Don’t let America turn to political violence

Amid the continued degradation of our national discourse and the corrosive politics of demonization, we have hit a new low.

Violent rhetoric is being matched by acts of violence. And that’s terrifying.

Bombs were sent to former President Barack Obama, former presidential contender Hillary Clinton, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former CIA Director John Brennan at CNN, and billionaire philanthropist and Democratic donor George Soros, a target of House Republican Campaign Committee attack ads. This cannot continue.

It is tempting to make a direct connection to the inflammatory words and endorsements of violence by President Donald Trump, who has attacked verbally or on Twitter every one of the bomb recipients. But that connection might not turn out to be the case. What is certain is that he has created a climate in which we are not shocked that the president’s rhetoric could lead to this moment. That’s atrocious.

It might turn out that the bombs were the isolated work of one deranged individual, like the abominable shooting at a Republican congressional baseball team practice last year. That wouldn’t absolve anyone who has contributed to this tinderbox atmosphere. It certainly doesn’t excuse the atrocious conjecture Wednesday from the far right that the bombs were fake and the work of Democrats to create sympathy among voters in the upcoming midterms. “Fake news, fake bombs” signs turned up within hours at political rallies.

Trump said the right things in the White House on Wednesday afternoon. “In these times we have to unify,” he said, adding that political violence has no place in the United States. Now he has to show he means that, every day. No more vitriol at rallies. No more false accusations aimed at political opponents. No more celebrations of violence.

Words matter. And the consequences get scarier.