DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Stacy Allen Cantu of Daytona Beach points to mainstream media outlets and their focus on President Trump for sparking this morning's shooting attack in Alexandria, Va., during a baseball batting practice for Republican members of Congress that resulted in gunshot wounds to Louisiana Congressman Steve Calise and four others before the gunman was shot to death by cops.
"I believe that the shooting of Congress members is the result of hate fueled by the New York Times, CNN, MSNBC and the mainstream media's hatred of President Trump," said Cantu, whose husband, Michael Cantu, is running as a Republican to try and unseat first-term District 26 State Rep. Patrick Henry, D-Daytona Beach, in the 2018 elections. Henry defeated Cantu with 52.9 perecent of the votes cast in 2016.
Stacey Allen Cantu said the fixation on Trump by liberals still fuming over Hillary Clinton's loss to Trump in the 2016 presidential election in Novemer and the subsequent media fixation on scandals and conspiracy theories within the Trump White House is to blame for growing hysteria and antsgonism that has now led to violence.
"Kathy Griffin holding up a symbolic severed head of President Trump, and a broadway play depicting Trump as Cesar being stabbed to death by Brutus and members of the Roman Senate is evidence that political rhetoric is out of hand," Cantu insisted in a post on her Facebook page. "(It's) time to hold some of these people responsible for their irresponsible behavior. It is not ok to harm or kill anyone that you disagree with politically."
Stacey Allen Cantu said the fixation on Trump by liberals still fuming over Hillary Clinton's loss to Trump in the 2016 presidential election in Novemer and the subsequent media fixation on scandals and conspiracy theories within the Trump White House is to blame for growing hysteria and antsgonism that has now led to violence.
The gunman, identified by federal authorities as James Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Ill., was shot and killed just brefore 11:15 a.m.
Cantu points directly to Hodgkinson as the one directly responsible for today's gun violence, but she was quick to add the hateful environment created by the mainstream media bears some responsibility for the anger at President Trump and conservatives.
"It doesn't matter if you like the president or not, there is no excuse for this kind of bitterness," Cantu said. "God doesn't like ugly and God will have the last word. We should pray for our leaders not hate on them. God put Trump in office just as surely as he put Obama in office."
Phil Giorno, a former chairman of the Volusia County Democratic Party, said, "The Republicans have created a dystopian society. Wait until they take health care away from 23 millions Americans. A love one dies from a pre existing conditions. They made a movie on it.
When asked by Headline Surfer to explain his Dystopiab scenario, Giorno sent the internet outlet a message that included refererence to US Sen Rand Paul, R-Ky, that espouses use of firearms agaist the federal government for denial of food.
This prompted Republican Rich Gailey to ask of Giorno, "Phil, do we need to put you on a watch list because you have some of the same FB posts as the guy who shot the republicans this morning? One of your Bernie guys.
Gordon Meyer, a Republican from New Smyrna Beach, said of the shooting: There is always a fringe element of people whose mental stability is influenced by the prevalent rhetoric. They can be tipped from commentary to action by violent rhetoric.
Witnesses said the gunman opened fire with a rifle from the third base side of the diamond. A rifle and a handgun were recovered from the scene, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said.