The Obama Diary

People For The American Way: Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik, the most visible law enforcement official handling the incident thus far, has come under attack from the Right for speaking the truth. He has acknowledged that the Tucson gunman, Jared Loughner, appears to be a deeply disturbed individual. But the sheriff has rightly noted that the increased inflammatory and violent rhetoric over the last several years in our national political debate has created a dangerous climate that could contribute to senseless acts of violence like this one, which claimed the lives of six innocent people and injured 12 more.

Voices on the Right are now accusing him of politicizing the tragedy. How long until Sheriff Dupnik is featured on Glenn Beck’s chalkboard?

It’s important that when someone gets smeared and attacked for telling the truth, we stand up to defend them. If you would like to show your support for Sheriff Dupnik, please take a moment to sign a letter solidarity with him against the increasing smears he is facing from the Right.

Dear Sheriff Dupnik,

Thank you for your forthrightness in your public discussion of the recent tragedy in Tucson. It’s painfully clear that angry, hateful and, yes, violent rhetoric has made toxic our national political discourse. The overheated debate which crosses the boundaries of civility is an important reality to acknowledge in assessing the nature of Saturday’s massacre and potential for future acts of violence.

For telling the hard truths, you risk attack from some powerful people and interests. Please know that I stand in solidarity with you, and reject the wholly undeserved smears and attempts at character assassination which are already starting to bubble up in certain spheres of our political debate.

Signed….

Send the letter from here

Thank you Sarah for passing on the link

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik: “The kind of rhetoric that flows from people like Rush Limbaugh, in my judgment he is irresponsible, uses partial information, sometimes wrong information. He attacks people, angers them against government, angers them against elected officials and that kind of behavior in my opinion is not without consequences.”

“I don’t have a problem with heated arguments. As a matter of fact you are kind of getting a little heat out of me now, and it is because I am very angry at what has transpired. Not because it’s Tucson, Arizona, but because of two beautiful people - one almost dead and one assassinated - that were personal friends of mine (Gabrielle Giffords and U.S. District Judge John Roll) and outstanding individuals and public servants.”