Press unfairly linked tea party, shooting

The shooting that took place in Arizona last weekend was a tragedy for all Americans. As President Obama said, these are the types of tragedies that bring Americans together. So I found it appalling that the Herald published two Associated Press stories that made it sound like the attack was orchestrated by the tea party and ordered by Sarah Palin. Instead of reporting, the writers seemed intent on trying to smear those they disagreed with. They featured irresponsible and inflammatory quotes by Democratic Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, who also, while admitting he had no evidence, tried to blame conservative political rhetoric.

Our own Sen. Dick Durbin to his discredit also jumped on the liberal bandwagon blaming conservative political rhetoric. The suspect is by all accounts a mentally disturbed individual who was into the occult and smoked pot. He had also had run-ins with college administrators and Rep. Giffords long before the tea party ever existed. This case has nothing to do with Sarah Palin, the tea party or political rhetoric from either side.

For a picture of the complete hypocrisy of the reporters on this issue, contrast The Associated Press' irresponsible attempts to link the tea party to this tragedy with their coverage on the Fort Hood shooting, where investigators, reporters and politicians were careful not to blame all Muslims for the acts of a disturbed lone gunman. Politicians, members of the press and members of the law enforcement community should be outraged that members of their professions used their positions of respect and authority in an attempt to turn this tragedy into some sort of political opportunity.

This was a tragedy for all Americans, and those who chose party politics over the American people should be ashamed of themselves, but somehow I doubt they really are.

Scott Schmidt

Arlington Heights