Republicans Can’t Have It Both Ways
Republicans can’t condemn political violence while excusing the January 6 insurrection, worshiping Trump, and pardoning insurrectionists. Hypocrisy this deep isn’t just ugly, it’s dangerous.
LAKE GENEVA, WI - Republicans love to climb on their high horse about political violence. They point fingers at liberals, scream about “radical leftists,” and pretend they’re the guardians of law and order. But here’s the problem: you can’t wag your finger at Democrats one day and then kiss the ring of a man who incited an insurrection against the United States and then pardoned the people convicted of that violence. Sorry, folks — you can’t have it both ways.
January 6: The Insurrection They Pretend Wasn’t
Let’s not rewrite history. Donald Trump told a crowd to “fight like hell” and then sat back and watched as his supporters smashed windows, beat police officers, and hunted down lawmakers like they were prey. They stormed the Capitol with Confederate flags, bear spray, and gallows. That wasn’t “tourism.” That wasn’t “legitimate political discourse.” It was a violent insurrection against democracy itself.
Five people died. Hundreds were injured. Thousands were traumatized. And what did Republicans do? They downplayed it, excused it, or flat-out lied about it. Trump went even further — he handed out pardons to convicted insurrectionists like candy at a campaign rally. The “party of law and order” wants to unleash the very people who tried to overthrow the Constitution.
The Hypocrisy Olympics
Fast forward to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. A horrific act, no question. Violence should never be tolerated. But Republicans wasted no time weaponizing Kirk’s death, pointing their fingers at liberals, as if an entire political ideology pulled the trigger. Suddenly, they’re preaching about the dangers of political violence — as though they hadn’t been defending, minimizing, and even celebrating violence when it served their own agenda.
So which is it, Republicans? Is political violence unacceptable across the board, or is it only unacceptable when it happens to someone you like? Because right now, your message is clear: when it’s Trump’s mob, it’s patriotism. When it’s anyone else, it’s terrorism.
The Dangerous Double Standard
This hypocrisy isn’t just disgusting — it’s dangerous. By excusing January 6 and pardoning insurrectionists, Republicans have signaled to their base that violence is a legitimate political tool. But by condemning Kirk’s assassination with self-righteous fury, they’re admitting they know violence is wrong. They just don’t care when it benefits them.
You can’t have it both ways. Either political violence is unacceptable, no matter whose side it’s on — or you’re just lying to everyone, including yourselves.
My Take
Republicans don’t get to claim moral high ground when they’ve been wallowing in the muck. They don’t get to condemn political violence while worshiping a man who incited an insurrection, pardoned its foot soldiers, and promises to unleash it again. And they sure as hell don’t get to point their bloody fingers at liberals while their own hands are still stained from January 6.
If you want to stop political violence, start by cleaning up your own mess. Until then, sit down, shut up, and spare us the lectures.
New on *Don’t Blink!*: *Republicans Can’t Have It Both Ways*. They excuse the January 6 insurrection, worship Trump, and pardon insurrectionists — yet point their fingers at liberals after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Read my no-holds-barred takedown of Republican hypocrisy on political violence.
