Brunswick Beacon, 04.11.24
Larry Hershoff’s April 4 letter called Linda Baker’s March 28 missive an example of “idiotic and twisted attacks” on Trump. But it was Hershoff who twisted Trump’s words, claiming Trump was only predicting an auto industry “bloodbath.”
Trump began with the auto industry, then broadened his claim: "If I don't get elected, it's gonna be a bloodbath for the whole -- that's gonna be the least of it -- it's gonna be a bloodbath for the country. That'll be the least of it." Trump made clear the auto industry effects would “be the least of it,” which he repeated for emphasis, while the bigger problem is “gonna be a bloodbath for the country.”
Nor did Hershoff refute Baker’s detailed history of Trump encouraging violence. Instead, he deflected, noting that Trump attended the funeral of a slain police officer, while conveniently ignoring Trump’s contempt for police officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6. Trump calls their attackers “patriots” and “political prisoners,” literally salutes them for the attack, and promises to “Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongly imprisoned!”
Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick died after suffering two strokes combatting Jan. 6 insurrectionists. His brother, Kenneth, slammed Trump’s funeral appearance as a stunt: "The fact that he states he's law and order but he sent a mob that ultimately ended up killing my brother. He has such a lack of self-awareness of what he does. He's using that officer's death as a campaign platform.”
Charles Sicknick, Brian’s father, said: “The guy's a criminal. He's the reason my son is dead— because of the riot at the Capitol. He's a publicity hound. Trump does whatever will get him votes and helps Donald Trump. There's nothing good about this man."
What’s “idiotic and twisted” is Republican eagerness to excuse Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 attack, which injured 140 law enforcement officers and led to the deaths of five police officers.
Larry Widman
Leland