Relax, Hardly Anyone On The Left Wants Censorship

Now it's time for the Right to start freaking out about events in Tucson. In particular, they are worried about new censorship:

These critics' aim is simply to exploit this horror as an opportunity to yell "shut up" at their political opponents.

It's been fun watching the FOX folks squirm on TV.

Nevertheless, most liberals don't want censorship either. Or some say they do, but would abandon it in an instant if even momentarily inconvenienced. What liberals do want is for conservatives to stop insinuating murder threats into their political campaigns. Such threats have become so common that people have become almost inured to them.

For an example, last year, Congresswoman Shultz's Republican opponent held a fundraiser at a shooting range where he fired at silhouettes with her initials on them. Stuff like that. Is that really necessary?

It is common courtesy, and common sense too, and sportsmanlike, not to menace one's political opponent even glancingly with threats of violence. Sarah Palin is taking heat now for having violated that point of common courtesy. Would it have so seriously affected her ability to campaign to avoid talk of 'reloading' last year, particularly after a week when so many other threats from the Right against Democratic candidates had been reported nationwide? Is her ability to speak freely so seriously impaired? Because of her poor judgment last year, she'll have to increase the number of her bodyguards now. Sarah Palin alone is to blame for that sad necessity.

Bill O'Reilly is saying liberals are lashing out now because the 'failure of the Far Left agenda'. If liberals lost their agenda, Bill, then why does the Right constantly need to use murder threats to maintain their supremacy?

It's also wise not to question the loyalty of one's opponents, because it leads directly to threats of violence. Politicians like Richard Nixon loved this approach, because debating skills can always fend off accusations of playing dirty, plus one gets the intimidation factor too, but it's still a bad idea. Indeed, here is this scary news story about the 2008 campaign from the Telegraph (UK):

The Republican vice presidential candidate attracted criticism for accusing Mr Obama of "palling around with terrorists", citing his association with the sixties radical William Ayers.

The attacks provoked a near lynch mob atmosphere at her rallies, with supporters yelling "terrorist" and "kill him" until the McCain campaign ordered her to tone down the rhetoric.

But it has now emerged that her demagogic tone may have unintentionally encouraged white supremacists to go even further.

The Secret Service warned the Obama family in mid October that they had seen a dramatic increase in the number of threats against the Democratic candidate, coinciding with Mrs Palin's attacks.

...Details of the spike in threats to Mr Obama come as a report last week by security and intelligence analysts Stratfor, warned that he is a high risk target for racist gunmen. It concluded: "Two plots to assassinate Obama were broken up during the campaign season, and several more remain under investigation. We would expect federal authorities to uncover many more plots to attack the president that have been hatched by white supremacist ideologues."

Irate John McCain aides, who blame Mrs Palin for losing the election, claim Mrs Palin took it upon herself to question Mr Obama's patriotism, before the line of attack had been cleared by Mr McCain.

Toning down the campaign rhetoric would help immensely in restoring public civility.

Regarding radio talk show hosts and the like, they should be increasingly wary too. They are prominent public people, and not nearly as obscure as they might sometimes think. Can the Right find the maturity to finally start disapproving of things they typically wink at, like Ann Coulter's oh-so-witty repartee:

My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building.

She is a clever one, ain't she! Cute as a button!

Myself, I'm pessimistic. The media incentives are all established to reward those who push the envelope the hardest and who display the least common sense.

So, surprise me....