Why can’t the GOP call out violence when their side perpetrates it?

NICK ANDERSON/TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY

Could it be because they are scared of their base?

Paul Pelosi, the husband of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), was attacked last week and the right seemed to fall all over itself to predictably respond by:

1. Using “whataboutism” to question the motives of anyone who brings up violence against lefties. For example, “What about when (Justice Kavanaugh, Candace Owens, another right-wing figure) was attacked, did you say anything about that?”
2. Downplaying what happened. Whether it was the January 6th insurrection attempt (“Those were tourists!”) or the attack on Mr. Pelosi (“We’re gonna send Nancy home to take care of him!).
3. Blaming something else. This year the dog whistle is crime. “This wasn’t political! This was random violence! Look, it happened in crime-ridden San Francisco!” (This is funny because deep red, Stockton, California — represented by Kevin McCarthy has a violent crime rate that is nearly double that of Nancy Pelosi’s blue San Francisco.)
4. Claiming the assailant is just nuts. This works when a MAGA groupie does something horrible but ALSO when a mass shooting happens! What a versatile excuse!
5. Finding a conspiracy to cling to!