter, written to thank the owner of a local car dealership, after he had gifted a retirement home a load of small electronics for Christmas. Clock radios and such.

The letter was from a little old lady. In it, she let loose a curse-laden screed of epic proportions, to include her uncensored opinion of every single resident of the facility, some of the employees, and the local government officials!

I guess no retirement home town halls for Sanford? Silver foxes don't hold back!

[spanone]

7. the fish rots from the head

thank you mr sanford

[Cha]

9. That's candid.. I'd say he's more

than "partially", though.

[PJMcK]

10. Congressman Sanford is right

It's a clear image of the weirdness of our time when I find myself in agreement with the Appalachian Trail hiker.

[bucolic_frolic]

11. As much as I agree and am glad to hear

I think Mika and Joe are throttling up their careers as first couple of morning politics more than anything else

It's about time they are presenting American principles ... where were they two years ago?

[pangaia]

12. This is all, 100% on the right..

It is not..."extremes on the right and left."
Those 2 actors are still just that...actors.

There has just been a little editing of the script to, you know, " keep up with the times."
They have no idea.

[Cosmocat]

16. This framing is intentional on their part

meant to pair off the middle ...

I hate it, it just is not even close to being proportional to say "they are both the same."

No, they aren't, not even close and saying that favors the republicans by putting us in the same league.

[pangaia]

21. This is a difficult thing to fight.

And I have no idea how to do it.
Same with the shooting at the baseball field... how to negate the 'dems fault' thing..
The only way I can see to fight that is for our dem politicians, ALL of them, to get out there and clearly and forcefully deny the allegation all day and night.. 24/7, as repubs do every waking minute, but with lies and distortions....

The fascist owned media.. The liberal media... See, it just plays so easily... one is true. One isn't. nevertheless.....???

[Cosmocat]

24. That is a BIG part of the problem

You can count on one hand the number of high level Ds who have the belly for this fight.

A BIG part of why their slander works so well.

When you have one side with thousands of politicians and conservative media voices screaming bloody murder every second of every day and the other side with almost no elected officials taking the fight back to them and 1/10th of the media presence ...

[pangaia]

27. aarrggghhhhhhhhh

My unrep is none other than Chris Collins.. Yes, he is making quite the name for himself and he loves it...

We are going to go after him.

But, get this.. next week there is a meeting for dems on 'how to talk too people on the other side.

"

GIVE ME A BREAK... the time for that has passed... enough with this feel good shit. If we just get our people out to vote, and can win some of the middlers and 'don't pay attention-ers, (aside from the cheating we have to fight, duh!!,) we can win, I think......

[Cosmocat]

40. That's right

I live in a pretty conservative (not big bible thumping, but semi-rural) area.

Honestly, real good people as a whole, decent and its a really good community, area.

But, they vote R, just the way it is, and they buy it hook, line and sinker, and there is not convincing them otherwise, they just know the liberals are bad, end of story.

You can be civil, you can be friends, you can even be respected by them in a very real way, but part of what comes with that is that you don't push your "liberal" beliefs on them.

NOW - that being said, I don't bemoan it, and I am tasteful and not overboard with it, but everyone knows what I think. BHO was a darn good POTUS, Hillary would have been a fine POTUS and 45 is truly horrible. They can hear it if you just say it simply and not often. But, anything past that would seriously be off putting.

You are right - no converting them. Just have to not hide a corner, stake the flag and not run from being the liberal, directly address things as effectively as possible to rally like minded folks and offer a counter to the mushy middle types who only hear republican bullshit.

[LisaM]

19. Not entirely true. I come from a very Democratic family.

We have worked on campaigns our whole.lives, both my parents have run for office, my mother has held (a small, local) office and for the first time ever I can't talk politics within my own family. My brother is completely convinced the DNC "rigged" it for Hillary and my mother isn't too far removed from it and last year when I went to visit, I couldn't even go out to eat with her without her decking herself in buttons that said "Feel the Bern!" and the like. I ignored it, as she knew full well I was a Hillary supporter and I STILL can't bring that up with either one of them. We have a history of supporting different primary candidates but this time was different. And note that it's me, the Hillary supporter, who is afraid to wear my buttons or bring up the election.

[pangaia]

25. interesting....just a few comments...

- I do not enjoy being around 'button people', of any persuasion. :&gt ))
-I never wear buttons for anything and no bumper stickers....oh, I did have a 'rear window' sticker taped on for Eric Massa when he ran for congress. :&gt )

- are you saying some bernie people are acting like the violent, foaming at the mouth lying republicans? (This is not a loaded question, or baiting or anything.. just interested...) From what I saw on the "DUTV" some bernie supporters could get a little crazy. :&gt )

-I supported bernie strongly, whatever 'strongly' means...did a little campaigning, contributed, etc..but when hillary won I supported her as well, albeit without the enthusiasm... eh, that's not important at this point..:&gt ))... I did campaign some for her.. i even met her once in... 2008 I think..

- some things bernie does, did, I wish he would do/did differently.. etc.... in some cases a LOT differently..

BTW- my unrep is the one and only Chris Collins..I real schmuck full of fake-christian, self-righteous inner violence. need I say more..

[LisaM]

28. I meant that we couldn't sit and discuss issues one on one.

It always devolved into "the DNC rigged it!" I also couldn't bring up my dearest hope of seeing a woman (whom I so wanted to be Hillary) as president. "That's identity politics!" They knew I had waited eight long years since I supported her in 2008 (when the DNC actually DID tilt it in favor of Obama by refusing to count Michigan and Florida's primary votes) and they didn't care. Post election, they continue to pile on with the false narrative of "she ran a bad campaign'" They won't discuss vote suppression, gerrymandering, lack of polling place resources in Detroit and Milwaukee, the enormous amount of coverage the media gave Trump, or Russian influence. It's like someone turned on a switch in their heads.

[pangaia]

31. yeah, I hear you.

That's a pretty ignorant attitude, I agree.

There were so many reasons she lost.......or won. as it were :&gt )

BTW, I have Russian friends.. both in Russia and Europe... also friends in Finland, Netherlands, Estonia, Georgia and elsewhere.. Their opinions, info, etc are always interesting to me if only because sometimes they see the 'elephant in the tent" from a different side. Which makes me also watch and question what I see and think I know....whether we agree or not... mostly very highly-educated, well-traveled artistic types...

One good Finnish friend especially, for example, said something on FB about- how can the US complain about Russia meddling in American politics when the USA has been doing that for decades...well,...yes.... that's true,, however..... etc...

But many right wingers here would either never admit that OR say well, America first.. blah blah....
At least 'we' know it happens......

[LisaM]

33. Most world powers probably do try to influence elections.

That isn't new. The difference here is that a candidate seems to have willingly accepted help from a hostile world leader, and to have done it knowingly. The question is why, and at what cost?

[Still In Wisconsin]

13. One of the local yokels where I live called in to a talk radio program to say "This is TRUMP's 9/11"

Guess not... no rallying around the leader and 80% approval rating for TRUMP. He must be so disappointed that the top news story today wasn't how "Presidential" he was yesterday.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. A fish rots from the head down.

[Atman]

15. "Look, I'm not saying he's actually doing it, but he is actually doing it."

Why do they have to couch their comments in apologies? SAY IT. Say what you freakin' mean, mean what you say! We know Trumpsky was your cocktail party buddy, but when you pretend to be a journalist, at least pretend well.

[pangaia]

29. ".pretend to be a journalist,"

That's the point..

they are just actors, like almost all the rest...

sometimes the script gets edited a little, but just a little, depending on if it is the Thursday night or Saturday night or Sunday afternoon crowd...

[heaven05]

17. partially, my ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SpankMe]

18. What do ya mean 'partially'?

Trump is TOTALLY responsible for the "demons" being unleashed. Hell, he's chief demon. "First Demon", if you will.

Or, as I call him: First Asshole

[lambchopp59]

20. Remind me again whose campaign slogan was "Stronger Together"?

And whose was "Make America Grunt Again". Well armed hoardes of grunting enemies. "Media"-the enemy. Nutjobs repealing any and all vulnerable measures of gun restrictions possible?
All part of divide and conquer. Stoke the hate, stoke the fear on both sides. The banal, racist, sexist WHISIS type and the "Burn down the Obama house at all costs" resentment.
And now they have their sacrificial lambs to deflect attention from...

[hadEnuf]

22. As was posted in the filth bin next door

the Right has built the theater and set the stage, and now they don't like the movie.

The Right has done everything humanly possible to encourage this political climate.

[underpants]

26. Great post (as are all here) they skipped over the Teabaggers being widely promoted in 2009

All reading from the corporate script and from seeing others do it on TV "I want my country back!" which was steaming with racism. A middle class guy gets elected after the bluest of blue bloods screwed everything up.

It lead almost every morning newscast morning after morning and then a major TV "news" channel created, marketed, and hosted an event in 5 locations (I think) nationwide.

[Dopers_Greed]

23. It's been like this for a long time

During the Bush years, I had a family member tell me that all Democratic politicians should be shot for treason.

Every time a mass shooting happened under Obama, I heard multiple people blame the President for them.

I blame cable news (mainly Fox) for this.

But recent developments like Breitbart, Infowars, Trump have made things worse no doubt.

[BumRushDaShow]

34. "this is the new added dynamic "

And that "dynamic" was amplified on shows like Mourning Schmoe, resulting in the behavior being "normalized". When they had RW pundit after RW pundit on show after show all day long, spewing bullshit like that, the hosts would say "Okay", refused to correct it, and continued to let the loons run non-stop. And when any non-RW pundit was up to try to refute - well that segment had "run out of time".

It's one thing for Faux Snooze to do it, but CNN, M$NBC, and all of the networks did the same.

Why you might ask? Ratings. It's "entertaining". It "creates buzz".

[MagickMuffin]

35. It is the republicons in congress and specifically their Dear Leader,

who said on the campaign trail "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters,"

So, leadership and responsibility begins with YOUR PARTY, since Democrats don't campaign on the act of shooting somebody in the public streets or any violence what-so-ever!

[GoCubsGo]

36. Mr. Sanford, when you point your finger, there are 3 more pointing right back at you,

and the rest of your corrupt, useless party. And, your nasty, filthy-ass sycophants like Ted Nugent, Alex Jones, Tomi Whasserface, Milo Yannopolis, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, the entirety of Fox "News"...

[Leith]

37. I Can Think of Another Reason, Sanford

A few years ago, the governor of a southern state disappeared on Father's Day. Nobody knew where he was. One of his minions said that he was walking the Appalachian Trail.

About a week and a half later, he was found in Argentina visiting his mistress.

A couple years later, the adulterer was elected to congress. rethugs may not think that was too much of an outrage to end his political career, but it should have been.

That is one small contribution to the reason Americans are acting "weird and different." We're fed up with all the shit the rethugs have pulled and we're finally speaking up against it.

[Atman]

39. Bing-freakin'-O

One of the sleaziest slime-wads in Congress is now back on tv lecturing people about how sleazy Congress is. And they wonder why we don't trust a word they say.

[IronLionZion]

38. There was a candidate openly encouraging violence at rallies

Was it Hillary? Bernie? Jill Stein? Hmm...who was it? It must have been one of the lefties.