Where's the Love? If 'Love Trumps Hate' Then Why All the Violence?

November 21, 2016

Writer

In the wake of Donald Trump's historic win, the left has gone on a full-blown temper tantrum --- and their hypocrisy is on full display. Love Trumps Hate is a familiar catch phrase at Trump protests, but evidently, it's only rhetoric with no real meaning.

"How hyperbolic can all of this get? How exaggerated can we expect this to become?" Buck Sexton asked Monday, filling in for Glenn on The Glenn Beck Program. "The guy is not even president yet, hasn't done anything yet, and there's all this Love Trumps Hate stuff out there."

Alongside the Love Trumps Hate signs are those with profanity or vulgarity. Chants that tend toward full-on profane are not uncommon. In some instances, Trump supporters have been beaten, threatened and verbally abused. Evidently, love only trumps hate when you share the same beliefs.

"There's no trace of irony with some of these protesters, when they say things like Love Trumps Hate and then they start cursing at somebody who doesn't agree with them on a matter of policy," Buck said. "If the Love Trumps Hate people are serious about making sure that Trump shows love and isn't this horrific dictator-in-waiting . . . I think they should also avoid beating people up for speech."

Listen to this segment from The Glenn Beck Program:

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors:

BUCK: Buck Sexton here in for Glenn Beck today on the Glenn Beck Program. Thank you so much for joining.

So President Obama is president for a little while longer, and there are a lot of people who want to know how he will handle dealing with a Trump administration, post-Obama's own presidency. Is he going to be somebody who tries to hold Trump to account? Or is he going to pull a more George W. Bush maneuver, where he doesn't want to meddle in his successor's plans?

Obama was in Peru over the weekend, meeting with a bunch of world leaders, talking about trade deals, talking about all kinds of stuff. And he was asked specifically about whether he would weigh in on a Trump presidency right off the bat.

Here's what our current president had to say about how he will perhaps criticize or not our next president.

OBAMA: As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle, but go to core questions about our values and our ideals, and if I think that it's necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, then I'll -- I'll examine it when it comes.

BUCK: Once again -- the assumption is where the condescension comes in. Just with the Hamilton actors making the assumption that they need to remind Mike Pence to defend their children, and the planet, by the way, President Obama feels the need to say that he will only step in basically if Trump takes the dial to 11, if Trump just goes wild, man. If he just does some crazy stuff, and casts off all respect and dignity. I don't know -- Trump -- dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria. Bad things happen because of Trump.

Can we wait until the guy gets into office before we freak out about everything?

The sort of collective hysteria from the collectivists. The left's constant proclamations that they need to get ahead of the coming catastrophe, is really in a sense a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because no matter what Trump does, they're going to think that it's horrific. Because they've been told now, ever since he won, that it was going to be horrific.

I've been saying from the beginning, they're so lucky that a hard-lined Republican, who is a bedrock foundational conservative didn't win. They're going to be able to get Trump to meet them halfway on a whole bunch of issues. It's much less frightening than they seem to think that it is.

Part of this is that they're upset that they no longer have the ability, the sort of secret weapon of shutting down speech they don't like by making claims of racism or xenophobia or misogyny. The misogyny one has never worked well for them, by the way. The War on Women even with Mitt Romney didn't work particularly well. Mitt Romney just wasn't going to beat Barack Obama in that election.

But they have President Obama coming out here and speaking on the world stage, saying that the door is open for him right after he leaves the White House to criticize the next document of the White House, if things get really bad.

Why do we have to -- why do we have to get ahead of things here? Why is there the suggestion that things might get so terrible that President Obama would have to weigh in right away?

I was wondering -- how hyperbolic can all of this get? How exaggerated can we expect this to become, given that I've had to wade through already some protests in New York City? The guy is not even president yet, hasn't done anything yet, and there's all this love trumps hate stuff out there. And a lot of placards and signs and chants that tend towards or are full of the profane, so I can't even repeat them on-air. I was taking photos of them. I was listening to some of them. Pretty nasty stuff out there.

And there's no trace of irony with some of these protesters, when they say things like, "Love trumps hate," and then they start cursing at somebody who doesn't agree with them on a matter of policy.

There have been some Trump supporters that have been attacked. There are actually people who wear make America great again gear, and that has been a symbol of -- or, that has been a target on them, and they have been assaulted because of it.

If the love Trumps all people are serious about making sure that Trump shows love and isn't this horrific dictator in waiting that they seem to think that he is, I think they should also avoid beating people up for speech. Just going to put that out there as an idea. I think it would probably be best that they didn't take the position that -- they have so much love in their heart, they have such kind people, that if you don't understand that and agree with them, then I'm going to punch you in the nose.

Whoa, settle down, everyone. This is not where things need to be. This is what -- the -- everyone from center left in this meltdown over Trump mode just needs to chill. But it's going to be hard. It's going to be hard. Because as you see, even with the transition, which you would think is a sort of boring -- and I'll talk about some of the picks and what's coming and the policy, that will be sort of more hour three today, although we'll get into maybe some of it coming up before then.

Transition team picks should be a pretty much straightforward process. Nothing to get anyone all that upset. You're looking at long-serving government officials. You're looking at people that are in many cases quite well-known to a vast majority of Americans. Trump is rewarding those who are loyal to him in the primary and the general, as I think any president would, and, quite honestly, should. Loyalty is important, especially given that he knows he's going be an embattled position from the very start.

Featured Image: A demonstrator holds up a placard during a protest against Donald Trump's US presidential election victory, at City Hall in Portland on November 11, 2016. Demonstrators took to the streets in Miami, Los Angeles, New York and other US cities to oppose Donald Trump's election as president for a third straight night of nationwide protests. (Photo Credit: ANKUR DHOLAKIA/AFP/Getty Images)

How did Trump's would-be assassin get past Secret Service?

PATRICK T. FALLON / Contributor | Getty Images

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

Former President Donald Trump on Saturday was targeted in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. It occurred just after 6:10 p.m. while Trump was delivering his speech.

Here are the details of the “official” story. The shooter was Thomas Matthew Crooks. He was 20 years old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. He used an AR-15 rifle and managed to reach the rooftop of a nearby building unnoticed. The Secret Service's counter-response team responded swiftly, according to "the facts," killing Crooks and preventing further harm.

Did it though? That’s what the official story says, so far, but calling this a mere lapse in security by Secret Service doesn't add up. There are some glaring questions that need to be answered.

If Trump had been killed on Saturday, we would be in a civil war today. We would have seen for the first time the president's brains splattered on live television, and because of the details of this, I have a hard time thinking it wouldn't have been viewed as JFK 2.0.

How does someone sneak a rifle onto the rally grounds? How does someone even know that that building is there? How is it that Thomas Matthew Crooks was acting so weird and pacing in front of the metal detectors, and no one seemed to notice? People tried to follow him, but, oops, he got away.

How could the kid possibly even think that the highest ground at the venue wouldn't be watched? If I were Crooks, my first guess would be, "That’s the one place I shouldn't crawl up to with a rifle because there's most definitely going to be Secret Service there." Why wasn't anyone there? Why wasn't anyone watching it? Nobody except the shooter decided that the highest ground with the best view of the rally would be the greatest vulnerability to Trump’s safety.

Moreover, a handy ladder just happened to be there. Are we supposed to believe that nobody in the Secret Service, none of the drones, none of the things we pay millions of dollars for caught him? How did he get a ladder there? If the ladder was there, was it always there? Why was the ladder there? Secret Service welds manhole covers closed when a president drives down a road. How was there a ladder sitting around, ready to climb up to the highest ground at the venue, and the Secret Service failed to take it away?

There is plenty of video of eyewitnesses yelling that there was a guy with a rifle climbing up on a ladder to the roof for at least 120 seconds before the first shot was fired. Why were the police looking for him while Secret Service wasn't? Why did the sniper have him in his sights for over a minute before he took a shot? Why did a cop climb up the ladder to look around? When Thomas Matthew Cooks pointed a gun at him, he then ducked and came down off the ladder. Did he call anyone to warn that this young man had a rifle within range of the president?

How is it the Secret Service has a female bodyguard who doesn't even reach Trump's nipples? How was she going to guard the president's body with hers? How is it another female Secret Service agent pulled her gun out a good four minutes too late, then looked around, apparently not knowing what to do? She then couldn't even get the pistol back into the holster because she's a Melissa McCarthy body double. I don't think it's a good idea to have Melissa McCarthy guarding the president.

Here’s the critical question now: Who trusts the FBI with the shooter’s computer? Will his hard drive get filed with the Nashville manifesto? How is it that the Secret Service almost didn't have snipers at all but decided to supply them only one day before the rally because all the local resources were going to be put on Jill Biden? I want Jill Biden safe, of course. I want Jill Biden to have what the first lady should have for security, but you can’t hire a few extra guys to make sure our candidates are safe?

How is it that we have a Secret Service director, Kimberly Cheatle, whose experience is literally guarding two liters of Squirt and spicy Doritos? Did you know that's her background? She's in charge of the United States Secret Service, and her last job was as the head of security for Pepsi.

This is a game, and that's what makes this sick. This is a joke. There are people in our country who thought it was OK to post themselves screaming about the shooter’s incompetence: “How do you miss that shot?” Do you realize how close we came to another JFK? If the president hadn't turned his head at the exact moment he did, it would have gone into the center of his head, and we would be a different country today.

Now, Joe Biden is also saying that we shouldn't make assumptions about the motive of the shooter. Well, I think we can assume one thing: He wanted to kill the Republican presidential candidate. Can we agree on that at least? Can we assume that much?

How can the media even think of blaming Trump for the rhetoric when the Democrats and the media constantly call him literally worse than Hitler who must be stopped at all costs?

These questions need to be answered if we want to know the truth behind what could have been one of the most consequential days in U.S. history. Yet, the FBI has its hands clasped on all the sources that could point to the truth. There must be an independent investigation to get to the bottom of these glaring “mistakes.”

POLL: Do you think Trump is going to win the election?

Kevin Dietsch / Staff, Chip Somodevilla / Staff, Kevin Dietsch / Staff | Getty Image

It feels like all of the tension that has been building over the last four years has finally burst to the surface over the past month. Many predicted 2024 was going to be one of the most important and tumultuous elections in our lifetimes, but the last two weeks will go down in the history books. And it's not over yet.

The Democratic National Convention is in August, and while Kamala seems to be the likely candidate to replace Biden, anything could happen in Chicago. And if Biden is too old to campaign, isn't he too old to be president? Glenn doesn't think he'll make it as President through January, but who knows?

There is a lot of uncertainty that surrounds the current political landscape. Trump came out of the attempted assassination, and the RNC is looking stronger than ever, but who knows what tricks the Democrats have up their sleeves? Let us know your predictions in the poll below:

Is Trump going to win the election?

Did the assassination attempt increase Trump's chances at winning in November?

Did Trump's pick of J.D. Vance help his odds?

Did the Trump-Biden debate in June help Trump's chances?

Did Biden's resignation from the election hand Trump a victory in November?

Do the Democrats have any chance of winning this election?

What is the Secret Service trying to hide about Trump's assassination attempt?

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / Contributor, Anadolu / Contributor | Getty Images

This past weekend we were mere inches away from a radically different America than the one we have today. This was the first time a president had been wounded by a would-be assassin since 1981, and the horrific event has many people questioning the competency and motives of the supposedly elite agents trusted with the president's life.

The director of the Secret Service apparently knew about the assassin's rooftop before the shooting—and did nothing.

Kimberly Cheatle has come under intense scrutiny these last couple of weeks, as Secret Service director she is responsible for the president's well-being, along with all security operations onsite. In a recent interview with ABC, Cheatle admitted that she was aware of the building where the assassin made his mark on American history. She even said that she was mindful of the potential risk but decided against securing the site due to "safety concerns" with the slope of the roof. This statement has called her competence into question. Clearly, the rooftop wasn't that unsafe if the 20-year-old shooter managed to access it.

Glenn pointed out recently that Cheatle seems to be unqualified for the job. Her previous position was senior director in global security at America's second-favorite soda tycoon, PepsiCo. While guarding soda pop and potato chips sounds like an important job to some, it doesn't seem like a position that would qualify you to protect the life of America's most important and controversial people. Even considering her lack of appropriate experience, this seems like a major oversight that even a layperson would have seen. Can we really chalk this up to incompetence?

Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / Contributor | Getty Images

The Secret Service and DHS said they'd be transparent with the investigation...

Shortly after the attempted assassination, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the Secret Service, launched an investigation into the shooting and the security protocols in place at the rally. The DHS promised full transparency during the investigation, but House Republicans don't feel that they've been living up to that promise. Republican members of the House Oversight Committee are frustrated with Director Cheatle after she seemingly dodged a meeting scheduled for Tuesday. This has resulted in calls for Cheatle to step down from her position.

Two FBI agents investigate the assassin's rooftop Jeff Swensen / Stringer | Getty Images

Why is the Secret Service being so elusive? Are they just trying to cover their blunder? We seem to be left with two unsettling options: either the government is even more incompetent than we'd ever believed, or there is more going on here than they want us to know.

Cheatle steps down

Following a horrendous testimony to the House Oversight Committee Director Cheatle finally stepped down from her position ten days after the assassination attempt. Cheatle failed to give any meaningful answer to the barrage of questions she faced from the committee. These questions, coming from both Republicans and Democrats, were often regarding basic information that Cheatle should have had hours after the shooting, yet Cheatle struggled with each and every one. Glenn pointed out that Director Cheatle's resignation should not signal the end of the investigation, the American people deserve to know what happened.

What we DO and DON'T know about Thomas Matthew Crooks

Jim Vondruska / Stringer | Getty Images

It has been over a week since 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks narrowly failed to assassinate President Trump while the president gave a speech at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennslyvania. Despite the ongoing investigations, we still know very little about the would-be assassin, which has left many wondering if the agencies involved are limiting the information that Congress and the public are receiving.

As Glenn has pointed out, there are still major questions about the shooter that are unanswered, and the American people are left at the whim of unreliable federal agencies. Here is everything we know—and everything we don't know—about Thomas Matthew Crooks:

Who was he?

What we know:Thomas Crooks lived in Bethel Parks, Pennsylvania, approximately an hour south of Butler. Crooks went to high school in Bethel Parks, where he would graduate in 2022. Teachers and classmates described him as a loner and as nerdy, but generally nice, friendly, and intelligent. Crooks tried out for the school rifle team but was rejected due to his poor aim, and reports indicate that Crooks was often bullied for his nerdy demeanor and for wearing camo hunting gear to school.

After high school, Crooks began work at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center as a dietary aide. In fact, he was scheduled to work on the day of the rally but requested the day off. He passed a background check to work at the facility and was reportedly an unproblematic employee. Crooks was also a member of a local gun club where he practiced shooting the day before the rally.

It was recently revealed that sometime before his attempted assassination, Crooks posted the following message on Steam, a popular computer application used for playing video games: "July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds." Aside from this, Crooks posted no warning or manifesto regarding his attack, and little other relevant information is known about him.

What we don't know:It is unclear what Crook's political affiliations or views were, or if he was aligned with any extremist organizations. Crooks was a registered Republican, and his classmates recall him defending conservative ideas and viewpoints in class. On the other hand, the Federal Election Commission has revealed he donated to a progressive PAC on the day Biden was inaugurated. He also reportedly wore a COVID mask to school much longer than was required.

Clearly, we are missing the full picture. Why would a Republican attempt to assassinate the Republican presidential nominee? What is to gain? And why would he donate to a progressive organization as a conservative? This doesn't add up, and so far the federal agencies investigating the attack have yet to reveal anything more.

What were his goals?

What we know: Obviously we know he was trying to assassinate President Trump—and came very close to succeeding, but beyond that, Crooks' goals are unknown. He left no manifesto or any sort of written motive behind, or if he did, the authorities haven't published it yet. We have frustratingly little to go off of.

What we don't know: As stated before, we don't know anything about the movies behind Crooks' heinous actions. We are left with disjointed pieces that make it difficult to paint a cohesive picture of this man. There is also the matter that he left explosives, ammo, and a bulletproof vest in his car. Why? Did he assume he was going to make it back to his car? Or were those supplies meant for an accomplice that never showed up?

The shocking lack of information on Crooks' motives makes it seem likely that we are not being let on to the whole truth.

Did he work alone?

What we know: Reportedly, Crooks was the only gunman on the site, and as of now, no other suspects have been identified. The rifle used during the assassination attempt was purchased and registered by Crooks' father. However, it is unlikely that the father was involved as he reported both his son and rifle missing the night of the assassination attempt. Crooks' former classmates described him as a "loner," which seems to corroborate the narrative that he worked alone.

What we don't know: We know how Crooks acquired his rifle, but what about the rest of his equipment? He reportedly had nearly a hundred extra rounds of ammunition, a bulletproof vest, and several homemade bombs in his car. Could these have been meant for a co-conspirator who didn't show? Did Crooks acquire all of this equipment himself, or did he have help?

There's also the matter of the message Crooks left on the video game platform Steam that served as his only warning of the attack. Who was the message for? Are there people out there who were aware of the attack before it occurred? Why didn't they alert authorities?

We know authorities have access to Crooks' laptop and cellphone that probably contain the answers to these pertinent questions. Why haven't we heard any clarity from the authorities? It seems we are again at the mercy of the federal bureaucracy, which begs one more question: Will we ever know the whole truth?

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