Vice-President JD Vance hosted a special episode of the late Charlie Kirk's podcast in tribute to his fallen friend. The Vice-President declared:
We don't believe in political violence, but we do believe in civility. And there is no civility in the celebration of political assassination.
I agree with his final sentence. There is nothing surrounding the circumstances of Kirk's death which warrants celebration. Those who do are damned fools.
Vance's first sentence is another matter altogether. The notion that he and President Trump don't believe in political violence is laughable. Trump might believe the attack on the U.S. Capitol was "a day of love". However, I doubt the D.C. Metro Police who were on duty that day would agree.
Equally as preposterous is Vance's claim that he and the Administration he serves believe in civility. Vance certainly has not displayed any civility towards Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio. Where was his civility when he told Kamala Harris to go to hell? Where was his civility when he questioned former President Biden's fitness for office following his cancer diagnosis?
It is also well worth noting that Vance interviewed Tucker Carlson as part of the tribute to Kirk. Where is the civility in giving a platform to an anti-Semite.
Whatever grief that Vice-President Vance has for his friend, he is in no position to lecture anyone about civility. The same holds true for much of his party which had little sympathy for Paul Pelosi when he was attacked in his home or for Minnesota State Senator Melissa Hortman after her assassination this past June.
Simply put, Vance's words about civility ring hollow. Equally hollow are Vance's reassurances the Trump Administration won't go after constitutionality protected free speech but are only after "the NGO network that foments, facilitates and engages in violence." At this point, barring compelling and definitive information, the only person responsible for the death of Charlie Kirk is the man who shot him. But that isn't enough for the Trump Administration.
Not to outdo himself, Vance also claimed, “And while our side of the aisle certainly has its crazies, it is a statistical fact that most of the lunatics on American politics today are proud members of the far left.” The families of those who died at the hands of white supremacists at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the Walmart in El Paso and at Tops Friendly Grocery store in Buffalo might like a word with the Vice-President.
Not that Vance would listen. Instead, he would probably lecture them about civility.
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