In the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday, the Herald reached out to local political leaders from both parties to get their perspective.
The Herald wanted to hear from Travis Ricketts, chairman of the Pickaway County Republican Central Committee, and Carolyn Loxley, chairwoman of the Pickaway County Democratic Party, who shared her personal views on the matter not as an official response from her political party.
Like many Americans, the news about what happened Saturday at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, came as a surprise.
“I was having a lazy Saturday evening, mindlessly watching TV when my husband told me about the shooting,” Ricketts said. “It was so soon after the event that the only news online was various Twitter reports. I was shocked and in disbelief. I spent the next hour repeatedly updating the Twitter pages of the various reporters I follow for the latest news. I never thought that I would see something like this in my lifetime. The time when world leaders were regularly the targets of violence — Presidents Kennedy & Reagan, Pope John Paul II, Prime Minister Thatcher — was in my parents’ time, not mine.”
Loxley said, “I was returning from Columbus where I had met with the Sherrod Brown (US Senate candidate) campaign to get yard signs and campaign materials for the county.”
Ricketts said the assassination attempt would impact the republic and had it succeeded, there would have been serious consequences for all Americans.
“I share the concern about the potential impacts of this event on our republic,” he said. “It is a relief that the shooter appears to fit the profile of a ‘bullied school shooter/suicide by cop’ rather than a politically motivated activist. Had this been an act of explicit political violence which succeeded in killing President Trump, the repercussions would have been far more severe, plunging us into a darker period of division and unrest.”
When Loxley was asked if she thinks there’s a chance an assassination attempt may happen again to either presidential candidate, she replied, “Of course.”
Loxley said she is more terrified of recent Supreme Court decisions than by the assassination attempt.
“There is much more than this single event to be terrified about,” she said. “Recent Supreme Court decisions have altered the rights of Americans in many ways. Gun violence is terrifying and I say that as a gun owner right here in Ohio. The efforts to disenfranchise voters because they might be likely to vote ‘the wrong way’ is unAmerican and undemocratic.”
Loxley continued, “Also in Ohio, the structure that enables politicians choosing their voters rather than voters choosing representatives who actually reflect the voters’ priorities is wrong. Political violence has been part of our history. Lynchings based on race, the destruction of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, and the murder of George Floyd could all be construed as political violence. In my lifetime I have participated in many peaceful protests. What we have seen and heard from extremist politicians on the right has created a climate of tolerance of violence. ‘Go ahead and beat him up. I’ll pay your legal fees.’”
Loxley said upon hearing the news about the assassination attempt, her first thoughts were about the recent US Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. On July 1, the Supreme Court ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.
“My first thought was of the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity,” Loxley said “We are at a place in history where we are on the brink of becoming a nation where a leader can officially call for ‘Seal Team 6’ to execute a perceived opponent as was described in the initial Appeals Court review of this question.”
Loxley then referred to Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s handbook for the next Republican administration, which has become a cudgel Democrats are wielding against Trump, who on Monday officially became the GOP’s presidential nominee.
With a nearly 1,000-page “Project 2025” handbook and an “army” of Americans, the idea is to have the civic infrastructure in place on Day One to commandeer, reshape, and do away with what Republicans deride as the “deep state” bureaucracy, in part by firing as many as 50,000 federal workers, according to the Associated Press.
Project 2025 has not been endorsed by the GOP or by Trump.
“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump posted on his social media website. “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”
Loxley said, “With the existence of Project 2025 as a foundational component of the conservative plan for this county, this threat is real and horrifying.”
Ricketts and Loxley discussed the major mainstream media’s role in the current climate of a divided electorate in the wake of an assassination attempt.
“The role of the mainstream media in public discourse cannot be overlooked,” Ricketts said. “While they present themselves as neutral observers, it is evident that profit drives much of their content. In pursuit of ratings and clicks, major news companies have encouraged commentators who thrive on promoting doomsday rhetoric. This kind of sensationalism only heightens tensions and deepens divides within our society.”
Ricketts continued, “It’s crucial for all of us — media included — to recognize the responsibility we bear in shaping public discourse. We need to strive for a more balanced and thoughtful conversation, one that prioritizes facts over unhinged fearmongering and encourages understanding rather than division. Looking forward, it’s imperative that we remain vigilant and proactive in addressing the underlying issues that contribute to such violence. This includes fostering a culture of empathy, support, and constructive dialogue in our communities and holding all media outlets accountable for the narratives they choose to amplify.”
Ballots not bullets should settle debates.
“While there is always a risk of recurrence, we have the power to mitigate this by reaffirming our country’s founding commitment that political debate must be settled at the ballot box and not by violence,” Ricketts said.
Loxley too is skeptical of the media.
“I do not consider FOX News’ infotainment as mainstream media, but I do consider them a causative agent,” she said. “At this point, I have largely disengaged from the media in nearly all forms. It is far too easy to lose heart for the future of our nation.”
Ricketts was asked if he could reach across the aisle to Democrats, what would he say before the rhetoric heats up — what advice does he have for family, friends, neighbors, and the community of Pickaway County.
“Leadership is a burden, and as Americans, we bear the responsibility of setting a moral example for the world,” he said. “Our forefathers made tremendous sacrifices to build a nation founded on principles of democracy, liberty, and justice. It’s our duty to honor their legacy by upholding these values and steering clear of becoming a nation divided by political violence.”
Ricketts continued, “In Pickaway County, we are a community. We may have different political views, but fundamentally, we all strive for the same thing: a better, stronger, and more prosperous community. We must remember that those with differing opinions are not our enemies—they are our spouses, brothers, co-workers, neighbors, and friends. Our shared humanity and common goals bind us together far more than our political affiliations could ever divide us.”
People are inherently good.
“Most people are inherently good, and now, more than ever, is the time for unity,” Ricketts said, “Let’s engage in respectful dialogue, listen to one another with open hearts and minds, and work together to find common ground. By doing so, we can create a community where everyone feels valued and heard.”
Honor our nation’s legacy by valuing mutual respect.
“As we move forward, let’s hold on to the belief that we are Americans first,” Ricketts said. “Let’s honor our nation’s legacy by fostering a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and mutual respect. Together, we can build a brighter future for all.”
Loxley was asked if she could reach across the aisle to Republicans, what would she say?
“I have heard my Republican colleagues mention ‘the rhetoric on both sides’ as being troublesome,” she said. “I have never seen anyone displaying disrespectful and vulgar signs and flags other than Trump supporters. Police your own. Words have power and disrespect diminishes us all.”
Loxley offers this advice to family, friends, neighbors, and the community of Pickaway County.
“Vandalism happens in this county on the basis of political preference,” she said. “It must not stop us from speaking out and speaking up about what we know to be right and the true meaning of being the greatest nation in the world. Trump did not do that. Our fellow Americans over many generations and two centuries did it. We all need to vote. Let’s not allow the United States of America to fall on our watch.”
Most Popular
Comments / 0