The only human reaction to Charlie Kirk’s murder can be horror. Followed by the dread of what’s next.
The response over the past 72 hours feels sadly predictable. Donald Trump immediately blamed the “radical left” and vowed to “find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country.”
The martyrdom of Kirk promises to take us well beyond the bloody ear. Though Kirk is lauded as a defender of the First Amendment, a chill has already fallen across the land as we watch many pay the price for their “inappropriate” reactions to his murder. See “Matthew Dowd’s firing begins flood of people facing consequences for their comments on Kirk’s death” (Associated Press).
“Flood of people facing consequences for comments” is an understatement in the broader context of this moment. Universities, cultural institutions, government agencies, charitable organizations, law firms, corporations, and private citizens self-censoring as they watch others falling left and right for speaking their beliefs.
According to Trump and his followers, the left is driving political violence with chants of “fascist” and “Nazi.” “Violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree,” Trump says. Is it not demonization to call your political opponents “vermin,” “scum,” “animals,” “savages,” “thugs,” “lunatics,” “the enemy within,” “not human?” What about the violent attack on the Capitol and the pardon of violent convicted criminals? What about the violent roundup of suspected immigrants, the military in the streets, the Department of War, the obsession with “lethality?” See “Donald Trump is lying about political violence” (Vox.com).
Don Jr. wrote a book and hosts a podcast called “Triggered.” He urges conservatives to “own the liberals,” to “trigger” and mock them for their political correctness. Cruelty as sport, “Make Liberals Cry Again.” Is it any wonder that our political culture has turned so dark in the wake of MAGA?
Combine all of this toxic rhetoric and hyped emotion with collapsing mental health services and easily accessible weapons of war in every community, and we have the perfect storm. Watching the evening news on the day of the murder, it was hard to process the image of a young mother with her children, one of them recounting the horror of witnessing the bloodletting from just feet away, clearly traumatized, with the mom wearing this tee shirt:
What we know is that Donald Trump is uniquely ill-equipped to lead us out of this moment. He fans the flames daily. Our President chose to go on Fox & Friends yesterday morning to announce the capture of Kirk’s alleged killer. He was asked, “How do we fix this country? How do we come back together?” His answer: “I couldn’t care less . . . . The radicals on the left are the problem – and they are vicious and horrible and politically savvy. They want men in women’s sports, they want transgender for everyone, they want open borders.”
The Republican Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, gave us a glimpse of more human and responsible leadership, emotionally urging us to “disagree better.”
What about Mike Lawler? Yes, he posted the expected tribute to Kirk, sympathy for his family, and the statement: “Political violence has no place in America. We must stand united against hate and ensure justice is served.” Then he posted this:
Amen from Mike to a message that Democrats should call out the fascist/Nazi labels as false, and that we need to differentiate between anger and hate in politics. “Anger is a good force in politics.” No acknowledgement of the labels flowing from Donald Trump that are false and hateful. This doesn’t feel like a unifying message. Nor did Lawler’s post on the very same day to his opponent in NY-17: “You are truly repugnant.”
Lawler, like Trump, is uniquely ill-equipped to tone things down. He is a pugilist who instinctively escalates. The sophomoric name-calling is constant: NY’s Governor is “sociopathic,” Schumer “bat shit insane,” Cuomo’s an “asshole,” Tim Walz a “limp-wristed hand-wringer,” Representative Daniel Goldman “a multi-millionaire trust fund baby, whose biggest accomplishment in life is being part of the lucky sperm club,” and all Democrats are “radical far-left.”
Where was Lawler on Thursday night? In the luxury box with Donald at the Yankees game. Yes, to formally commemorate 9/11, but also to cozy up to his liege, without counsel or criticism.
Lawler is a triggering force. We are triggered enough, searching for leaders of wisdom and peace.
Peace be with Charlie Kirk’s family, and this fractured nation.
Rule of Lawler 