During a discussion with MSNBC's Martin Bashir about the GOP's rising disrespect for President Barack Obama, the Rev. Jesse Jackson veered away from politics to a grim warning that the fiery rhetoric could incite a shooting at the White House. What?
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Mediaite reports:
Bashir rattled off a laundry list of Republican bad behavior, from Arizona governor Jan Brewer pointing at the President to Rep. Joe Wilson shouting โyou lie!โ to Newt Gingrich using the term โfood stamp president.โ โWhy do Republicans think this is acceptable behavior in public?โ Bashir asked
โDemonizing the President is both morally wrong and dangerous,โ Jackson began, citing โthe continued demonization and then somebody shoots an AK-47 in the White House โฆ to demonize him and demonize the poor is unacceptable.โ Noting that there wasnโt much of an explanation here, Bashir pressed on, asking whether Jackson was predicting โsome sort of terrible outcome.โ โIgnorance and hatred and violence is in a certain pattern,โ Jackson continued, citing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and noting that โGeorge Wallace never hit anybody.โ
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Jackson is right to be concerned about the president's safety, but in this forum he appears to be inciting fear and loathing. Perhaps he should put on his reverend's hat and encourage lawmakers to tamp down the rhetoric.
Read more at Mediaite.
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