Texas Representative Crockett faced grilling after a video emerged of her seemingly endorsing violence by asking that folding chairs be used to hit on people. Conservative commentator Paul A. Szypula shared the clip, carrying on the online backlash, with critics now accusing Crockett of inciting violence and dangerous conduct. It is not the only occasion on which Crockett has come under scrutiny for violent language; she has shared images of Republicans being attacked, and there are accusations of her having also attacked a journalist.
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The large viewership for Paul A. Szypula’s tweet even triggered counterpoint debates in the column of replies. Several users felt outraged and called for punishments; some used the opportunity to issue racist insults against Crockett. ‘On hold’ posted a crude statement related to her background, while ‘Iteration’ sarcastically questioned why such behavior was permitted in politics in the first place. Others were in-between asking for investigations and ridiculing her; one user even joked, saying the warnings sounded more like “plans for her family reunion.”
Thus, the discussion was not all joking aside. Vodafone ‘Hussar’ had racist comments to provoke; ‘Duggo’ retorted with slurs dismissing Crockett’s supporters; ‘Mark James,’ in turn, proceeded to list a series of Democratic figures he considered guilty of violent rhetoric, framing it as a party-wide problem.
Another interesting aspect was that a handful of responses turned the discussion toward the political strategy side. A user called ‘GABRIEL’ claimed Crockett’s conduct as the poster child for Democratic dysfunction and thus insisted Trump’s leadership was necessary to restore order.
The rhetoric grew stranger when ‘Joey Jay’ came in with an unintelligible tirade packed with racial slurs and loose wordplay. This comment did not last long under the heaps of more offensive remarks that were at least comprehensible, a testament to how wildly off-the-rails the discourse had gotten.
Crockett, formerly a public defender and BLM activist, is accompanied by the brand of fiery speeches and unapologetic rhetoric. While her supporters argue she is standing up against systemic injustice, her detractors see her as a provocateur deepening the chasm. This latest controversy only intensifies the debate surrounding her approach to politics.
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Now that the tweet is still out there and traveling, something is certain: with her words, Crockett has struck a nerve. Could the backlash have real consequences politically? We have yet to see. For now, though, it’s another polarized shouting match on the internet, and if history is anything to go by, this won’t be the last time political words will stir online outrage.
