Following testimony by Donald Trump’s appointed FBI Director, Christopher Wray, saying that nearly half of all arrests for domestic terrorism involved white supremacists, the GOP was quick to jump on declaring ANTIFA a hate group. At this point, pretty much anything that will deflect from the violence resulting from Trump’s racist rhetoric is fair game.
Candice Keller is a Republican state representative from the Dayton area – this was published on her Facebook page, as reported by https://t.co/fvuPliWRL5: https://t.co/KOznWDXTZE pic.twitter.com/VDbpcAx9Xs
— Karen Kasler (@karenkasler) August 4, 2019
Ohio GOP Rep. Candice Keller is finding out that everything really isn’t fair game, though, after she posted a stunning rebuke of President Obama, undocumented immigrants, LGBTQ citizens, marijuana, and a host of other factors she believes are to blame for the two violent mass shootings that occurred within hours of each other in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio on her Facebook page. The El Paso shooter had written a manifesto using Trump’s rhetoric to justify his murders, prompting outrage by those who have warned for some time that the rhetoric was inflaming racial prejudice and violence. Keller, apparently, wanted a redirection of the conversation.
Janice Murphy Timken, Ohio GOP Leader, called on Keller to resign over the Facebook post. In a statement, she said:
‘While our nation was in utter shock over the acts of violence in El Paso and Dayton, Republican State Representative Candice Keller took to social media to state why she thought these acts were happening. Candice Keller’s Facebook post was shocking and utterly unjustifiable. Our nation is reeling from these senseless acts of violence and public servants should be working to bring our communities together, not promoting divisiveness.’
Ohio lawmaker Candice Keller blames gay marriage, 'drag queen advocates' for Dayton shooting https://t.co/RXTWxtrfzv pic.twitter.com/fk1zxcY0hS
— New York Post (@nypost) August 5, 2019
Keller was already facing ethics investigations thanks to some shady backing of a bill that would benefit her financially. Now, she may be forced to resign amidst an even more public scandal. Just like Trump, her words are inflammatory, vile, and have caused outrage among those who have seen the now-deleted Facebook post that is making its way across social media through screenshots.
Newsweek reports:
‘She said that former President Barack Obama was to blame for a “disrespect to law enforcement,” expressed anger at “snowflakes, who can’t accept a duly-elected president,” and took aim at the “the relaxing of laws against criminals (open borders).”
‘Keller finished the message by asking: “Did I forget anybody? The list is long. And the fury will continue.”‘
A growing body of evidence shows no link between violent video games and mass shootings, as @realDonaldTrump and the @GOP try desperately to avoid talking about guns.
Tell the Senate to pass gun reform here: https://t.co/x7asK9SM8b https://t.co/G7E1bLPdQF
— Democratic Coalition (@TheDemCoalition) August 5, 2019
Keller was already quite the controversial figure in Ohio politics, but now her own party is turning against her, as well. The fire they ignited through their support of Trump and his racist rants is coming back to bite them, both through the outrage of the public and the crazies Trump has inspired to run for office in the GOP. Democrats have spoken out against both Trump and Keller.
Butler County Democratic Party Chairman Brian Hester responded to Keller’s post by saying:
‘She loves to fan the flames and play the role of victim here, not the nine people who were killed….She is fundamentally unfit for office. She is an embarrassment to her party, to conservatives, to Butler County and to the state Legislature.’
As a homosexual marriage advocate, I'd like to personally apologize to Rep. Candice Keller for the mass shooting in Dayton. Also, the Parkland massacre, teenage pregnancies, last week's tornado, the Holocaust, and the crucifixion of Jesus.
My bad.https://t.co/bpruJKqErA
— Miss Kitty Horehound (@KittyHorehound) August 5, 2019
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
