WASHINGTON — Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said Saturday that his controversial comments about the Aurora, Colo., shootings were “grossly taken out of context” and apologized to those whom he may have offended…. Gohmert raised some eyebrows when, hours after a gunman shot dozens of people in a movie theater early Friday, he suggested to radio show host Ernie Istook that the attack was a result of “ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs.” Gohmert also wondered aloud why nobody else in the theater had a gun to take down the shooter.
I have no quarrel with the idea of a politician walking back something that was said in error. People are human; they get their facts wrong, they misspeak, they have bad days, their mouth is put in gear prior to their brain engaging. Stuff happens, right? We’ve all been there, so I can understand the need to correct oneself on occasion.
When you say something as ignorant, insensitive, self-righteous, and mean-spirited as Rep Louie Gohmert (R-TX) did after the massacre in Aurora, CO…no, you DON’T get to walk back those words and the sentiments behind them. You planted the seeds of hatred and divisiveness; you don’t simply get to declare, “OOPS! My bad….” and walk away after the damage has already been done.
Gohmert, the Dumbest Member of Congress © (quite the (dis)honor, given the formidable competition he faces on Capitol Hill), came out after the massacre and announced that tragedy in Aurora was a result of “ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs.”. Making matters worse is that Gohmert, as a Congressman, should know better than to pour salt in wounds and inflame passions after an epic tragedy like Aurora. It’s classic “dog whistle” politics: use code words designed to speak to the prejudices of a specific group, then apologize and act as if it’s all good. You’ve planted the seed, and apologizing makes you look as if you recognized that you made a mistake and are exercising exactly the right amount of contrition and remorse. It’s total BS, but it got Gohmert’s message to his rabid, Evangelical supporters who are impervious to anything resembling facts or reason.
Louie Gohmert said exactly what he meant to say in exactly the way he meant to say it. Nothing was taken “grossly out of context,” except perhaps in his own fevered imagination. He should be ashamed…but that presumes he recognizes and understands the concept of shame. Seems unlikely, no? The sad thing is that the people who should be holding him accountable- his constituents- are the ones who keep sending him back to Congress…but that’s east Texas for you.
I understand that free speech can be, and often is, offensive and surpassingly hateful speech…but you should be able to expect better from an elected representative of the Sheeple. Right??
