Independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema says the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump is an opportunity for America’s elected leaders, and the public overall, to move away from demonizing rhetoric.
Trump was shot in the ear at a campaign rally on Saturday. Sinema says that the shooter alone is responsible for the attack — but the political climate should change.
She said that demonizing a person’s ideas and, even worse, dehumanizing each other needs to stop.
Sinema announced earlier this year that she would not seek reelection. She’s spent the past decade in Congress and the U.S. Senate.
Sinema has been known for working across the aisle when she was a Democrat, and, more recently, as an independent.
“The acceptance of this kind of violence and dehumanizing rhetoric has morphed into a demand or an expectation that this rhetoric occur,” Sinema said.
Sinema added that this is not a “disease” that only affects one party, but something that politicians of all stripes engage in.
Going forward, she says it is possible and important for people to respectfully disagree.
It’s common practice, particularly during campaign season, for candidates to accuse their opponents of being “dangerous” or a “threat.”
“There are a number of people on the political left who have concerns about President Trump’s political positions. To frame it as ‘an existential threat to the future of democracy’ is threatening democracy itself,” Sinema said.
She added that it’s not just a job for politicians, but that the public should hold their leaders accountable for the way they disagree with other politicians.
As for the feeling on Capitol Hill, Sinema said it’s too soon to say, as the assassination attempt happened over the weekend and the Republicans are all gathered at the national convention in Wisconsin.
