Democrats blame ‘both sides’ for rash of political violence in America

Democrats pushed back Tuesday on complaints about political violence from the left, saying the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is the latest in a line of attacks that have claimed lives on all sides of the political divide.

While condemning the slaying of Mr. Kirk, Democrats said the issue is a broader level of intolerance that infects the discourse.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s from the right or the left. All of us have an obligation to fiercely advocate for our point of view. All of us have an obligation to respect people with whom we disagree,” Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont told colleagues.

“Last week’s killing of Mr. Kirk was also part of a broader trend of political violence in our country,” House Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Ted Lieu of California told reporters.

Democrats have faced calls to get their house in order after the slaying and, perhaps even more horrifying, the glee with which Mr. Kirk’s death was greeted in some liberal corners of the internet. The assassination was cheered as just deserts for a vocal supporter of President Trump and his MAGA policies.

Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill acknowledged a problem but insisted it goes well beyond their ranks.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Democrat, said the issue is the “all-purpose hater” who lashes out with violence at convenient targets on both sides.

She ticked off violence that has struck her state in recent months, including a targeted attack on state Democratic politicians and a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School.

Mr. Lieu pointed to attacks dating back to 2011 on Rep. Gabby Giffords, Arizona Democrat, and the bizarre hammer attack that grievously injured the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as assassination attempts last year against Mr. Trump and the 2017 attack on Republicans at a congressional baseball practice.

“While political disagreements are part of democracy, there are never, ever acceptable pretexts for harming others. Political violence is never acceptable,” Mr. Lieu said.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, Missouri Republican, said the glee that some on the left took in Mr. Kirk’s death was sick.

During a hearing with FBI Director Kash Patel, he said, “Don’t tell me it’s both sides. It didn’t happen in a vacuum.”

Mr. Schmitt ticked off a list of shootings and violence, including the left-wing attacker at the baseball practice, the assassination attempts on Mr. Trump, the shootings at Catholic and Christian schools, the killings outside the Israeli Embassy in May, and attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities.

“Don’t give me this ‘both sides.’ If we want to get to unity, be honest,” he said. “Free speech, yes, political violence no, but let’s be honest.”

Mr. Patel said the FBI has a new name for those behind the violence, shifting from “domestic violent extremism” to “nihilistic violent extremism.” He said that captures the “deep hatred of society” behind the attacks, regardless of political leanings.

The FBI has shown a significant increase in cases involving nihilistic violent extremism.

Mr. Patel said the bureau is trying to unwind the money fueling some of the violence, funding training or platforms that spread anti-society messages.

He pointedly said some of that funding is coming from overseas.

One note of agreement Tuesday on Capitol Hill was that social media is at the heart of the problem.

Ms. Klobuchar called for repealing part of the law that has traditionally protected social media companies from liability for what is posted on their platforms.

Mr. Patel said he supported that effort, as did several Republicans.

Since the death of Mr. Kirk last week, Democrats have been on the defensive, particularly over some of their younger voices who seem to find political violence an acceptable response to a message with which they disagree.

The accused assassin of Mr. Kirk, Tyler Robinson, is 22, and his family reportedly said he has leftist ideologies.

Robin Westman, 23, the Minneapolis gunman last month who shot 18 schoolchildren and three adults, killing two of the children before turning the gun on himself, wrote antisemitic rhetoric, anti-Christian sentiments and notes showing hostility toward Mr. Trump.

Cody Balmer, 38, the suspected arsonist who allegedly tried to kill Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family, firebombed the Democratic governor’s official residence because of “what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.”

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar of California said his party isn’t uniquely to blame.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a senior or a young person. I understand young people are more sensitive to the social media environment that they are in, and that is not helpful to the moment that we’re in, but it’s on all of us to condemn these acts of political terror.

“My position is unchanged. Everybody, no matter your political affiliation, has an obligation to denounce political violence. It has no place in our public discourse.”

A recent YouGov poll showed that 72% of Americans across the political spectrum said political violence is never justified.

Twenty-six percent of liberals younger than 45 and 12% of liberals 45 and older said political violence can sometimes be justified, 12% of moderates younger than 45 and 6% of moderates 45 and older said it’s sometimes justified, and 7% of young conservatives and 4% of older conservatives said it’s sometimes justified.

A YouGov snap poll taken two days later showed that 18% of liberals, 7% of conservatives and 6% of moderates responded that political violence is sometimes justified to achieve political goals.