Earlier this month, after Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) voted to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, a package with white powder was sent to her house.
Conservatives immediately branded it as part of an out-of-control leftist mob terrorizing America.
Breaking:
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 15, 2018
Suspicious package sent to the great Senator Susan Collins house
All this because we courageously stood up to the mob and voted for Justice Kavanaugh
The left will attack, smear, threaten, and assault anyone they disagree with it
https://twitter.com/jbingley66/status/1051963567698792449
Yet another stellar display of "progressive" leftist democrat "tolerance," "open-mindedness," & "diversity."
— Michael J. Fell (@MichaelJFell) October 16, 2018
Report: Suspicious Letter Sent to Susan Collins’ Home, Hazmat Team Investigating https://t.co/FWAPJIhuPB
https://twitter.com/FactsNoHypeGirl/status/1051986322448179206
So today, when packages which contained potential explosive devices were intercepted on their way to Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama—coming on the heels of an explosive device planted outside the home of George Soros—it seems like the logical conclusion would be that it was the action of a far-righter spurred to violence.
Right? Nope. Not if you are on the far right, at least.
Instead of agreeing that potentially political violence is capable on both sides of the spectrum, the bombs instantly were branded as political stunts by ultra-conservatives.
https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods/status/1055091267649130496
Most of this country doesn’t believe this bomb threat hoax. #HillaryClinton #BarackObama
— 🇺🇸Southern Girl 🇺🇸 (@Southern__Girl) October 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/Artie5448/status/1055106036938481664
https://twitter.com/BrookeLyman6/status/1055098044914503681
Over on Reddit’s r/The_Donald, threads cropped up even calling it a Deep State plot.
https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/9qzuf2/now_hillary_and_obama_have_received_packages_that/
https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/9qzuu6/first_soros_then_hillary_then_obama_sounds_like_a/
In the run-up to the 2018 midterms, conservatives have been adamantly painting liberals as a frenzied mob incapable of ruling. That someone may be attacking liberal figures now is counter to that narrative, which is why it was swiftly dismissed as false, instead of even being allowed an air of possibility.
After initial news of the reports broke, it was also revealed that other packages were addressed to the White House and CNN’s office in New York. After the White House was included, notable conservatives suddenly spoke out against the packages.
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/1055106977272094720
The president’s son, Donald Trump Jr. even defended CNN.
As someone whose family has directly been the victim of these mail threats I condemn whoever did this regardless of party or ideology. This crap has to stop and I hope they end up in jail for a long time. https://t.co/pajRgM4hYm
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 24, 2018
Of course, Trump Jr. has been just as instrumental in pushing the argument about a leftist mob overrunning America.
If these leftists aren’t a mob I don’t know what is. Any reasonable person should look at some of the videos from he past 2 weeks and decide for themselves.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 11, 2018
Don’t give in to the lunatics.
Imagine them having power?
Truly Scary! https://t.co/i6WbyP6a1I
All the left has is hate and violence. Don’t give in to the mob. Results beats resistance every time. https://t.co/Fwln5hc52T
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 18, 2018
However, it turns out reports of a third package to the White House were false.
CLARIFICATION: At this time the Secret Service has intercepted TWO suspicious packages – one in NY and one in D.C. Reports of a third intercepted package addressed to the WH are incorrect. We refer media to our statement: https://t.co/lJdTn04KmI
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) October 24, 2018
There’s no evidence about who was behind any of these attacks, but rushing to judgment in service of their cause is a staunch principle of the far-right.