Right Way and a Wrong Way

At her briefing on Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi remarked

We certainly think it’s despicable the violence that is taking place against Tesla, the company, its employees, and also just Americans who have chosen to drive an electric vehicle. Many of them are Democrats, by the way. Democrats were big supporters of Tesla and of electric vehicles until Elon Musk decided to vote for Donald Trump. So, we would like Democrats to also come out and condemn this heinous violence that we have seen.

Tweeters have indiscriminately blamed "liberals" or "leftists" or "Democrats," and this is not surprising:

An investigation has found 5 ActBlue-funded groups responsible for Tesla “protests”: Troublemakers, Disruption Project, Rise & Resist, Indivisible Project and Democratic Socialists of America.

ActBlue funders include George Soros, Reid Hoffman, Herbert Sandler, Patricia Bauman,…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 8, 2025 

That is ridiculous. However, as a late-night talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel is associated with the Democratic brand and it's not helpful when

During Tuesday night's monologue, Kimmel had fun at the expense of Tesla CEO and DOGE chief Elon Musk over his company's stock tanking "almost disastrously so," sparking massive cheers from his audience.

"People have been vandalizing Tesla vehicles, new Tesla vehicles. Please don't vandalize— don't ever vandalize Tesla vehicles," Kimmel said to the camera before smiling with a comedic pause.

Democrats should denounce the vandalism and crime being committed- but not by spanking fellow Democrats. The congressman from Silicon Valley, Ro Khanna, on Thursday stated "until yesterday, I think I was one of the only Democratic elected officials to vigorously condemn the violence and destruction against Tesla."

This statement is accurate and denouncing the violent behavior was commendable. However, proclaiming ".... I was one of the only Democratic elected officials..." is not commendable. Nor is it helpful to his Party because the comment self-righteously placed himself in opposition to other Democrats, suggesting that he did it despite being a Democrat.

 

Democrats should unequivocally rebuke what is happening but not by suggesting that the stance is bold because they are Democrats. "As a Democrat," should be the starting point.  If they then go on to condemn Musk for being knee-deep in the unparalleled corruption and extremism of the Trump Administration, all the better. 

However, clearly and skillfully separating the two remarks is essential lest the Democrat be legitimately accused of applying a "yes, but" or bothsiderism standard. Flouting the U.S. Constitution, as Donald Trump is doing, is undermining the rule of law and laying bare the falsehood that the law applies equally to everyone. "No one is above the law" has become a cruel joke.

We do not know who is committing the Tesla attacks, with the possibility that anarchists or even supporters of Musk (in a false flag operation) are responsible. Yet, right-wingers on social media, Musk,  Bill Maher, and others are laying the blame for the Tesla attacks upon Democrats and/or liberals with no rebuttal from Democrats. If Democrats remain relatively silent, the assumption that it must be the left grows. 

"Heinous violence" and "Democrats" should not be, must not be, synonymous in the mind of the voter. The prevailing narrative must be squashed at a least, and reversed if possible. 

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