Partisan reaction adds to the terror

It has come to this. The United States comes under what can accurately be referred to as a terror attack, and the response from many on the Right is to allege partisan gamesmanship. And they call themselves patriots. A patriot doesn’t immediately turn the blame on their countrymen when fellow Americans are on the receiving ends of bombs. Not bomb threats – actual devices. Pipe bombs and other suspicious packages have been mailed to high-profile Democrats, including former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton (and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton), and Left-wing billionaire philanthropist George Soros. CNN was also forced to evacuate after receiving one such mailing.

‘‘It’s happening in October; there’s a reason for this,’’ speculated radio host Rush Limbaugh, offering his usual concoction of two parts bluster, no parts proof. ‘‘Is it a political stunt?’’ Right-wing water-carriers and Rush wannabes echoed the sentiments.

Think back to the political unity that followed the (admittedly far more grievous) 9/11 terrorist attacks or, more comparatively, the 2001 anthrax attacks. Had proponents of either political party sought to score political points in such an environment, they would have been ostracised. Today, in too many quarters, they are celebrated.

Such grandstanding is beyond partisan. It is unamerican.