A week after a gunman opened fire on a Republican congressional baseball practice, triggering bipartisan calls for unity, Democrats have turned up their rhetoric.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R., La.) was shot in the hip on June 14 along with four others after a shooter targeted the GOP practice in Alexandria, Va. The shooter, James T. Hodgkinson, was an avid supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) who had a deep hatred of Republicans and President Donald Trump.
Republicans and Democrats subsequently joined in unison to call for lawmakers to tone done their political rhetoric.
The rhetoric was toned down for several days—until Senate Republicans on Thursday introduced their health care reform legislation to replace Obamacare.
Democrats denounced the bill as mean and evil. They predicted that thousands of Americans would die and that the bill would be funded by "blood money."
Forget death panels. If Republicans pass this bill, they're the death party. https://t.co/jCStfOaBjy
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 23, 2017
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah) responded to Democrats' heated rhetoric on Friday.
The brief time when we were *not* accusing those we disagree with of murder was nice while it lasted. https://t.co/qr1rzon1cg
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) June 23, 2017