https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/right-s-new-conspiracy-theory-blame-left-capitol-riot-n1253250
"The right's new conspiracy theory: blame left for Capitol riot.
The cognitive dissonance is bewildering: The rioters are simultaneously patriots
who did the right thing and "masquerading" leftists to be condemned?"
--Steve Benen
"As much of the world recoiled after a pro-Trump mob, incited by the
president, attacked the U.S. Capitol, it seemed inevitable that some
on the right would claim it only appeared to be a pro-Trump mob."
"Among the first hints of this that crossed my radar was a tweet from
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), one of Congress' most right-wing members, who
suggested that the riot incited by the president was an example of "leftist violence."
Soon after, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said on the House floor that he
believes there were "antifa" members "masquerading as Trump
supporters" committing acts of violence at the Capitol.
The idiocy spread quickly. ... You can expect an email along these
lines from your weird relatives who consume far-right media all day."
"There are, of course, some glaring problems with this. First, it's stark raving mad.
Second, we can say with confidence that it's stark raving mad because many
of the far-right rioters made little effort to hide the fact that they
were far-right rioters. They took selfies. They tweeted their attack.
Some quite literally livestreamed the riot in real time.
To see this as some kind of "masquerade" is to think antifa ne'er-do-wells
had reconstructive plastic surgery to make themselves look like
people we already know to be right-wing activists.
But even if we put all of that aside, what I find especially amazing is
the cognitive dissonance. Donald Trump spent months lying to these
right-wing rioters, before practically begging them to come to D.C. for a
gathering designed to coincide with the certification of Joe Biden's victory.
The president then rallied them, dispatched them to the Capitol,
and directed them not to show any "weakness."
After he incited the violent attack on the Capitol, Trump praised
the rioters, offered a justification for their crimes. In a missive that
Twitter soon after removed, the president referred to his supporters
as "great patriots," before adding, "Remember this day forever!"
These were not the words of a man who was disappointed with an attack
on his own country's Capitol; these were the words of a man who approved
of what he saw and was sympathetic to those who acted at his behest.
Which makes the "antifa" talk that much more bewildering.
The rioters are simultaneously patriots who did the right thing and
secret leftists to be condemned? The mob is both a source of pride
and an embarrassment?"
"The right's new conspiracy theory: blame left for Capitol riot.
The cognitive dissonance is bewildering: The rioters are simultaneously patriots
who did the right thing and "masquerading" leftists to be condemned?"
--Steve Benen
"As much of the world recoiled after a pro-Trump mob, incited by the
president, attacked the U.S. Capitol, it seemed inevitable that some
on the right would claim it only appeared to be a pro-Trump mob."
"Among the first hints of this that crossed my radar was a tweet from
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), one of Congress' most right-wing members, who
suggested that the riot incited by the president was an example of "leftist violence."
Soon after, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said on the House floor that he
believes there were "antifa" members "masquerading as Trump
supporters" committing acts of violence at the Capitol.
The idiocy spread quickly. ... You can expect an email along these
lines from your weird relatives who consume far-right media all day."
"There are, of course, some glaring problems with this. First, it's stark raving mad.
Second, we can say with confidence that it's stark raving mad because many
of the far-right rioters made little effort to hide the fact that they
were far-right rioters. They took selfies. They tweeted their attack.
Some quite literally livestreamed the riot in real time.
To see this as some kind of "masquerade" is to think antifa ne'er-do-wells
had reconstructive plastic surgery to make themselves look like
people we already know to be right-wing activists.
But even if we put all of that aside, what I find especially amazing is
the cognitive dissonance. Donald Trump spent months lying to these
right-wing rioters, before practically begging them to come to D.C. for a
gathering designed to coincide with the certification of Joe Biden's victory.
The president then rallied them, dispatched them to the Capitol,
and directed them not to show any "weakness."
After he incited the violent attack on the Capitol, Trump praised
the rioters, offered a justification for their crimes. In a missive that
Twitter soon after removed, the president referred to his supporters
as "great patriots," before adding, "Remember this day forever!"
These were not the words of a man who was disappointed with an attack
on his own country's Capitol; these were the words of a man who approved
of what he saw and was sympathetic to those who acted at his behest.
Which makes the "antifa" talk that much more bewildering.
The rioters are simultaneously patriots who did the right thing and
secret leftists to be condemned? The mob is both a source of pride
and an embarrassment?"
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