There's been no shortage of shame from Democrats when it comes to the blame they toss around for Saturday's shooting in Buffalo, where 18-year-old Payton Gendron allegedly shot multiple people at a Tops Friendly Market in a predominantly Black neighborhood, killing 10. They've blamed Fox News' Tucker Carlson, as well as House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, and they've even blamed House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, despite how he himself has been a victim of a gunman targeting Republicans.
During a practice session that occurred on June 14, 2017 for the annual Congressional baseball game, Scalise and other Republican members and staff members were shot by James Hodgkinson, who was known to have a clear hatred for Republican members. He was also a fan of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.
The Buffalo shooter did not say a single thing about Tucker Carlson and wrote that he hated Fox News.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 15, 2022
By contrast, the congressional baseball shooter who almost killed Steve Scalise declared his love for Rachel Maddow in writings.
Did Rachel Maddow almost kill Scalise?
In what way did the left-wing freak out over everything contribute to other rampages?
— Ben Johnson (@TheRightsWriter) May 17, 2022
Please include:
- The Family Research Council;
- Steve Scalise;
- David Dorn; and
- Jessica Doty Whittaker
in your answer. https://t.co/4MYkierRld
On Monday, in the days following the shooting, Scalise was gaining attention and generating discussion on Twitter. Worse, those speaking out against him even dismissed whataboutism.
The only mentions republicans are making about the attack is whataboutism on the Steve Scalise shooting, which we ALL condemned, so still apples to oranges.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) May 16, 2022
Y'all are disgusting.
I don’t want to hear MAGA’s dumb whataboutism regarding Steve Scalise. Just stop. People are dead because white supremacists keep killing them with assault rifles.
— Ashley Loves Democracy ?????????????????? (@KuckelmanAshley) May 16, 2022
Nothing will ever change until the Republicans stop fetishizing their AR-15 killing machines. ????#FreshWords
Some even took the chance to double down on their craziness.
Beginning to think the Steve Scalise shooting was a false flag so the GOP can bring it up every time a white nationalist terrorist goes on a shooting bender. Way to take one for Foxmagastan team, Cleric Scalise.
— Foxmagastan Master-at-Arms (@MasteratArms200) May 16, 2022
Steve Scalise
— Ron Bruno (@RonBruno19) May 16, 2022
Is a white nationalist lying seditious participant in 1/6.
Steve Scalise is the danger. pic.twitter.com/p3xKeglHbh
Steve Scalise got second shot at life and chose to squander his lucky opportunity to be a better human being. Sometimes life proves 2nd chances are wasted on some people. #SorryNotSorry
— Charli Huxley (@ImKnotTheOne) May 15, 2022
Steve Scalise is trending. Did this dirtbag lie again about something?
— B mac (@mcpherson_k) May 16, 2022
A lesbian paramedic saved his life and he still came out as Anti-gay.
Never forget!
The mainstream media also jumped in on blaming Republicans for the tragedy over the weekend. There was, as was to be expected, a slew of opinion pieces for left-leaning outlets, but it also found its way into the reporting sections of outlets as well. This included Salon, NPR, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, the editorial board of The New York Times, and CNN. The Washington Post weighed in with numerous pieces with both its news reports and opinion pieces, as did The Guardian.
And, as Julio highlighted on Monday, "Vox Media Makes the Buffalo Shooting All About Them." Matt also did coverage on "What's Interesting About the Rolling Stone Reporter Who Says Buffalo Shooter Is a 'Mainstream Republican.'"
Writing for The Hill, Mike Lillis and Emily Brooks highlighted how "Democrats hit GOP over 'replacement theory.'" Brooks, along with Mychael Schnell also wrote for the outlet about how "House GOP leaders say white nationalism accusations are all politics."
Nevertheless, Scalise took it all in stride. "What happened in Buffalo is a tragedy, and it’s disgusting and sadly predictable that some Democrats immediately attempted to exploit the tragedy of others for their own political gain. I’ve experienced political violence firsthand, and I never blamed anyone but the shooter," he offered in a statement to Townhall. "Blaming an opposing political party for the actions of an evil, insane individual is disgraceful and irresponsible. We should be focused on praying for the victims and their families, bringing swift justice to the person directly responsible for the tragedy, and ratcheting down the heated political rhetoric."
But it wasn't merely random users or Democratic allies in the mainstream media. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) called out GOP leadership, tagging the party she still claims to belong to in her tweet.
The House GOP leadership has enabled white nationalism, white supremacy, and anti-semitism. History has taught us that what begins with words ends in far worse. @GOP leaders must renounce and reject these views and those who hold them.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) May 16, 2022
She even got retweeted by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who disgustingly tweeted incessantly blaming Republicans for the shooter's actions in Buffalo and in Laguna Woods from Sunday.
It looks like Cheney may have perhaps helped her primary opponent, Harriet Hageman, even more so with such a tweet.
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