Outrage After DCCC Staffer Warned Candidates to Not ‘Politicize’ Shooting but Send ‘Thoughts/Prayers’
‘Any Message Today Should Be on Offering Thoughts/Prayers for Victims and Their Families’
Outrage is growing after a HuffPost article Tuesday revealed a staffer for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) had emailed congressional Democrats the day after the Las Vegas shooting warning them to not politicize the tragedy by talking about gun control and solutions to gun violence, but rather to send thoughts and prayers.
“You and your candidate will be understandably outraged and upset, as will your community. However, DO NOT POLITICIZE IT TODAY,†DCCC regional press secretary Evan Lukaske wrote the morning of Monday, October 2 to House candidates and their staffs in the Northeast.
“There will be time for politics and policy discussion, but any message today should be on offering thoughts/prayers for victims and their families, and thanking 1st responders who saved lives.â€
Lukaske’s email also cautioned candidates to tweet as little as possible.
The DCCC exists to help elect Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.
It was the nation’s worst mass shooting in modern history. 58 people were killed and 851 were wounded.
Just one month later at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, another horrific mass shooting would occur, leaving 26 people dead.Â
Many on social media regularly attack Republicans after every mass shooting for tweeting “thoughts and prayers,” while others remind followers just how much money the NRA has donated to their campaigns.
Fortunately, many Democratic lawmakers ignored the DCCC’s advice.Â
“It’s time for Congress to get off its ass and do something,” Connecticut Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Murphy said the same day as Lukaske’s email.
Fellow Connecticut Democratic lawmaker, U.S. Congressman Jim Himes responded to the shooting with this tweet:
A message to my colleagues today. pic.twitter.com/mWUn77rw30
— Jim Himes (@jahimes) October 2, 2017
After HuffPost’s article, many took to social media to express outrage:
Dear Evan @lukaske,
Go to hell for sending out this memo instructing Democrats not to voice what we went them to Washington to do.— crft (@keraz37) February 27, 2018
With Democrats like @dccc regional press secretary Evan @Lukaske, who needs Republicans? https://t.co/JiFTiLxJH8
— Matunos (@matunos) February 27, 2018
The @dccc has to be run by the most spineless bunch of weaklings ever. Most of the world mocks “thoughts and prayers†as an appropriate response to gun violence and these morons think “hey, let’s do that!†https://t.co/KHxdS7rahs
— Jeffrey Royer (@JeffreyRoyer) February 27, 2018
Offering thoughts that the @DCCC is a bunch of morons and prayers that they stop being such cowards. #standforsomething #neveragain https://t.co/jluEebpI4s via @HuffPostPol
— Scott Slater (@slaterama) February 27, 2018
Shameful. Hopefully @dccc is now woke to the fact that “thoughts/prayers” will no longer be tolerated. Either @ChairmanDCCC @repbenraylujan provides that leadership or resigns. #NeverAgain https://t.co/P4IfXD1CDA
— Save the web rant (@web_rant) February 27, 2018
At least after Parkland the DCCC appears to have gotten the message:
-When Rs want to give billionaires tax breaks, they pass laws
-When Rs want to let companies pollute our air & water, they pass laws
-When Rs want to restrict women’s rights, they pass lawsBut when kids are killed, they send thoughts & prayers. It’s unacceptable. #GunReformNow pic.twitter.com/VghIKlZdeh
— DCCC (@dccc) February 22, 2018
Â
Â
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.