I had to check several sources before I wrote this one because empathetically it hurts to the core. Republican Senator John Thune (R-SD) blamed the victims of mass killer Stephen Paddock and future victims of mass killers for being shot or for their deaths.
MSNBC’s Hallie Jackson interviewed GOP Senator John Thune about the Las Vegas mass killing in the context of gun control. His answer was shocking.
Following is the transcript of exactly what he said.
It sounds like he used conversion kits and other things, you know, to make these weapons more lethal. Like I said – we’ll look at the facts when we get them all in here. I think that all of us want to do everything we can to prevent tragedies like that from happening again. You know – it’s an open society. And when somebody does what he wants to do – it’s going to be hard to prevent anything. But I think people are going to have to take steps in their own lives to take precautions. To protect themselves. And in situations like that, you know, try to stay safe. As somebody said – get small.
There is much of the Conservative Right Wing ideology packaged succinctly in that one paragraph.
- Deny or obfuscate the obvious: “It sounds like he used conversion kits and other things, you know, to make these weapons more lethal. Like I said – we’ll look at the facts when we get them all in here.” It does not help that many in the media are complicit in the obfuscation, along with a president that gives a semblance that he cares. This reality is now our normal. We all know who to blame already. BTW, this is no different than the style of the GOP lies about the ACA, supply-side economics, and much more.
- Provide an empty statement implying future progress: “I think that all of us want to do everything we can to prevent tragedies like that from happening again.” Just like with healthcare, education, environmental, social, racial, and criminal justice, the promises are always ignored and unfulfilled with backward progression.
- Selective laissez-faire/freedom: “You know – it’s an open society. And when somebody does what he wants to do – it’s going to be hard to prevent anything.” Of course, the freedom is extended only up to where it affects the plutocracy’s ability to continue their pilfer on the masses. (e.g., when a Texas town attempted local control of their natural resources their freedom, Texas State Republicans stripped their freedom.)
- You are on your own: “But I think people are going to have to take steps in their own lives to take precautions.” We cannot alter politicians’ freedom to fatten themselves with cash from the NRA and gun lobby that ensures no restrictions on their products. Of course the same applies to your healthcare. They give you the freedom to be on your own to die for the lack of the inability to afford health insurance.
- Blame the victim: “To protect themselves, and in situations like that, you know, try to stay safe. As somebody said – get small.“
Many said that Republicans like Roy Moore give the GOP a bad name and hurts the party. No, it is the ideology that damages the party. The loud, lewd, and boisterous Republicans are but the alter-ego of the polished Republicans. That short statement from John Thune says it all both literally and implicitly. Are there any questions about what the party has become?