The Hatred of Democracy

The shooting of a member of Congress has started a discussion on the political tone in the United States. Extremists and madmen can also derive sustenance from a climate of unreasonable fury.

The murderer pushed his way through the meeting participants and shot Gabrielle Giffords in the head. He turned and continued to fire his pistol. Congresswoman Giffords’ condition was still critical on Sunday, and six other people are dead.

The tragic event in Tuscon, Ariz., raises a number of questions in and about the United States. Attacks against politicians are serious, and American laws regarding weapons have once again shown themselves to be highly dangerous.

The offender is a 22-year-old who dropped out of college last winter when he was threatened with suspension if he didn’t agree to a mental health evaluation. But in most American states it is altogether too easy, even for obviously unstable persons, to acquire weapons. Arizona’s laws are among the most lax.

Supporters of an unrestricted right to bear weapons refer to a contentious passage in the Constitution. But the more firearms there are, the more people get shot. Finding support for more stringent rules is, however, difficult — not only among Republicans. Democrat Gabrielle Giffords is among those who have no desire to change current weapons regulations.

Among Americans themselves, a debate quickly arose about the political atmosphere in the country. The sheriff in Tuscon, also a Democrat, considers the recent year’s hate-filled rhetoric in the U.S. — and in particular Arizona — as partially to blame for the shooting drama. The state has also been in the center of a bitter fight on immigration policy.

The confused murderer has indeed referred to the country’s “brainwashing” of the people, but it is unclear if he had a political motive for his running amok. One ought to be skeptical when left-wing bloggers single out right-wing politicians as accessories to the crime.

However, it is clear that the U.S. is going through a political polarization that is impeding constructive solutions and widening the divide between antagonists. The economic crisis, combined with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, has contributed to the heightened atmosphere.

None of this is completely new, however. The Republicans’ impeachment of Bill Clinton was not a pretty sight, and George Bush endured years of insults from the Democrats. As more and more moderate representatives of both parties have been voted out in the primaries, the political distance in Washington has increased. The populist tea party movement’s emergence has reinforced the trend.

Sarah Palin, vice-presidential candidate in 2008 and tea party activists’ uncrowned queen, has had on her website a U.S. map where 20 Democrats have been identified as desirable for removal since they had voted for Barack Obama’s health care reform. They were marked with drawn-on crosshairs of a gun scope. She has also twittered to her followers, “Don’t retreat, instead — RELOAD!”

Obama is also a target for mudslinging. Rush Limbaugh, the influential radio talk show host, calls him Imam Hussein Obama (Hussein is Obama’s middle name). Newt Gingrich, a potential Republican presidential candidate, says that Obama’s foreign policy is a result of a “Kenyan, anti-colonial” mindset.

With such tones, politics becomes mud wrestling. But in a climate of unreasonable rage, extremists and madmen can also derive sustenance. Hatred of Palme was a reality in Sweden, regardless of why Palme was murdered.

Assassination attempts and threats against elected officials are the ultimate violation of the right to choose representatives in free elections. Whoever attacks a politician by force is an enemy of all who stand for democracy.