Cleaver: "The Hostility Is Here - People May Want To Deny It - It's Real, And If We Don't Stop It...

[Turborama]

Emanuel Cleaver On Giffords Shooting: 'We've Got To Watch What We Say' (VIDEO)
Ryan J. Reilly | January 9, 2011

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that politicians need to think about their rhetoric in the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and 19 others (including a federal judge) in Arizona, "or this darkness will never ever be overcome with light."

"The hostility is here -- people may want to deny it -- it's real, and if we don't stop it soon, I think this nation is going to be bitterly divided to the point where I fear for the future of our children," Cleaver said.

Cleaver was on a panel on the program along with Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID).

"We've got to watch what we say," Cleaver said. "Congress meets a lot, but it rarely comes together".

More, including embedded video: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/emanuel-cleaver-on-giffords-shooting-weve-got-to-watch-what-we-say-video.php

Full show can be watched here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/vp/40970615#VpFlash

Meet the Press also aired comments that former President Bill Clinton made on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing about the use of political rhetoric.

"What we learned from Oklahoma City is not that we should gag each other or that we should hold less passion for the positions we hold, but that our words really do matter. There is this vast echo chamber, and the words fall on the serious and delirious alike," Clinton warned. "Have at it. Go fight. Do whatever you want. You don't have to be nice. But be careful with what you say and do not advocate violence."

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/gallery/2011/01/across-the-nation-vigils-held-of-rep-gabrielle-giffords.php?img=1">TPM SLIDESHOW: Across the Nation, Vigils Held for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

[barbtries]

1. it really pisses me off a lot

that (to my knowledge anyway) not one republican has joined in this admonition. owned up to the destructiveness. it's like something else i read today: they've always done it and they always will. because it works. all they care about is keeping their place in the world, their power, their donors, their money. nothing else matters.

if one republican, one bad-ass right wing talk show host or demagogue would just fricking get slightly humble and own up to the truth. we as a nation could move toward healing. but instead it appears that they're all just putting on their bogus victim suits and crying foul when they are the source of what's really foul in this culture, this country.

really pisses me off a lot.

[Turborama]

4. It really pisses me off a lot, too

They're doing the exact opposite, in fact. As can be witnessed here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x542222

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. I have been saying it for well over eight years now.

They feel justified in their anger. And because of it the entire right-wing society is corrupted. The moral compass is way off. From shootings to breaches of fiduciary responsibility. It's all happening because they believe they have a right to these excesses.

[Supersedeas]

3. to the contrary, Boehner and Cantor made it clear that this will not stop their business as usual

As assholey as they want to be, just as soon as this dies down a little.