Republican party leaders like Kevin McCarthy, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Chuck Grassley, are now publicly promoting political violence — most recently through wild claims about the militarization of the IRS. In the same vein, Newt Gingrich has thoughtlessly characterized the FBI as “wolves.” Typically, we hear such only from a fringy sort or two on one side of the political aisle or the other. This is different; this is getting way out of hand. Grassley went so far as to insinuate an armed IRS strike force would pound on the doors of Iowa businessmen — and on Fox & Friends, no less, whose huge audience likely includes more than a few who’d take his political theater seriously and quite possibly a few who would take it upon themselves to act. We’ve already seen an instance of that in Cincinnati. Imagine how it feels to be an IRS or FBI employee now.

The risk that some innocent IRS or FBI employee will die is too great. And those provoked by Grassley and the others’ cynical political theater would land in prison. It’s not as if Republicans are the only ones who sometimes grandstand for political gain — hard for me to watch no matter who does it. But this group is willing to take it so far as to endanger lives. That’s wrong.

Here is an instance where I agree with Cheryl Arnold. We both think it is disgusting to witness innocent people suffer “while those with outlandish thoughts and behavior are all given a free pass.”

Paul Mack, Columbus

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