No GOP Presidential Candidate Mentioned Planned Parenthood Terror Attack, But Shopping? A Big Deal.

Not a single Republican presidential candidate even acknowledged, much less denounced the domestic terrorism at Planned Parenthood today – at least on Twitter – but several did take time to ask supporters to go shopping. 

Three people, including a police officer, were shot and killed today during a five and a half hour shooting standoff between one man armed with a “long gun” and several propane tanks, and 123 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers. The man surrendered and was taken into custody. Many Americans talked about his act of domestic terrorism, and in addition to the people who were held by him and hiding in the Planned Parenthood clinic, many are now likely fearful of accessing the important health care and legal services Planned Parenthood provides.

“We don’t yet know the full circumstances and motives behind this criminal action, and we don’t yet know if Planned Parenthood was in fact the target of this attack,” Vicki Cowart, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, said in a statement, CNN reported.

“We share the concerns of many Americans that extremists are creating a poisonous environment that feeds domestic terrorism in this country. We will never back away from providing care in a safe, supportive environment that millions of people rely on and trust.”

Was it domestic terrorism?

“Domestic terrorism includes acts within the territorial U.S. that are dangerous to human life, violate federal or state criminal laws, have no actual connection to international terrorists, and appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence domestic government policy through intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of our government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping,” the U.S. Dept. Of Justice website states.

“Current domestic terrorism threats include animal rights extremists, eco-terrorists, anarchists, antigovernment extremists such as ‘sovereign citizens’ and unauthorized militias, Black separatists, White supremacists, anti-abortion extremists, and other unaffiliated disaffected Americans, including ‘lone wolfs.’ Domestic terrorism cases often involve firearms, arson or explosive offenses, crimes relating to fraud, and threats and hoaxes.”

Republicans for months have been engaged in a fact-less attack on Planned Parenthood, fed by the debunked and discredited videos that purport to “prove” Planned Parenthood is selling baby parts. They’re not, of course, but facts to the GOP are unimportant.

For months, Republican presidential candidates have used those videos and every other opportunity to weigh in on the women’s health care provider – except today, when one man committed a horrific act of domestic terrorism.

That – including the deaths of three innocent people – went wholly ignored by every single GOP presidential candidate.

What did the Republican presidential candidates talk about today instead?

Well, while the attack was still in progress, three sent out tweets asking supporters to go shopping.

Lindsey Graham wanted his supporters to go “shopping” for his free e-book:

Others sent out inane tweets.

This was from the Jeb Bush campaign, during the attack:

Marco Rubio also sent out this tweet attacking Obamacare:

Ted Cruz sent this out during the attack:

John Kasich posted this tweet about terrorism of a different kind:

Mike Huckabee promised to never apologize for America:

Donald Trump posted a tweet about his standing in the polls and several retweets from his supporters.

Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson, Rick Santorum, and Chris Christie haven’t tweeted since Thanksgiving.

So, what about the Democratic candidates?

Hillary Clinton posted this tweet of support, linking to a statement by the regional Planned Parenthood CEO:

Bernie Sanders posted tweets about crumbling infrastructure and working families – nothing about today’s attack.

And Martin O’Malley, hours before the attack on Planned Parenthood began, posted a tweet about shopping.

UPDATE:
Before the end of Friday, both Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley responded to the attack at Planned Parenthood:

 

Hat tip: Charles Clymer/Twitter