Bullets over Behavioral Sciences
by Chris Stevenson
We just witnessed the first Joe-Six-Pack assassination attempt of a public figure in America possibly steered by a hateful media-inspired political climate since the murder of Medgar Evers by Byron De La Beckwith. The despicable shootings of Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), the 9-year-old girl Christina Taylor Green, District Court Judge John Roll and 17 others by Jared Lee Loughner may in the long run become a pivotal moment in American history, but right now it's not speaking volumes on the positive side for this country.
Many are pointing to conservative talk radio and soundbite-addict Sarah Palin as being the prime wordsmith responsiblefor this. In truth, it's hard to ignore her given her public persona, even an idiot can influence people if you overexpose them. Palin seems to be just such the idiot. She has a hit list. My historical tie-in of Evers is no coincidence, no doubt right-wing radio was present in the old-south, but not like today. Politicians however were as shameless and base as ever. During the 2nd unsuccessful trial to convict Beckwith of the shooting, then-former Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett (essentially the George Wallace of MS) literally stood up to shake Beckwith's hand while Evers' widow Myrlie was testifying. I mention Barnett because because of his position as Governor, and racially outrageous behavior throughout his career. Unlike Alabama's Wallace, whose "segregation forever" platform was actually 'Segregation until the blacks get the vote,' Barnett stubbornly clinched to his wrong beliefs. By 1967 a more liberal climate had even affected his state enough to make him look like a dinosaur during the gubernatorial election and he came in 4th.
Some time after Barnett lost his bid for a comeback, he was quoted as saying: "Generally speaking I'd do the same things again." What would Barnet think of Gabrielle Giffords before and after her shooting? Giffords was even considered by some to be a centrist (centrist to conservatives is still Liberal). Even more-so, what would Barnett think of President Barack Obama? This brings us back to another former Governor of note; Sarah Palin, apparently just as stubborn and stupid as Barnett. Palin is on of those who uses the "political climate" excuse whenever she says something politically or racially objectionable. She is in no better position to use it than Barnett was, and he didn't. A 3/28 letter by her is being circulated on Facebook where she starts off talking about March Madness (the NCAA college basketball playoffs) and compares the Final Four to the then-upcoming midterm elections. Militant connotations and buzz terms like "set your sights," "Targets," "shot across the bow," "the enemies crosshairs," "you must execute strong defensive tactics," and "never retreat, instead RELOAD," are in ample supply.
A chart from her "Sarah PAC" website displays a US map where Giffords was targeted as one of 20 "let's take back the 20 together" House Democrats who voted for the health care bill. This is considered by more than a few to be a "hit list," the question is were those words suggestive enough to sway a man like Loughner? For one thing that depends on what he is; a Me-Insurgent (simply a narcissist gone too far), mentally troubled, or a patsy. They say he was a little off, the type of guy who would tell you two-plus-two equals five andget mad at you if you didn't believe him. In truth we all know people like that, but what made him wake up and decide on the morning of 1/8/11 at 10:10 MST that he was going to kill? There's the Manchurian Candidate angle already online where Loughner is supposed to be the latest dupe of MK-ULTRA mind control by the secret society known as the Illuminati due to they're being upset with her over a bill signed some time ago which cracked down on drug cartels from nearby Mexico. Drug cartels unequivocally operate under the control or permission of a secret society due just their success in importing illegal narcotics into the US without hinder for decades.
It was the 22-year-old Loughner who was quoted on Youtube as saying he wasn't going to pay debt with a currency not backed by gold or silver, according to Cagle Newscolumnist Tina Dupuy, 15 minutes after the news of the Tucson shooting broke, Sarah Palin tweeted "the price of gold today is at $1,368.90 an ounce." Giffords republican opponent Jesse Kelly also had an ad that read "get on target for victory in November/Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office/shoot a fully automatic M-16 with Jesse Kelly." Now I know conservatives will never own up to playing any role in this tragedy no matter what some of them previously said. Since Reagan, inflammatory language is as natural to them as NASCAR is to North Carolina.
Chris Stevenson is a syndicated columnist, his articles also appear in Political Affairs Magazine and the buffalo bullet. Follow him on Twitter, Btweetz.com, blackcommentator and facebook. Respond to him on comment section below.
