Veteran Journalist Delivers Scathing Rebuke to Donald Trump for His ‘Second Amendment’ Call for Violence
One of America’s most beloved and respect journalists, a veteran of journalism when journalism was about facts not traffic, on Tuesday delivered a scathing takedown of Donald Trump and his “Second Amendment people” call to violence against his presidential campaign opponent, Hillary Clinton.
“No trying-to-be objective and fair journalist, no citizen who cares about the country and its future can ignore what Donald Trump said today,” Rather begins. “When he suggested that ‘The Second Amendment People’ can stop Hillary Clinton he crossed a line with dangerous potential.”
Rather calls Trump’s remarks “a new low and unprecedented in the history of American presidential politics.” He should know. He spent 43 years at CBSNews, and he’s been covering American politics for 66 years, since his first job as an AP reporter in 1950.
“This is no longer about policy, civility, decency or even temperament. This is a direct threat of violence against a political rival,” Rather continues, arguing the legal ramifications of Trump’s remarks. “It is not just against the norms of American politics, it raises a serious question of whether it is against the law. If any other citizen had said this about a Presidential candidate, would the Secret Service be investigating?”
Accusing the Republican nominee of “inciting violence,” Rather continues: “To anyone who still pretends this is a normal election of Republican against Democrat, history is watching. And I suspect its verdict will be harsh. Many have tried to do a side-shuffle and issue statements saying they strongly disagree with his rhetoric but still support the candidate. That is becoming woefully insufficient. The rhetoric is the candidate.”
His entire post, which he wrote on Facebook, is worth the read.
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