I was wondering when we were going to see this rationale. It comes from a right wing provocateur writing on Instapundit:
Wednesday’s mob assault on Capitol Hill was shocking and brazen: Hundreds of MAGA-hat-wearing rioters broke into the seat of American democracy. They stormed the halls, looting property and assaulting law enforcers, all in service of an absurd political demand: reversing the outcome of an election.
Now where had I witnessed such scenes before? The answer: in blue-governed cities in my native Pacific Northwest throughout last summer and into the fall and winter.
The upshot should be clear: The deadly storming of the Capitol building is the logical outcome of norms set by the left in 2020. By winking at and apologizing for Antifa, liberal elites telegraphed that political grievances ought to be resolved through violence.
Of course. “The liberals made us do it.”
There have been violent protests in this country since its founding. Recall the right wing Tea Party took its name from a violent protest. In fact, you could argue that the American revolution itself was one.
Here’s the difference: the protests in Portland and around the country, including Washington DC last summer, were actual protests —a form of petitioning the government for redress, if you will. That is an American tradition and a right guaranteed in the constitution.
Last Wednesday a violent mob assaulted the US Capitol while it was in joint session counting the electoral votes to certify the winner of the presidential election — with the clear intention of stopping that vote. They believed they could overturn the election by force and install their preferred candidate, the one who lost. That is not a “protest.” That is a putsch.
It was an explicitly violent political act with an anti-democratic goal.
I think most people understand the difference but I would guess you’ll see more of this fatuous “both-sides” bullshit.
Update: Here’s a nice little BBC rundown of how the Munich Beer hall Putsch went down. You tell me…
The Nazi Party was formed in the years following World War One.
By 1920, they were called the National Socialist German Workers’ Party and by 1921, Adolf Hitler was their leader.
The Nazi Party had grown in size and support under Hitler, having gained 20,000 members by the end of 1922.
The Nazis aimed to overthrow the Bavarian Government, which was led by Gustav von Kahr and based in Munich.
Once they had established power for themselves in Bavaria, they could look to overthrow the Weimar Government.
Leading Bavarian politicians including Kahr were meeting in the Buergerbraeukeller Beer Hall in Munich on 8 November, 1923.
Hitler and the SA (stormtroopers) interrupted the meeting, threatening the crowd with violence.
Kahr, General von Lossow (leader of the army in Bavaria) and Colonel von Seisser (head of the Bavarian police) were locked in a back room. They were forced to publicly announce their support for the Nazis.
Hitler left the beer hall in order to oversee clashes between the SA and the German army elsewhere in Munich
Ludendorff allowed the politicians to leave the beer hall.
This was a mistake as they immediately renounced support for the Nazis.
The next morning the Nazis, led by Hitler and Ludendorff, marched into the centre of Munich.
The police and army confronted them and shots were fired. The Nazi supporters and SA were scattered.
Hitler was put on trial, charged with treason.
He was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison, but was released after nine months.
During the trial, he was able to publicly explain that his aim was to save Germany from the Government, which was failing the people.
He wrote Mein Kampf while in prison. I’m pretty sure Trump’s manifesto would be called “The Art of the Steal.”