'She Counted Ballots In A Pandemic, And He Killed 2 People. Guess Who Gets Treated Like A Hero?'

[appalachiablue]

- Accused murderer Kyle Rittenhouse strolls the streets of Kenosha with a gun he shouldn't have.
_____________

- 'She counted ballots in a pandemic, and he killed two people. Guess who gets treated like a hero?' Daily Kos, Jan. 29, 2021. - Excerpts, Ed. -

Normal, decent people were outraged when Kyle Rittenhouse, the Kenosha killer charged with first-degree intentional homicide, was made into a right-wing celebrity. All of the videos we’ve seen of him are unpleasant, whether he’s shooting people, or punching a girl. Yet Tucker Carlson praised him. Failed actor Rick Schroeder put up hundreds of thousands of dollars to bail him out of jail. Alex Jones let Rittenhouse’s mother sell “Free Kyle” merchandise on his show.. There are plenty of heroes who have helped democracy and, I don’t believe, are getting their due. Last year, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was fired from the National Security Council for the crime of adhering to the law. His twin brother, Yevgeny, was also fired, in an act of pure petty retaliation.

Contrast their treatment with Oliver North, who was involved in the illegal sale of weapons to Iran. The right wing gave North his own platform to spew hate, financial backing to run a doomed Senate campaign, and eventually, leadership of the NRA.. As disgusting as these displays are, it’s a lot worse when we allow the right wing to force real heroes underground.. I saw Rittenhouse partying with a white supremacy group at a bar, while election workers in Georgia—who quite literally saved our democracy—are in hiding right now because their lives are threatened. Although I’m rightfully angry at the Republicans, I also am left to wonder where the progressive outreach and support are for our people.

.. The person who specifically inspired me to write this story is a woman named Ruby Freeman. I’d have loved to interview her, but I can’t get hold of her. No one can: she’s in hiding, along with her family.

Before November, Freeman sold handbags at an Atlanta mall kiosk. She was just one of hundreds of people in Georgia who, along with her daughter, answered the call to be an election worker, during an historic election taking place during a pandemic. Freeman worked late into the night counting ballots at an Atlanta vote counting center. Poll observers from both parties were present, and surveillance video covered the entire process. Very late on Nov. 3- Nov. 4, actually- election workers were told they could retire for the night. They packed uncounted ballots into secure, standard bins. However, word came down that they didn’t want all of the workers to leave just yet after all, so Freeman and others dragged the cases out to begin counting again.

.. Allies of Donald Trump selectively edited and distributed misleading clips of the surveillance video, to only show the election workers taking out the “suitcases,” claiming it was proof of election fraud. Those clips were featured on Hannity and other right-wing programs of ill repute. Over in QAnon-land, an elderly election worker was instantly transformed into a key global conspirator: It was Ruby Freeman who thwarted the election for Trump, the far right insisted.
.. I’ve only focused on two Georgia election workers who are currently in hiding, but there were thousands of such workers in every state, doing hard work for very little pay, exposed to hundreds, if not thousands of people in the middle of a pandemic. On top of that, they have had to contend with threats and harassment from brainwashed Trump cultists...

- Full article + comments,

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/1/29/2004219/-She-counted-ballots-in-a-pandemic-and-he-killed-two-people-Guess-who-gets-treated-like-a-hero

[onecaliberal]

1. These people need to be rounded up and put away.

Our society is endangered every moment they walk free.

[exboyfil]

2. This folks definitely should be talking to a lawyer

Whoever showed a manipulated video should be subject to a hefty lawsuit.

[flamin lib]

3. Uh, Ya' wanna' learn how to use that military inspired gun?

Enlist. Oh, that's right ya' can't 'cause you must be this tall to actually get on that ride . . .

[Marie Marie]

5. He only wants to use his gun if there is no one shooting back.

[paleotn]

7. Bingo.

[Blue Owl]

4. The right wing these days is a celebration of criminals

Message to the children: Crime Pays!

[BobTheSubgenius]

6. This is one of the worst stories I've heard in this entire realm.

And I've heard a lot. This is infuriating and sickening at the same time...without a scintilla of humour, which I can usually find in almost any story. Not in this one.

[dameatball]

8. Rittenhouse and his mom walking around loose only emboldened the 1/6 terrorists. If Trump skates

again it will only embolden "them" further.