The Peril of Escalating GOP Violence

Politics is supposed to prevent violence. Instead, it is promoting it.

The intimidation, mockery, and bullying that Donald Trump has forever practiced are now officially part of the character of the GOP. Sadly and dangerously, it may be working as effectively for the recent adoptees, as it does for the pioneer himself.

 As you probably know by now, the week past was marked by displays of toxic grade school nastiness. First came the bizarre let’s fight challenge Senator Markwayne Mullin issued to a witness at a public hearing. The Republican from Oklahoma got so agitated that he stood up, took off his jacket and wedding ring, and acted as if he was going to follow through on his bravado.

Unfazed by mainstream criticism, Mullin, a former mixed martial arts fighter,  later explained that every so often people “should be taught a lesson” by violent means. He falsely claimed Lincoln once challenged a critic to a sword fight, and he indicated his behavior was not worse than the brutal caning of anti-slavery Representative Charles Sumner of Massachusetts by pro-slavery Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina. Brooks still hit Sumner after he fell unconscious. Notably, the 1856 attack came to be linked to the start of the Civil War.

Last week’s other incident involved an elbow to the kidneys, that Representative Kevin McCarthy, of California, delivered to his Republican colleague Tim Burchett of Tennessee. Apparently, McCarthy was upset with Burchett’s support for a campaign to oust him as Speaker of the House. As he denied striking Burchett McCarthy offered the tough-guy explanation. “If I kidney punched someone, they would be on the ground.” Having been shouldered by McCarthy myself – twice, on the House floor – I believe Burchett (this incident is discussed in my new book, Renegade). Also, there’s audio evidence supporting him.

Given that America is more politically divided than it has been since the Civil War, and one poll found that 46 percent of people expect a second one, you’d think politicians would try to cool it. Instead, they are getting more aggressive in what they do and say. They do it for the same reasons Trump does – nastiness gets them attention, especially on right-wing media outlets like Fox News, and it becomes powerful material to use in their fundraising.  

One big danger in this trend is that perpetrators have to escalate their actions, or insults, in order to stay ahead of others in the race for press attention and campaign donations. For evidence, consider how Trump has moved from saying he would like to punch a lone protester at a rally (2016)  to promising to “round up” his political opponents and declaring to his followers, “I am your retribution.” (2023)

For years Trump’s rants were dismissed as innocuous rhetoric. Then came January 6 and the deadly attack on the Capitol by his followers who chanted, among other things, “Fight for Trump!” Responsible politicians should have learned, from that tragedy, that they can go too far when addressing a crowd, or setting an example with their behavior. Of course, this being the GOP age of Trump, some are joining him in the gutter.

Politics was invented to distill violence into arguments and compromise. Some have decided that violence, is more entertaining and effective. They make that decision at our nation’s peril.

(Aside: As mentioned my New York Times Bestselling book, Renegade, is available. Get a copy for the holidays!)