MSNBC's Chuck Todd said Wednesday the shooting in Virginia where a House member was shot by a man who was reportedly distraught over President Donald Trump's election exposes the toxic political culture in America.
"Folks, some want to blame the left or the right or us in the media," Todd told "Meet The Press Daily." "But here's who it seems too many folks don't want to blame: themselves. We are all to blame."
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., was shot along with two law enforcement officers and a congressional aide after James T. Hodgkinson opened fire at the Republican congressional baseball team practice in Alexandria, Va. Hodgkinson died in a shootout with police.
Hodgkinson was a Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., fan who volunteered on his campaign, and one congressman who was leaving the field said the shooter had asked whether Democrats or Republicans were practicing on the field.
One former Republican lawmaker, Newt Gingrich, used the incident as an opportunity to blame "hostility on the left."
"This toxic stew that passes for political discourse seems beyond repair in the current moment," Todd said. "Just look at social media. For too long, our collective politics has demonized the other side for caustic behavior while rationalizing that same behavior when it comes from someone who shares their politics.
"Maybe we ought to borrow another phrase that we're all asked to do, when you see something, say something. And for political leaders, when you see caustic behavior, no matter if that person agrees with you, why don't you say something to them?"
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