Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who was targeted in a kidnapping plot in 2020, has strongly denounced the recent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. She has also highlighted the distressing trend of violence in American politics, which has been ongoing for several years.
On X, previously known as Twitter, she expressed her disgust over the violent act of shooting former President Trump. According to her, this heinous act is a culmination of a concerning trend that has been prevalent in our politics for years. She further added that the root cause behind all these incidents is the rhetoric used in political discussions. In her opinion, the language used in speeches has become increasingly hostile, with calls to hate, harm or jail political opponents becoming commonplace. She also mentioned that violent conspiracies from the darkest corners of the internet have started finding their way into political speeches.
In 2019, Whitmer was elected as the governor and soon became the target of a kidnapping plot just before the 2020 presidential election. However, the FBI foiled the scheme and revealed that the intention behind it was to empower anti-government extremists.
Governor Whitmer emphasized that the plot to kidnap and potentially harm her was just one instance of a larger trend of violence aimed at lawmakers and individuals who are dedicated to safeguarding democracy. She drew attention to past incidents, such as the shooting at a Congressional Baseball Game practice in 2017 that left Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) severely wounded, the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, and the assault on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) husband at their home.
According to Whitmer, we have completely lost our way when it comes to how we communicate with one another. The harmful trend of speaking negatively towards and about each other has affected individuals of all ages. This toxic behavior has seeped into all aspects of our lives, causing damage to relationships, marriages, friendships, and families.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have publicly denounced the recent attack on the nation’s Capitol. In response, President Joe Biden delivered a message to the American people, calling for a reduction in the intensity of political discourse. From the Oval Office on Sunday evening, he urged the nation to come together and work towards a more peaceful and unified future.
Concerned for the Americans who will be casting their vote for the first time this year, Governor Whitmer reiterated the calls for a fair and transparent election process. She specifically mentioned the young voters born in 2006 who are eagerly waiting to exercise their right to vote.
She wrote about the perspective of outsiders on our politics and the impact it has on their perception. It’s interesting to ponder what they have witnessed and how it has influenced their thoughts. The arena of politics should be a place of hope and inspiration where individuals can advocate fervently for their beliefs, but unfortunately, that is not the case.
According to her, it’s up to us to decide whether we want to engage in a heated argument and make it personal or bitter. She suggests that instead of going down that route, we should choose to move forward together as a united front. Our actions will have a significant impact on the future generation, and we should strive to set an excellent example for our children. Let’s make sure that the nation they will inherit is one that they can be proud of and love.