Shooting the Messenger and Blaming the Victim
Last February, explaining why he thought Joe Biden could not be successfully prosecuted for mishandling classified documents, Special Counsel Robert Hur suggested that jurors would be apt to view the president as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” and “diminished faculties.” That amply supported characterization outraged Democrats, who portrayed it as a politically motivated attempt to undermine Biden’s reelection.
Five months later, additional evidence of Biden’s “diminished faculties” forced his withdrawal from the presidential race, showing it was Democrats’ refusal to admit the obvious, not Hur’s willingness to note it, that kneecapped their attempt to retain the White House. The misplaced criticism of Hur was one of the year’s most audacious attempts at blame shifting. Here are some more highlights.
Felonious Joking. In January, a federal jury awarded Waylon Bailey $205,000 to compensate for the ordeal he suffered in March 2020, when a dozen sheriff’s deputies wearing bulletproof vests descended on his home in Forest Hill, Louisiana, with their guns drawn, ordered him onto his knees, and arrested him for “terrorizing” the public, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The cops claimed Bailey had invited this response by posting a zombie-themed joke about COVID-19 on Facebook.
Acorn Agitation. In February, the Okaloosa County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office revealed that Deputy Jesse Hernandez had resigned after emptying his gun into his own patrol car, miraculously missing a handcuffed suspect in the back seat. Although Hernandez claimed the suspect had shot at him, body camera video showed that the deputy mistook the sound of a falling acorn for gunfire.
Collision Coverage. Last February, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina ran a red light and slammed his department-issued pickup truck into the side of a sports car, severely injuring the driver. Medina, who said he was fleeing from a fight between two homeless men that had escalated into gunfire, blamed “gun violence” for his reckless driving.
Prohibition Perils. In April, two months after transgender activist Cecilia Gentili died from a drug overdose, federal prosecutors blamed her dealers for causing her death by selling her he
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
