Rep. Virginia Foxx is taking issue with reports that Jared Lee Loughner,
the man charged in Saturday's shooting rampage that killed six and left Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords gravely wounded, may have been influenced by right-wing ideology.
"This guy appears to be a communist," the Banner Elk Republican said in an interview with the Winston-Salem Journal. "His beliefs are the liberal of the liberals. There is no evidence whatsoever that this man was influenced by Sarah Palin or anybody in the Republican Party. This man is not a conservative; he's a fan of communism — that's the opposite of conservatism."
Foxx's contention appears to be based on reports that Loughner listed Karl Marx's "The Communist Manifesto" on his MySpace list of favorite books.
However, Loughner also listed "Animal Farm," the novel by fervent anti-communist George Orwell, and Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf." Fascism is at the opposite end of the political spectrum from communism.
Foxx rejected the assertion by some observers, including Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, that allusions to firearms and violence in the nation's political debate might have inspired Loughner to take up arms.
"I don't think members of Congress incite that kind of rhetoric," Foxx said. "I don't think the things we say incite that kind of behavior. And I don't know that the things other people say incite it. I just think we have deranged individuals in this country and occasionally they do bad things."
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Foxx's take on violent national events has sparked controversy in the past.
During a 2009 floor debate, Foxx described the 1989 beating death of Matthew Shepard as a "hoax" when cited to bolster the case for hate crimes legislation.
"That that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery," Fox said. "It wasn't because he was gay."
Comments
Not a Communist, Just Mentally Unhinged
January 12, 2011 - 1:38am — kttechwriterThe young man who killed several and wounded more in Arizona is more than just a Communist. He had a bizarre series of twisted beliefs. Such is the case with mental illness. I just wish his family had noticed it, like his associates at his community college had.
Mrs Fox is off-base on this one. You can't call a man in need of medical help and medication "communist". I am a lifelong conservative and I cannot defend her stance here.
As for the gay man's situation, I had not heard that he was committing a robbery. He still died a terrible death and he didn't deserve it. I don't know if special legislation was needed for it. Any "sane" killer should go to death row, whether it was a gay person that was killed or not. All people are important.
For the record, I also think rapists should have their testicles removed, but that is beside the point.
Let us please not reduce ourselves to name calling. When we do that, we've clearly run out of logical argument.
Redouble our efforts toward calmly discussing our differences
January 11, 2011 - 5:05pm — elgixinI think that when people are defensive, as seems to be the case with Representative Fox, there is a tendency to speak from an emotionally reactive part of the brain that is less interested in facts than in striking back. She (and others on the right and left) might be better served to take a deep breath and say something like: It seems to me that in this tragic situation many people may be making assumptions about the political motivations of an obviously emotionally disturbed man about whom there is simply insufficient evidence to support a direct or indirect cause and effect relationship between the positions of Sarah Palin and other conservatives and his awful behavior. To the extent that political rhetoric from whatever source may have been a factor in prompting his actions, it behooves us all to redouble our efforts toward calmly discussing our differences in policy perspectives and avoiding as much as possible saying anything that might be taken by an emotionally disturbed person as giving permission or encouraging violent action.
Foxx is Nuts!
January 11, 2011 - 2:09pm — riverrdThis Mouth-breathing, Knuckle-dragging, Flat-Earth believing repoblican is NUTS! I know her "supports" would be soooooooo proud!
And Ms Fox?
January 11, 2011 - 1:12pm — cellstromYou seem to have not addressed the issue here. Not the three that you mentioned, as they rightly have condemned this shooting. Instead, you continue to call names, much like Ms. Fox and you don't say a word about whether she is right or wrong. I am guessing you call yourself Christian so what purpose did you serve here? Certainly not what your pastor talks about on Sun, I am hoping. Ah, well, please, look more critically at the comments of Ms. Fox, they are useless, and only add flame to a terrible fire. It is time to stop incendiary commentary from our Republican friends.
Ms. FOx
January 11, 2011 - 1:06pm — cellstromWell, the blog comments so far are holding true to the heart of the problem that we are now beginning a national debate on. So, Ms. Fox says that her opinions don't incite reactions, etc. So far, people have called names on these blogs, accused our reps of ignorance, etc., and said the N and O is a uselss rag. So, I would suggest that her comments do indeed incite reactions. Now, she is sadly a poor representative from our state. Banner Elk is a wonderful community and a great place to visit. They have some great folks up there. I am truly surprised that Ms. Fox is an accurate representation of the opinions of the thoughtful folks in BE. Ms. Fox is sadly wrong in making comments about the shooter, and many of those on her side of the aisle will only reject their responsibility for lower our level of political discourse to that of shoot'em up old west style problem solving. It is real, it is dangerous, and it needs to stop. Then, maybe we can have a sensible debate about gun control, not one only ruled by the NRA.
Yes, and Heath Shuler, Kay
January 11, 2011 - 12:56pm — carterrobertsonYes, and Heath Shuler, Kay Hagen, and EK Butterfield are all mental giants in the Mensa community. (sarcasm emphasized).
Fox is a disgrace to North Carolina and Banner Elk
January 11, 2011 - 11:32am — MalleusMaleficarumVirginia Fox is bafflingly simple-minded. Fox just doesn't get it. Along with Fox, North Carolina has sent two other Republicans to Congress who are especially obtuse and maladroit: Sue Myrick of Charlotte and Renee Ellmers of Charlotte. These three form a triumvirate of disinformation, ineptitude and downright embarrassing levels of nonsense. Voters in North Carolina should throw them out at the next election.
How can you write that
January 11, 2011 - 10:20am — carterrobertsonHow can you write that facism is the opposite of communism? Both ideologies believe in total government control of all aspects of the individual's life. The only difference between the two systems of thought is that facism maintains a class system where communism does not. It's irresponsible journalism like this that makes news rags like this so worthless.