You are likely correct that if Trump wins, there will be protests and it wouldn't surprise me if some of those protests included acts of violence. If that happens, I'll condemn the violence just as I condemned the violence during the George Floyd riots.
But there's a very clear difference. The GOP seems comfortable accommodating, if not rewarding, violent rhetoric from Trump and others representing the party. It has been mainstreamed in a way that makes the path to further political violence very clear.
Just yesterday, we had two new very clear examples of what I'm referencing.
Kari Lake said the following during a campaign speech:
She described standing up to the “swamp” in Washington, saying: “They can’t bribe me, they can blackmail me. That’s what they don’t want me in Washington, D.C. And that’s exactly what President Trump wants me they’re fighting with him.”
“He’s willing to sacrifice everything I am. That’s why they’re coming after us with lawfare, they’re going to come after us with everything. That’s why the next six months is going to be intense. And we need to strap on our — let’s see. What do we want to strap on?” Lake asked as some in the crowd chuckled. “We’re going to strap on our, our seat belt. We’re going to put on our helmet or your Kari Lake ball cap. We are going to
put on the armor of God. And maybe strap on a Glock on the side of us just in case.”
When I express concern about the rise of Christian Nationalism, this is exactly what I'm talking about. The armor of God and a glock. That kind of rhetoric should be roundly condemned, and I haven't seen a word from "reasonable" republicans. In fact, her supporters love it.
I'm curious to hear your thoughts and the thoughts of other republicans on this board.
Lake told people that “the next six months is going to be intense” and urged attendees to be “ready for action,” calling out to military and law enforcement veterans in the crowd.
www.nbcnews.com
And yesterday, Tom Cotton advocated for physically assaulting the pro-Palestinian protestors who are blocking traffic. To be clear, I am no fan of those protestors, but advocating vigilantisms just increases the potential for political violence.
Of course, Trump praises the violent felons who attacked the Capitol almost daily and calls them great patriots while promising to pardon them.