Political ‘venom’ not new, but taken to new levels

Doug Thompson (April 22) is right that political venom is not new, but the Democrats and the left have brought the rhetoric to a new level.

Today’s attacks on our president are not just political venom but hateful, violent threats against our democracy. Imagine a college professor supporting the assassination of a U.S. president. Imagine protestors on college campuses and in the streets physically attacking those who they disagree with to shut down speech. All of this is happening today. Kind of reminds me of other dark days in history.

The hatred toward President Trump has not subsided in his first few months at the White House. Many in the media, in Hollywood and on college campuses assault him and his family daily. Violent, hate-filled protesters accuse Trump of hate while spewing out their own hateful messages against him. Much of the news media has joined the war against Trump and, yes, I do see examples of fake news. The defense against fake news is not as simple as Mr. Thompson says, when its sources are mainstream organizations reaching millions.

Snowflake professors, instead of teaching students the value of democracy, join in juvenile attacks against those with differing opinions. A Fresno college professor calls for President Trump to be hanged and calls for support of a monument to the president’s assassin. A professor at the University of Alaska displays a painting depicting Captain America holding President Trump’s severed head. I think we have come a little further than simple political venom, don’t you?

The great pretenders in Hollywood really believe they speak for today’s American families. Those living in mansions and chauffeured around in limousines think they know what is right for the common man. The media supports them when it does not take them to task for their hate speech.

Those in Congress are in the fight for their lives as they battle to hold onto power and America’s purse strings. Both sides of the aisle worry that this administration might really drain the swamp. Although I hope the administration is successful, poking and prodding the swamp creatures to do the right thing is proving to be a risky business. Some of the creatures feel cornered and will bear their teeth, putting up a violent fight. The next four years is going to be a constant battle in Washington. I hope President Trump and his team remain strong and they win many of those battles against politics as usual.

Yes, Mr. Thompson, campaign rhetoric often becomes venomous but the campaign is over and the hatred and threats from the left need to be called out as unacceptable. Supported by many in the media, left wing fanatics have called for impeachment, bombing the White House and even assassination. These shocking threats are seldom called out, even by your newspaper. It appears the venom has created a monster many are afraid to deal with. DALE LANGE Bella Vista