These Republicans Aren't Sure What Motivated A White Guy To Kill 9 Black Churchgoers

[C_Clayton_Jones]

"More about Roof's beliefs and motives is likely to emerge later. But that's no reason to dance around what's already obvious, especially if you're doing so because reality doesn't fit your political agenda."

For many politicians on the right there's clearly a reason to dance around what's already obvious: an unwillingness to confront the issue of racism for fear it will conflict with most in the republican base, those conservatives hostile to issues that concern African-Americans, where an honest, open debate about racism will expose the flaws and failings of conservative dogma and the republican agenda concerning race.

Republican presidential candidates know that most white conservative republican voters don't perceive racism as an issue – these voters don't practice racism themselves, they don't see it in their daily lives, they don't want to talk about it, they don't want to hear about it, so for a republican candidate to broach the subject of racism is to jeopardize the votes he needs to win primaries.

And unfortunately for republicans, these statements will likely come back to haunt the GOP presidential nominee in November of 2016.

 

[Wildman]

It's called NaziCon rationalization.

you and your kind use libercommie logic.

 

[SassyIrishLass]

"More about Roof's beliefs and motives is likely to emerge later. But that's no reason to dance around what's already obvious, especially if you're doing so because reality doesn't fit your political agenda."

For many politicians on the right there's clearly a reason to dance around what's already obvious: an unwillingness to confront the issue of racism for fear it will conflict with most in the republican base, those conservatives hostile to issues that concern African-Americans, where an honest, open debate about racism will expose the flaws and failings of conservative dogma and the republican agenda concerning race.

Republican presidential candidates know that most white conservative republican voters don't perceive racism as an issue – these voters don't practice racism themselves, they don't see it in their daily lives, they don't want to talk about it, they don't want to hear about it, so for a republican candidate to broach the subject of racism is to jeopardize the votes he needs to win primaries.

And unfortunately for republicans, these statements will likely come back to haunt the GOP presidential nominee in November of 2016.

By Nov of 2016 this will be a distant memory. America has the attention span of a gnat.

 

[Wildman]

...you change the subject.

talk about changing the subject, that scumbag NewJerker brought up Martin Luther (N) King.

 

[Wildman]

...the only racist in America is Al Sharpton.

Jesse Jerkson is a racist also.

 

[Moonglow]

"More about Roof's beliefs and motives is likely to emerge later. But that's no reason to dance around what's already obvious, especially if you're doing so because reality doesn't fit your political agenda."

For many politicians on the right there's clearly a reason to dance around what's already obvious: an unwillingness to confront the issue of racism for fear it will conflict with most in the republican base, those conservatives hostile to issues that concern African-Americans, where an honest, open debate about racism will expose the flaws and failings of conservative dogma and the republican agenda concerning race.

Republican presidential candidates know that most white conservative republican voters don't perceive racism as an issue – these voters don't practice racism themselves, they don't see it in their daily lives, they don't want to talk about it, they don't want to hear about it, so for a republican candidate to broach the subject of racism is to jeopardize the votes he needs to win primaries.

And unfortunately for republicans, these statements will likely come back to haunt the GOP presidential nominee in November of 2016.

By Nov of 2016 this will be a distant memory. America has the attention span of a gnat.

Huh??

 

[Wildman]

So, all those white peckerwoods in the Old South were just misguided? The entire slave industry was just misguided?

you nailed it ! whenever your libercommie politicians fuck up they claim "MISGUIDED", e.g., Hitlery, B. O'Husseinbama, and every one of his former and current Admin.

 

[Wildman]

Good point - but different environment.

what/where is the difference ? because it was a spontaneous crime where the libercommie did not have it preplanned to riot as was Ferguson ?

 

[NYcarbineer]

...the only racist in America is Al Sharpton.

Jesse Jerkson is a racist also.

He's not shooting white people in church, like your rightwing pal did.

 

[NYcarbineer]

Jeb Bush has now decided to call it racism, apparently after he and his handlers assessed the political pluses and minuses.

 

[Skull Pilot]

A barbaric act like Wednesday's massacre of nine strangers by a white gunman at the historic black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, shocks the conscience and makes it uncomfortable to face the painful truth about what happened.

This may help explain why some Republicans steered clear of the issue of race on Thursday in remarks about the killings. The politicians, including some 2016 presidential candidates, offered condolences to the victims, but resisted ascribing racial motivations to the gunman, even as information about suspected killer Dylann Roof mounts.

A Facebook photo surfaced on Thursday showing Roof wearing a jacket adorned with two patches that have long been linked to white supremacy. Another photo showed him in front of a car with a "Confederate States of America" license plate. Former friends, acquaintancesand a roommate have described Roof's racist sentiments and desires tocommit racial violence. Most damningly, a survivor of the church massacre said Roof told his victims he had come "to shoot black people."

More about Roof's beliefs and motives is likely to emerge later. But that's no reason to dance around what's already obvious, especially if you're doing so because reality doesn't fit your political agenda.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a GOP presidential candidate, tied the shooting to a lack of faith among Americans during a speech Thursday at a Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington.

"What kind of person goes into church and shoots nine people? There’s a sickness in our country, there’s something terribly wrong, but it isn’t going to be fixed by your government. It’s people straying away, it’s people not understanding where salvation comes from."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), another 2016 presidential candidate, told CNNthat he saw the killings as an isolated act by a deranged individual.

"I just think he was one of these whacked out kids. I don't think it's anything broader than that. It's about a young man who is obviously twisted."

Jeb Bush, who recently threw his hat in the 2016 ring, fielded a question from The Huffington Post's Laura Bassett at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference and wasn't willing to state with certainty what has now already been confirmed about the shooter's motive.

"It was a horrific act and I don't know what the background of it is, but it was an act of hatred. ... Looks like to me it was [racially motivated], but we'll find out all the information. It's clear it was an act of raw hatred, for sure. Nine people lost their lives, and they were African-American. You can judge what it is."

Rick Santorum, also running for the White House, said hatred spurred the killings, and went on to suggest the motive may have been hatred of religion.

“You just can’t think that things like this can happen in America. It’s obviously a crime of hate. Again, we don’t know the rationale, but what other rationale could there be? ... This is one of those situations where you just have to take a step back and say we -- you know, you talk about the importance of prayer in this time and we’re now seeing assaults on our religious liberty we’ve never seen before. It’s a time for deeper reflection beyond this horrible situation.”

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), who is expected to announce plans for the 2016 presidential race soon, seemed uninterested in commenting on the shooter's possible motive during an interview with Fox News.

"Let's be honest, there's evil in the world. What you're seeing today, what we saw last night, that was evil. ... Law enforcement will figure out what his so-called motivations were. We shouldn't try to pretend we're going to understand his mind."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who is expected to run for president in 2016,addressed the situation in Charleston Thursday following a public event. He also chose not to speak about a motive for the crime.

"It's an awful tragedy anytime that somebody would walk in and participate in a prayer service for an hour and then get up and shoot the people you have been praying with? That's obviously a pretty depraved person. ... I understand that they believe they have the guy in custody and so let's let the criminal justice system work."

Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) told CNN that he didn't "have a clue" about Roof's potential connections to white supremacists or racist groups. Instead, he pointed to the supernatural.

"I don't know what was going through the kid's mind, but [it's] certainly the act of a deranged human being, and this level of malice I think is unfathomable in this community, in this nation. It is ... clearly the work of the devil."

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) released a statement late Wednesday, saying, "we'll never understand what motivates" people to commit such crimes. It was early, so perhaps she can be forgiven for not being willing to state the obvious. At a prayer vigil on Thursday, Haley focused on the community's efforts to heal, avoiding all mention of the shooter's motive.

These Republicans Aren t Sure What Motivated A White Guy To Kill 9 Black Churchgoers But It Wasn t Racism

Racism isn't a mental illness - it's an ignorant mindset. If the Charleston church massacre wasn't a racist hate crime - I don't know what is.

It doesn't matter what motivated him all that matters is he did it and should be executed for it

 

[Redfish]

then you don't support hate crime legislation? Glad to hear it.

No I support hate crime legislation because as you said I've said it before. Or...were you lying then? And folded like a cheese omelet when confronted with facts

OK, one more time. Why should the thoughts of the criminal make the crime more or less severe?

Admit it, you want to punish thoughts. You are the big brother that Orwell was writing about and you are Mooch in Atlas Shrugged.

Well, if you have lost the argument, I guess you can try deflection...lol.
Guess you really couldn't keep up.

I am keeping up just fine. But you are making a fool of yourself.. Why do you want the government to punish thoughts? Explain.

If we punished thoughts there would be a lot of liberals in jail today for what they "thought" about Bush. And a lot of conservatives for what they "thought" about obama.

We punish acts, we do not punish thoughts.

So in other words...you can't factually or legally dispute my posts.
If you aren't bright enough to comprehend the hate crime statutes, stop posting about them...

I understand the hate crime statutes. I just do not think they are needed or make any logical sense. Hate crime legislation is an attempt to control thoughts by punishing some and rewarding others. That is simply wrong in a free society.

 

[Redfish]

Jeb Bush has now decided to call it racism, apparently after he and his handlers assessed the political pluses and minuses.

of course it was racism. Now, would it be a lesser crime if the victims were all white?

 

[Redfish]

A barbaric act like Wednesday's massacre of nine strangers by a white gunman at the historic black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, shocks the conscience and makes it uncomfortable to face the painful truth about what happened.

This may help explain why some Republicans steered clear of the issue of race on Thursday in remarks about the killings. The politicians, including some 2016 presidential candidates, offered condolences to the victims, but resisted ascribing racial motivations to the gunman, even as information about suspected killer Dylann Roof mounts.

A Facebook photo surfaced on Thursday showing Roof wearing a jacket adorned with two patches that have long been linked to white supremacy. Another photo showed him in front of a car with a "Confederate States of America" license plate. Former friends, acquaintancesand a roommate have described Roof's racist sentiments and desires tocommit racial violence. Most damningly, a survivor of the church massacre said Roof told his victims he had come "to shoot black people."

More about Roof's beliefs and motives is likely to emerge later. But that's no reason to dance around what's already obvious, especially if you're doing so because reality doesn't fit your political agenda.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a GOP presidential candidate, tied the shooting to a lack of faith among Americans during a speech Thursday at a Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington.

"What kind of person goes into church and shoots nine people? There’s a sickness in our country, there’s something terribly wrong, but it isn’t going to be fixed by your government. It’s people straying away, it’s people not understanding where salvation comes from."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), another 2016 presidential candidate, told CNNthat he saw the killings as an isolated act by a deranged individual.

"I just think he was one of these whacked out kids. I don't think it's anything broader than that. It's about a young man who is obviously twisted."

Jeb Bush, who recently threw his hat in the 2016 ring, fielded a question from The Huffington Post's Laura Bassett at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference and wasn't willing to state with certainty what has now already been confirmed about the shooter's motive.

"It was a horrific act and I don't know what the background of it is, but it was an act of hatred. ... Looks like to me it was [racially motivated], but we'll find out all the information. It's clear it was an act of raw hatred, for sure. Nine people lost their lives, and they were African-American. You can judge what it is."

Rick Santorum, also running for the White House, said hatred spurred the killings, and went on to suggest the motive may have been hatred of religion.

“You just can’t think that things like this can happen in America. It’s obviously a crime of hate. Again, we don’t know the rationale, but what other rationale could there be? ... This is one of those situations where you just have to take a step back and say we -- you know, you talk about the importance of prayer in this time and we’re now seeing assaults on our religious liberty we’ve never seen before. It’s a time for deeper reflection beyond this horrible situation.”

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), who is expected to announce plans for the 2016 presidential race soon, seemed uninterested in commenting on the shooter's possible motive during an interview with Fox News.

"Let's be honest, there's evil in the world. What you're seeing today, what we saw last night, that was evil. ... Law enforcement will figure out what his so-called motivations were. We shouldn't try to pretend we're going to understand his mind."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who is expected to run for president in 2016,addressed the situation in Charleston Thursday following a public event. He also chose not to speak about a motive for the crime.

"It's an awful tragedy anytime that somebody would walk in and participate in a prayer service for an hour and then get up and shoot the people you have been praying with? That's obviously a pretty depraved person. ... I understand that they believe they have the guy in custody and so let's let the criminal justice system work."

Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) told CNN that he didn't "have a clue" about Roof's potential connections to white supremacists or racist groups. Instead, he pointed to the supernatural.

"I don't know what was going through the kid's mind, but [it's] certainly the act of a deranged human being, and this level of malice I think is unfathomable in this community, in this nation. It is ... clearly the work of the devil."

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) released a statement late Wednesday, saying, "we'll never understand what motivates" people to commit such crimes. It was early, so perhaps she can be forgiven for not being willing to state the obvious. At a prayer vigil on Thursday, Haley focused on the community's efforts to heal, avoiding all mention of the shooter's motive.

These Republicans Aren t Sure What Motivated A White Guy To Kill 9 Black Churchgoers But It Wasn t Racism

Racism isn't a mental illness - it's an ignorant mindset. If the Charleston church massacre wasn't a racist hate crime - I don't know what is.

Maybe republicans are reluctant to turn a tragedy into a political issue.

Race has been a political issue in the United States since the day the United States came into existence. There is no 'turning' a racist killing into a political issue. It's already there, from the moment it happens.

Yes, thats true. Whats also true is that the racist divide has gotten bigger under obama. His rhetoric has encouraged racism on both sides. He is doing the classic socialist tactic, divide and conquer. Alinsky and Marx taught him well

 

[Redfish]

A barbaric act like Wednesday's massacre of nine strangers by a white gunman at the historic black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, shocks the conscience and makes it uncomfortable to face the painful truth about what happened.

This may help explain why some Republicans steered clear of the issue of race on Thursday in remarks about the killings. The politicians, including some 2016 presidential candidates, offered condolences to the victims, but resisted ascribing racial motivations to the gunman, even as information about suspected killer Dylann Roof mounts.

A Facebook photo surfaced on Thursday showing Roof wearing a jacket adorned with two patches that have long been linked to white supremacy. Another photo showed him in front of a car with a "Confederate States of America" license plate. Former friends, acquaintancesand a roommate have described Roof's racist sentiments and desires tocommit racial violence. Most damningly, a survivor of the church massacre said Roof told his victims he had come "to shoot black people."

More about Roof's beliefs and motives is likely to emerge later. But that's no reason to dance around what's already obvious, especially if you're doing so because reality doesn't fit your political agenda.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a GOP presidential candidate, tied the shooting to a lack of faith among Americans during a speech Thursday at a Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington.

"What kind of person goes into church and shoots nine people? There’s a sickness in our country, there’s something terribly wrong, but it isn’t going to be fixed by your government. It’s people straying away, it’s people not understanding where salvation comes from."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), another 2016 presidential candidate, told CNNthat he saw the killings as an isolated act by a deranged individual.

"I just think he was one of these whacked out kids. I don't think it's anything broader than that. It's about a young man who is obviously twisted."

Jeb Bush, who recently threw his hat in the 2016 ring, fielded a question from The Huffington Post's Laura Bassett at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference and wasn't willing to state with certainty what has now already been confirmed about the shooter's motive.

"It was a horrific act and I don't know what the background of it is, but it was an act of hatred. ... Looks like to me it was [racially motivated], but we'll find out all the information. It's clear it was an act of raw hatred, for sure. Nine people lost their lives, and they were African-American. You can judge what it is."

Rick Santorum, also running for the White House, said hatred spurred the killings, and went on to suggest the motive may have been hatred of religion.

“You just can’t think that things like this can happen in America. It’s obviously a crime of hate. Again, we don’t know the rationale, but what other rationale could there be? ... This is one of those situations where you just have to take a step back and say we -- you know, you talk about the importance of prayer in this time and we’re now seeing assaults on our religious liberty we’ve never seen before. It’s a time for deeper reflection beyond this horrible situation.”

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), who is expected to announce plans for the 2016 presidential race soon, seemed uninterested in commenting on the shooter's possible motive during an interview with Fox News.

"Let's be honest, there's evil in the world. What you're seeing today, what we saw last night, that was evil. ... Law enforcement will figure out what his so-called motivations were. We shouldn't try to pretend we're going to understand his mind."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who is expected to run for president in 2016,addressed the situation in Charleston Thursday following a public event. He also chose not to speak about a motive for the crime.

"It's an awful tragedy anytime that somebody would walk in and participate in a prayer service for an hour and then get up and shoot the people you have been praying with? That's obviously a pretty depraved person. ... I understand that they believe they have the guy in custody and so let's let the criminal justice system work."

Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) told CNN that he didn't "have a clue" about Roof's potential connections to white supremacists or racist groups. Instead, he pointed to the supernatural.

"I don't know what was going through the kid's mind, but [it's] certainly the act of a deranged human being, and this level of malice I think is unfathomable in this community, in this nation. It is ... clearly the work of the devil."

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) released a statement late Wednesday, saying, "we'll never understand what motivates" people to commit such crimes. It was early, so perhaps she can be forgiven for not being willing to state the obvious. At a prayer vigil on Thursday, Haley focused on the community's efforts to heal, avoiding all mention of the shooter's motive.

These Republicans Aren t Sure What Motivated A White Guy To Kill 9 Black Churchgoers But It Wasn t Racism

Racism isn't a mental illness - it's an ignorant mindset. If the Charleston church massacre wasn't a racist hate crime - I don't know what is.

It doesn't matter what motivated him all that matters is he did it and should be executed for it

yes, and the execution should take place within 30 days, not 30 years.

 

[NYcarbineer]

A barbaric act like Wednesday's massacre of nine strangers by a white gunman at the historic black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, shocks the conscience and makes it uncomfortable to face the painful truth about what happened.

This may help explain why some Republicans steered clear of the issue of race on Thursday in remarks about the killings. The politicians, including some 2016 presidential candidates, offered condolences to the victims, but resisted ascribing racial motivations to the gunman, even as information about suspected killer Dylann Roof mounts.

A Facebook photo surfaced on Thursday showing Roof wearing a jacket adorned with two patches that have long been linked to white supremacy. Another photo showed him in front of a car with a "Confederate States of America" license plate. Former friends, acquaintancesand a roommate have described Roof's racist sentiments and desires tocommit racial violence. Most damningly, a survivor of the church massacre said Roof told his victims he had come "to shoot black people."

More about Roof's beliefs and motives is likely to emerge later. But that's no reason to dance around what's already obvious, especially if you're doing so because reality doesn't fit your political agenda.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a GOP presidential candidate, tied the shooting to a lack of faith among Americans during a speech Thursday at a Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington.

"What kind of person goes into church and shoots nine people? There’s a sickness in our country, there’s something terribly wrong, but it isn’t going to be fixed by your government. It’s people straying away, it’s people not understanding where salvation comes from."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), another 2016 presidential candidate, told CNNthat he saw the killings as an isolated act by a deranged individual.

"I just think he was one of these whacked out kids. I don't think it's anything broader than that. It's about a young man who is obviously twisted."

Jeb Bush, who recently threw his hat in the 2016 ring, fielded a question from The Huffington Post's Laura Bassett at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference and wasn't willing to state with certainty what has now already been confirmed about the shooter's motive.

"It was a horrific act and I don't know what the background of it is, but it was an act of hatred. ... Looks like to me it was [racially motivated], but we'll find out all the information. It's clear it was an act of raw hatred, for sure. Nine people lost their lives, and they were African-American. You can judge what it is."

Rick Santorum, also running for the White House, said hatred spurred the killings, and went on to suggest the motive may have been hatred of religion.

“You just can’t think that things like this can happen in America. It’s obviously a crime of hate. Again, we don’t know the rationale, but what other rationale could there be? ... This is one of those situations where you just have to take a step back and say we -- you know, you talk about the importance of prayer in this time and we’re now seeing assaults on our religious liberty we’ve never seen before. It’s a time for deeper reflection beyond this horrible situation.”

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), who is expected to announce plans for the 2016 presidential race soon, seemed uninterested in commenting on the shooter's possible motive during an interview with Fox News.

"Let's be honest, there's evil in the world. What you're seeing today, what we saw last night, that was evil. ... Law enforcement will figure out what his so-called motivations were. We shouldn't try to pretend we're going to understand his mind."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who is expected to run for president in 2016,addressed the situation in Charleston Thursday following a public event. He also chose not to speak about a motive for the crime.

"It's an awful tragedy anytime that somebody would walk in and participate in a prayer service for an hour and then get up and shoot the people you have been praying with? That's obviously a pretty depraved person. ... I understand that they believe they have the guy in custody and so let's let the criminal justice system work."

Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) told CNN that he didn't "have a clue" about Roof's potential connections to white supremacists or racist groups. Instead, he pointed to the supernatural.

"I don't know what was going through the kid's mind, but [it's] certainly the act of a deranged human being, and this level of malice I think is unfathomable in this community, in this nation. It is ... clearly the work of the devil."

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) released a statement late Wednesday, saying, "we'll never understand what motivates" people to commit such crimes. It was early, so perhaps she can be forgiven for not being willing to state the obvious. At a prayer vigil on Thursday, Haley focused on the community's efforts to heal, avoiding all mention of the shooter's motive.

These Republicans Aren t Sure What Motivated A White Guy To Kill 9 Black Churchgoers But It Wasn t Racism

Racism isn't a mental illness - it's an ignorant mindset. If the Charleston church massacre wasn't a racist hate crime - I don't know what is.

Maybe republicans are reluctant to turn a tragedy into a political issue.

Race has been a political issue in the United States since the day the United States came into existence. There is no 'turning' a racist killing into a political issue. It's already there, from the moment it happens.

Yes, thats true. Whats also true is that the racist divide has gotten bigger under obama. His rhetoric has encouraged racism on both sides. He is doing the classic socialist tactic, divide and conquer. Alinsky and Marx taught him well

He's done nothing of the sort.

 

[NYcarbineer]

Jeb Bush has now decided to call it racism, apparently after he and his handlers assessed the political pluses and minuses.

of course it was racism. Now, would it be a lesser crime if the victims were all white?

The guy didn't want to kill white people. If they were all white the crime wouldn't have happened.

 

[Skull Pilot]

Jeb Bush has now decided to call it racism, apparently after he and his handlers assessed the political pluses and minuses.

of course it was racism. Now, would it be a lesser crime if the victims were all white?

The guy didn't want to kill white people. If they were all white the crime wouldn't have happened.

So?

All that matters is 9 people are dead.

The killer should be executed forthwith

 

[NYcarbineer]

Jeb Bush has now decided to call it racism, apparently after he and his handlers assessed the political pluses and minuses.

of course it was racism. Now, would it be a lesser crime if the victims were all white?

The guy didn't want to kill white people. If they were all white the crime wouldn't have happened.

So?

All that matters is 9 people are dead.

The killer should be executed forthwith

When did we decide to stop caring why crimes are committed?

 

[Redfish]

Jeb Bush has now decided to call it racism, apparently after he and his handlers assessed the political pluses and minuses.

of course it was racism. Now, would it be a lesser crime if the victims were all white?

The guy didn't want to kill white people. If they were all white the crime wouldn't have happened.

How the fuck do you know that? Racism was not a factor in the colorado theatre shooting, or the shooting of the congresswoman in AZ.

I asked you whether it would be a lesser crime if the shooter and the victims were both white. (or both black)

The shooter murdered 9 innocent people, what the fuck difference does it matter why he did it? And why is it a worse crime if racism was the motive?