HALT:HaltingArkansasLiberalswithTruth.com
Series: Is Rightwing Rhetoric encouraging Violence? Part 3
Bill O’Reilly on the left-incited politicization of the tragic shooting of Rep Gabrielle Giffords.
In my last post in this series I stated,” I just wish that Gene Lyons, Max Brantley, Pat Lynch, Ernest Dumas, John Brummett and every other liberal would come out and condemn the liberals who have accused the conservatives of rhetoric that has encouraged the tragedy in Arizona. There is no connection at all between Jared Loughner and the conservatives. In fact, his favorite books include “The Communist Manifesto.” Then how could have the conservatives been guilty of encouraging this act of violence by Loughner?
This was written partly because I read the liberal NY Times columnist Paul Krugman’s comments through a link from the Arkansas Times on Jan 8th. Krugman asserted:
A Democratic Congresswoman has been shot in the head; another dozen were also shot.
We don’t have proof yet that this was political, but the odds are that it was. She’s been the target of violence before…. Actually, it’s been scary for quite a while, in a way that already reminded many of us of the climate that preceded the Oklahoma City bombing.
You know that Republicans will yell about the evils of partisanship whenever anyone tries to make a connection between the rhetoric of Beck, Limbaugh, etc. and the violence I fear we’re going to see in the months and years ahead. But violent acts are what happen when you create a climate of hate.
In the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Paul Krugman’s latest article “The Climate of Hate,” January 14, 2011 appears. In it Krugman asserts, “Where’s that toxic rhetoric coming from? Let’s not make a false pretense of balance: It’s coming, overwhelmingly, from the right.”
John Brummett in his January 11, 2011 article wrote these words:
Some liberals want to blame Sarah Palin for having tweeted during last year’s campaign that conservatives need not retreat, but reload. They want to blame her for linking that little gem to a map showing districts of Democratic House members who voted for health care reform and who were therefore “targeted.” This target was presented in the form of cross-hairs that were placed on the map to indicate the location of these Democrats’ districts.
Outrageous as that was, no fair-minded person can argue seriously that Palin was encouraging anyone to go shoot any of these Democratic House members.
He went on to quote a leading Republican political consultant who said, “For those who are politicizing this..U should be ashamed.” Brummett agreed. Then Brummett noted:
A lunatic gunman’s actions cannot be blamed on any reasonably sane or law-abiding person, even if that other person’s behavior well-represents the bad judgment and overheated rhetoric rampant in our modern political and pundit classes.
Nor can the lunatic’s actions even be blamed on the general culture of polarization, intolerance and rage created by this collective blather of contemporary blowhards.
Reasonable, responsible and essentially decent people can behold mindless political meanness and become frustrated by it, even to the point of engaging reciprocally in mindless political meanness. But they do not grab a pistol and shoot a member of Congress and anyone happening to be around her. Nor are they inviting anyone else to do that.
I want to say that there is at least one liberal in Arkansas that is willing to stand up against his own camp when he sees they have stepped over the line. I know what it feels like, because when I started writing on the subject of Unconfirmed Quotes of the Founders that I am afraid that my own conservative camp has been guilty of using more than the left, and as a result of my writings, I received lots of negative feedback from conservatives.
Truth sometimes steps on the toes of people in both camps. I am proud to say that I have offended some in my camp when I have confronted them with it. I wear it as a badge of honor.
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Today I am profiling St lawmaker Eddie Joe Williams.
From the Beginning
Eddie Joe Williams was born in Sheridan, Arkansas in 1954. He lived in Sheridan until he joined the United States Army in 1972.
While attending military training in Colorado, Eddie Joe met the love of his life, DeLona Rudy. The two have been happily married since 1973. After serving a tour in the Army, Eddie Joe returned to Sheridan to begin his career with the Union Pacific Railroad.
Over his thirty years with the railroad, Eddie Joe worked his way from a laborer to the Regional Director of Transportation, who manages the day to day operations of the Eastern division of the railroad, which spans from Chicago to Louisiana.
Political Career
Due to the extensive travel required by being a senior manager, Eddie Joe decided to retire from management and raise his family in Cabot; where he began his public service.
For 15 years, Eddie Joe has been serving his community, beginning with an appointment to the planning commission. After serving on the planning commission, Eddie Joe was elected to serve on the City Council three consecutive times. Currently, Eddie Joe is serving his last year as Mayor of Cabot.
Family
Eddie Joe and DeLona have raised four beautiful daughters and currently have seven grandchildren.
Their oldest is Bethany (“Buffy”) Hartz. Buffy is married to Justin Hartz and they have four children; Lane 12, Carson 8, Maggie 8, and Caleb 6.
The next daughter is Amanda (“Mandy”) Glover. She is married to Michael Glover and they have one son, Spencer 5.
Next in line is Tiffinie (“Tiff”) Taylor. Tiff is married to Josh Taylor and they have two sons; Lawson 3 and Hudson 2.
Last but not least is Hannah. Hannah is married to David Warren. Hannah and David do not have any children, but they have a wonderful dog named Winston.
Currently Eddie Joe’s greatest enjoyment is spending time with his grandchildren.
The Daily Hatch 