Friday, June 19, 2015

HEY, JEB, EVEN BILL O'REILLY CALLED THE CHARLESTON SHOOTING RACIAL TERRORISM. WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

Jeb Bush's comments on the Charleston shooting are embarrassing:
"I don't know what was on the mind or the heart of the man who committed these atrocious crimes," Bush said in remarks at a Faith and Freedom Coalition summit in Washington. "But I do know what was in the heart of the victims."

Bush went on to meditate on the fact that the massacre -- which resulted in the deaths of nine African-Americans including South Carolina state Sen. Clementa Pinckney (D), pastor at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church -- took place in a house of worship.

"They were praying. They were learning and studying the word of the Lord," Bush said. "In times like these, in times of great of national mourning, people of faith, all of us must come together and at least reflect on this and fortify our strength and love of Christ, love of God to be able to continue to go forth."
Jeb's full statement is here. He didn't exactly say the victims were shot for praying, but he did essentially wave away the question of the shooter's motive.

The Huffington Post's Laura Bassett subsequently tried to drag Jeb, kicking and screaming, into the realm of reality, with partial success:
UPDATE, 6/19, 12:05 p.m. -- The Huffington Post asked Jeb Bush on Friday whether the shooting was racially motivated. "It was a horrific act and I don't know what the background of it is, but it was an act of hatred," Bush said.

Asked again whether the shooting was because of race, Bush added, "I don't know. Looks like to me it was, but we'll find out all the information. It's clear it was an act of raw hatred, for sure. Nine people lost their lives, and they were African-American. You can judge what it is."
I don't know what Jeb's problem is. Even Bill O'Reilly is willing to acknowledge that this was an act of racist violence. Hell, BillO even calls it terrorism:
"Apparently he is a longtime racist wearing anti-black patches on his clothing," O'Reilly stated. "Those who know him say he often made inappropriate statements about African-Americans."

"The Factor" host said the deadly shooting "was an act of terror."

"No different than what ISIS and Al Qaeda does targeting civilians because of who they are," O'Reilly stated. "In this case, skin color seems to be the motivator. This is not a tragedy. This is an execution designed to terrorize people just like the Boston Marathon bombing and the mass murder at Fort Hood, Texas."
Also on Fox, Geraldo Rivera said (at 7:42 in the clip here),
I think that this is not only a race mass murder, but this is also an act of domestic terrorism.
Jeb? Even Fox is now giving you permission to acknowledge the motive Dylann Roof has now openly acknowledged. What's holding you back?