boston bombing

Things the Boston Marathon Bombing Supposedly ‘Proves’

Medical workers aid injured people at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Photo: Charles Krupa/AP Images

It didn’t take long at all after the bombing at the Boston Marathon for insensitive pundits to make the attack a partisan issue, and with no answers yet in the investigation, it’s still happening. Lingering fear and uncertainty invite not only ludicruous conspiracy theories from the likes of Alex Jones, but presumptuous political point-making from anyone with a microphone and the gall to mold the tragedy into something that allegedly confirms an already-held opinion. Take, for example, Barney Frank and Glenn Beck.

Taxes are good

In this terrible situation, let’s be very grateful that we had a well-funded, functioning government,” said the former congressman from Massachusetts. “It is very fashionable in America … to criticize government, to belittle public employees, talk about their pensions, talk about what people think is their excessive health care, here we saw government in two ways perform very well.” While topical, he absolutely did not need to add, at this juncture, “No tax cut would have helped us deal with this or will help us recover.”

Gold is great

Beck was far worse. On his network, the Blaze, the former Fox News host used death and destruction to hawk a product (and his sponsor): “Let’s say this turns out to be a terrorist operation with multiple bombs around the city. The Stock Market tanking, things going awry — wouldn’t this exactly be like how it would happen?” he scare-mongered. “You better have a plan and know what you and your family are going to do in the time do in the time of more difficult days ahead.” Yes, he means gold.

The previously held biases are becoming assumptions, on both sides, in the face of any facts (or lack thereof):

Immigration is terrible

Congressman Steve King of Iowa, in an interview with the National Review Online, said, “Some of the speculation that has come out is that yes, it was a foreign national and, speculating here, that it was potentially a person on a student visa. If that’s the case, then we need to take a look at the big picture … If we can’t background check people that are coming from Saudi Arabia, how do we think we are going to background check the 11 to 20 million people that are here from who knows where.”

The Obama era is a disaster

Worst. President. Ever.” writes popular conservative blogger Jim Hoft.

The right hates America

Muslims are evil

And things will only get worse, from at least one side, when we have some real answers.

This post has been updated throughout.

Things the Boston Marathon Bombing ‘Proves’