Dubious words

New York Times columnist Ross Douthat on the Tucson shootings:

”But if overheated rhetoric and martial imagery really led inexorably to murder, then both parties would belong in the dock. (It took conservative bloggers about five minutes to come up with Democratic campaign materials that employed targets and crosshairs against Republican politicians.) When our politicians and media loudmouths act like fools and zealots, they should be held responsible for being fools and zealots. They shouldn’t be held responsible for the darkness that always waits to swallow up the unstable and the lost.”

I'm surprised at Douthat's tone deafness. He sets up a false equivalency when arguing that both parties engage in inflammatory rhetoric. The left is surely not innocent, but it is indisputable that the venom is coming mainly from the political right. Yes, conservative “politicians and media loudmouths” are not directly responsible for the actions of the demented among us. But they bear the burden for creating a toxic environment in which these unstable minds can flourish -- and potentially turn violent. Ignoring that fact is foolish and irresponsible.