It was reported this week that a canvasser for Senator Marco Rubio was brutally attacked by Democrats because the victim was wearing clothing advertising Rubio and also Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Sen. Rubio tweeted Monday:
Last night one of our canvassers wearing my T-shirt and a Desantis hat was brutally attacked by 4 animals who told him Republicans weren’t allowed in their neighborhood in #Hialeah #Florida
He suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw & will need facial reconstructive surgery pic.twitter.com/36QpbySg58
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 24, 2022
Whatever one’s partisan leanings, when this incident was reported a fair person could condemn this act of political violence without jumping to the conclusion that Republicans should be on the lookout for physical attacks from Democrats all over the country.
After all, some Democrats responded properly:
There’s no place for violence in politics.
Senator Rubio, your canvasser is in our prayers and we look forward to those responsible being brought to justice.
— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) October 24, 2022
Yet this also happened:
I agree! When will you denounce your own staffer being violent? https://t.co/FK3VpHq84P
— Brendon Leslie (@BrendonLeslie) October 24, 2022
Then we got to Tuesday when an old tweet from another prominent Democrat surfaced.
Wasn't Rand's neighbor more than a little in the right?
— Admiral Mike Franken (@FrankenforIowa) January 21, 2021
He is referring to Paul’s former neighbor who brutally assaulted him. Sen. Paul condemned the Democrat for encouraging violence:
Disgusting that Mike Franken would celebrate an assault (from behind) that resulted in 6 broken ribs, a damaged lung that had to be removed, and chronic pain. Advocacy for violence should disqualify Franken from holding ANY office. https://t.co/87qcHpcxy8
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 25, 2022
More violent hatred from Democrats like Sen Grassley’s opponent. Mike, my husband suffered six broken ribs and required lung surgery after a blindside assault, yet you cheer the leftist felon who did it. You foment further violence and show an utter lack of humanity. Shameful. https://t.co/w2l4vOYYUd
— Kelley Paul (@KelleyAshbyPaul) October 25, 2022
High profile left-leaning people celebrating the 2017 assault of Paul is not new.
Where’s Rand Paul’s neighbor when we need him?
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) February 9, 2018
Imagine being Rand Paul's next door neighbor and having to deal with @RandPaul lying cowardly circular whiney bullcrap about lawn clippings. No wonder he ripped his toupee off.
— Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) July 29, 2019
After singer Richard Marx offered to buy Paul’s neighbor a beer in a now removed tweet, a package of white powder and violent threats arrived at his home.
I have been targeted multiple times now, it is reprehensible that Twitter allows C-list celebrities to advocate for violence against me and my family! https://t.co/WhTtswUI91
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) May 25, 2021
So, again, after some Democrats reportedly attacked a Republican worker in Florida on Monday – specifically for being a Republican – can we expect more of this kind of violence?
On the surface, one would think not. It seems too random.
But when you think about it further, particularly what Sen. Paul has experienced, I can’t say with certainty that more of this kind of violence won’t happen in the future and it could become more common than anyone might expect – with Democratic leaders either encouraging it or at least not condemning it. That’s what rage can potentially drive people to do and there’s a blaze of political rage out there right now, on all sides.
A civil society requires civility. This is ain’t it.
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