The Violence of the Left, by R. R. Reno

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi: ‘Civilization as We Know It Is at Stake’ in 2020 Election, by Joshua Caplan
March 10, 2020
Have We Been Doing Catholic Women’s Messaging Wrong? by Carrie Gress
March 10, 2020

Photo by Lorie Shaull via Creative Commons. Image cropped. 

By R. R. Reno, Editor, First Things, March 3, 2020

(On March 2, 2020) Sen. Chuck Schumer addressed a pro-abortion rally in front of the Supreme Court Building. The Court was hearing a case concerning a Louisiana law requiring physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The rally was meant to exhibit public support for judging the law an unconstitutional violation of Roe v. Wade.

Schumer’s speech included incendiary words:

I want to tell you, Gorsuch. I want to tell you, Kavanaugh. You have released a whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.

As Ed Whelan notes, abortion is an issue that inflames passions, and no doubt Schumer meant to exploit those passions. But the rhetoric of direct threat is noteworthy. “You will pay the price.” “You won’t know what hit you.” Is Schumer implying physical assault? Assassination? Or does he merely mean to wave the threat of impeachment, should Democrats attain sufficient power on Capitol Hill?  ….

Read more here:  https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2020/03/the-violence-of-the-left