Since January 6th – when a bunch of rioters attacked the Capitol Building – there has been a remarkable conversion by the left from cop haters to cop sympathizers.
Republicans have been quite consistent on that issue. We have condemned the political violence that has resulted in the injury of hundreds of police officers – and the deaths of several — in scores of insurrectionist riots that have marred our cities and brought destruction, death and despair to so many folks – especially those trapped in the segregated cities run by Democrat political machines. We have condemned the rioters on Capitol Hill as well.
Democrats and their media mouthpieces on the left were not so consistently condemnatory. No. No. No. In fact, they were apologists for the arsonists, looters and vandals in all those urban riots. AND … they condemned police presence and action in almost every instance.
According to the left, the police were the provocateurs. Police were using tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bombs against people who were merely venting their justified frustration by attacking police with rocks, urine, fireworks, bats and … yes … guns and knives. Frankly, I am amazed at how restrained police have been when confronted with threats to life and limb. In such situations, police are allowed to use deadly force.
The fact that they have not may be the reason we have had so many destructive and deadly riots with arson, looting and vandalism as the mainstays. Let me make it perfectly clear. I am not proposing the use of undue force against peaceful protestors – or even low-level law-breaking, such as blocking traffic or violating curfews. I am talking about activities that threaten the lives of police AND the innocent citizens they are sworn to protect. I am talking about activities that destroy people’s homes and businesses.
Those left-wing mobs were motivated by more than the Democrats’ and the media’s obvious lack of sincere condemnation. The mobs were too often applauded for taking to the streets. Media personalities, like MSNBC’s Ali Velshi, described protests as “mostly peaceful” even as buildings could be seen on camera being looted and burned.
Now that rioters descended on the turf of the privileged Washington establishment, the left is clamoring for law and order – swift and certain justice. They now want excessive protection by the National Guard – the same military force they wanted to kick out of every city were rioters ran amok.
Republicans and conservatives have universally condemned the rioters on Capitol Hill – and the rioters who wreaked havoc on innocent people in the communities. Both need to be addressed with the full force of the law. That means prosecution, conviction and incarceration where their crimes are proven in a court of law. We should not apply the law differently based on the political claims of the rioters.
But the radical left-wing is predicated on this type of hypocrisy. Attacking police – and destroying neighborhoods – is okay if the mobs reflect a left-wing perspective. The left is consistent in its hypocrisy. They do not want police – such as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – to enforce immigration laws even against the criminal class.
Even as Democrats and the media condemn the attacks on Capitol Hill police – as they should – they continue their campaign to defund police departments and push for reforms that reduce police enforcement capabilities. We see the result of those policies in Democrat-run cities where crime rates are soaring.
You might think that the one thing upon which we could all be united is the need to fight crime of all sorts – and not see it through a political lens as do the Democrats and the left-wing media.
So, there ‘tis.