One key difference here is that the MN Democrats killed and injured were relatively niche/local participants in the Democratic party in MN (none of that that makes their death or injury any more acceptable or less appalling). Kirk is a highly significant figure in the right wing media world.

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germinalphrase 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

Melissa Hortman wasn’t a niche local politician - she was the speaker of the Minnesota House.

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rdtsc 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

And how many people outside of Minnesota you think would know her. I bet the majority of people in MN wouldn't didn't know who she is.

For instance do you know Brandon Ler, the Montana House of Representatives speaker? Or, say, Nathaniel Ledbetter, the Alabama House of Representatives?

Are they "niche" politicians? In their states, no. But, absolutely yes when it comes to people from other states and more so from across the world.

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PaulDavisThe1st 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Would you care to estimate the number of Americans who even knew her name?

She had power in MN, but had not become a "national" politician (yet).

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germinalphrase 5 days ago | parent [-]

I made no claim that she was a national figure. Merely pointing out that calling a politician holding one of the highest offices in state government a niche, local politician intentionally diminishes them.

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PaulDavisThe1st 5 days ago | parent [-]

I was not intentionally trying to diminish her.

I suspect that unless you live in New Mexico, you have no idea who the speaker of the NM House is. That's not a diminshment of the office or the person holding it, it's a recognition that while such positions come with significant power within the context of a state, they are quite hidden from residents of other states.

	▲	germinalphrase 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		They hold meaningful office within their states. That is neither niche nor local even if they lack a national profile.

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zug_zug 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The other thing you're leaving out is that Charlie Kirk was actively provoking people with outrageous takes, perhaps as a social media strategy.

It doesn't justify death, but it certainly makes it less surprising and more understandable.

Imagine if a democrat went into the deep south and said "The confederacy was a stupid joke you should be ashamed of, it only existed for 4 years, get rid of the flag already." etc etc and posted it to social media while talking over people trying to engage in debate.

Then that would be an apples-to-apples comparison. Not an elected representative.

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bdangubic 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

MN Democrats were not random “niche” “Democrats” but US CONGRESSMEN

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asgeesg 5 days ago | parent [-]

No, they weren't US congressmen. Funny you just like that other whining guy don't even know anything about the subject. "They" (actually only one) was a MINNESOTA CONGRESSMAN, not a US CONGRESSMEN. You probably aren't even aware there is a Minnesota congress.

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bdangubic 5 days ago | parent [-]

Minnesota is part of Canada now? Must have missed that… :)

	▲	rdtsc 5 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		> MN Democrats were not random “niche” “Democrats” but US CONGRESSMEN reply > Minnesota is part of Canada now? Must have missed that… :) When you've dug yourself into a hole it's good idea to stop digging and get out instead of keep digging. As the GP pointed out, a US member of Congress refers to representative in the US Congress (that one from Washington, DC). In addition to the US Congress, states have their legislative bodies. Melissa Hortman was a member of such a state legislative body -- the Minnesota House of Representatives. So on one hand you sound like you know a lot about her and want her to be more well known, on the other hand you don't even know what legislative body she was a representative in. So that's pretty confusing.
	▲	asgeesg 5 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		You missed the part of your education that taught you the difference between a state representative and a US representative.