Our duty to confront political violence in America
by Rep. Abe Hamadeh · The Washington TimesOPINION:
On Saturday, the unthinkable happened again.
Another attempt was made on the life of President Trump, this time at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, an event I was attending along with Cabinet members and many of my colleagues in the House and Senate.
Let that sink in: An event meant to celebrate the First Amendment and a free press became the setting for political violence targeting the president of the United States.
This was not the first time. It was not even the second.
Prior attempts were made in Butler, Pennsylvania, and in West Palm Beach, Florida. That’s three attempts in total.
At what point do we stop pretending this is normal? At what point do we confront the truth that a toxic political and media environment is fueling this violence?
This week, with the support of my Republican colleagues, I am introducing a resolution in Congress to formally condemn these assassination attempts, express our gratitude to the brave law enforcement officers who responded and reaffirm our commitment to protecting the institutions that safeguard our republic.
Let me be clear: A resolution alone is not enough. We must address the root cause.
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For years, much of the corporate media have abandoned its responsibility to inform and instead chosen to inflame. Mr. Trump has faced relentless, dishonest and often dehumanizing coverage. He has been called a dictator, a tyrant, even a threat to democracy itself.
These are not just epithets. Words have consequences, as we have seen.
When you tell the American people, day after day, that a political opponent is an existential threat, you should not be surprised when unstable people act on that narrative.
This is not journalism; it is incitement by repetition.
Yet, despite this treatment, Mr. Trump has done something remarkable. He has given the press unprecedented access. He takes reporters’ calls. He answers their questions. He shows up.
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The same cannot be said for many Democrats, who are often shielded from scrutiny by the very outlets that claim to hold power accountable.
The men and women of the U.S. Secret Service, FBI and local law enforcement put their lives on the line to stop these attacks. They deserve our gratitude and full support. So does the Department of Homeland Security, whose mission is essential to protecting not just our leaders but also our ability to speak, assemble and participate in our democracy.
Still, the Democrats continue to play political games with Homeland Security Department funding. That’s not just irresponsible. It is also dangerous.
Let’s speak bluntly. If you undermine the very institutions tasked with protecting our constitutional rights, then you are putting those rights at risk. The First Amendment does not defend itself. It relies on stability, order and security.
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Our Founders understood that liberty requires both freedom and protection for a reason. As the saying goes, without the Second Amendment, the First Amendment is just a suggestion.
We are also witnessing the politicization of our legal system in ways that defy common sense. Democratic operatives and activist groups have gone so far as to sue to block the privately funded construction of a White House ballroom, a project that many of us view not as a luxury but as a necessary upgrade to modernize security and event infrastructure.
Consider that. At a time when threats against our leaders are escalating, they are trying to stop security improvements.
The American people deserve leaders who will unequivocally condemn political violence, regardless of the target. They deserve media that inform rather than inflame. They deserve a government that prioritizes their safety over politics.
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Republicans are standing firm. We will continue to defend the Constitution. We will protect the First Amendment. We will ensure that law enforcement and national security agencies have the resources they need to do their jobs.
We will not stay silent while a culture of reckless rhetoric puts lives at risk. Enough is enough.
• Rep. Abe Hamadeh represents Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.