Post by addisona on Feb 16, 2022 11:52:05 GMT
Commentary: Misinformation mongers defy logic on U.S. Capitol attack
Last week nervous Republican politicos censured two of their own for taking part in a U.S. House committee investigating an attempted overthrow of our government by a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Sadly, the Republican National Committee condemned Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., for doing their patriotic duty.
In part, the RNC resolution accused the two lawmakers of participating in a “Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens who engaged in legitimate political discourse.” The resolution defies logic for anyone who has seen the photos and videos of the Capitol insurrection and followed national news coverage of the attack’s aftermath.
What we are learning from the House committee investigation is that the insurrection and related plotting to overturn the election were hatched by allies of former President Donald Trump, encouraged by rhetoric from Trump and others, and carried out by Trump supporters who swallowed the lies that he was the victim of a stolen election. No doubt we will learn much more in coming weeks and months about who was involved and the nature of their involvement. No wonder the RNC is nervous.
The insurrection itself was anything but legitimate political discourse. Rioters caused millions of dollars in damage to the Capitol and injured 140 law enforcement officers. At least five people died in connection with the attack. Authorities have charged more than 760 persons with crimes to date. More than 170 already have pleaded guilty. Many of them said they stormed the Capitol at the behest of Trump because they believed his false allegations about election fraud.
Mounting evidence shows the insurrection was an insidious attack by a mob largely comprised of longtime Trump backers, including far-right militants, white supremacists, and conspiracy peddlers. No amount of truth twisting by right-wing misinformation mongers like Fox News will change those facts.
Early on, Trump and his supporters, including the far-right media, blamed anti-fascists, called antifa, for the riot. Then they found new targets in the FBI and the “deep state” of federal bureaucrats. They kept throwing lies against the wall of public opinion to see if any would stick. They used the lies to confuse and distract the public. Unfortunately, millions of people have fallen for those lies rather than accept the overwhelming evidence – and video footage – right before their eyes.
www.statesman.com/story/news/2022/02/10/opinion-misinformation-agents-distort-u-s-capitol-riot-narrative/6707264001/
Last week nervous Republican politicos censured two of their own for taking part in a U.S. House committee investigating an attempted overthrow of our government by a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Sadly, the Republican National Committee condemned Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., for doing their patriotic duty.
In part, the RNC resolution accused the two lawmakers of participating in a “Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens who engaged in legitimate political discourse.” The resolution defies logic for anyone who has seen the photos and videos of the Capitol insurrection and followed national news coverage of the attack’s aftermath.
What we are learning from the House committee investigation is that the insurrection and related plotting to overturn the election were hatched by allies of former President Donald Trump, encouraged by rhetoric from Trump and others, and carried out by Trump supporters who swallowed the lies that he was the victim of a stolen election. No doubt we will learn much more in coming weeks and months about who was involved and the nature of their involvement. No wonder the RNC is nervous.
The insurrection itself was anything but legitimate political discourse. Rioters caused millions of dollars in damage to the Capitol and injured 140 law enforcement officers. At least five people died in connection with the attack. Authorities have charged more than 760 persons with crimes to date. More than 170 already have pleaded guilty. Many of them said they stormed the Capitol at the behest of Trump because they believed his false allegations about election fraud.
Mounting evidence shows the insurrection was an insidious attack by a mob largely comprised of longtime Trump backers, including far-right militants, white supremacists, and conspiracy peddlers. No amount of truth twisting by right-wing misinformation mongers like Fox News will change those facts.
Early on, Trump and his supporters, including the far-right media, blamed anti-fascists, called antifa, for the riot. Then they found new targets in the FBI and the “deep state” of federal bureaucrats. They kept throwing lies against the wall of public opinion to see if any would stick. They used the lies to confuse and distract the public. Unfortunately, millions of people have fallen for those lies rather than accept the overwhelming evidence – and video footage – right before their eyes.
www.statesman.com/story/news/2022/02/10/opinion-misinformation-agents-distort-u-s-capitol-riot-narrative/6707264001/