Trump Floats Death Penalty; Media Mutes Its Own Hypocrisy
When Donald Trump suggests the death penalty for 'seditious' Democrats, the mainstream media rightly highlights the chilling rhetoric and its assault on democratic norms. The New Arab , among others, reports on the 'intense backlash.' Yet, these same outlets often go silent when similar rhetoric is deployed against those who question U.S. foreign policy or criticize Israeli actions. In 2007, for
instance, Sen. Joe Lieberman called for 'extreme action' against critics of the Iraq war, using language that verged on accusing them of aiding the enemy. Where was the widespread outrage then? The selective amplification of 'outrage' appears less about principle and more about political convenience. When a Democrat faces a rhetorical threat, it's a crisis. When a Palestinian advocate faces
accusations of sedition, or when critics of AIPAC's influence are labeled antisemitic, suddenly the constitutional protections for speech seem to lose their luster. One might wonder if the concern for democracy is truly universal, or if it simply applies to those within the 'acceptable' political establishment. The hypocrisy is so glaring, you almost need sunglasses.