Violent rhetoric from the left that sparked a man to shoot at Republican House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and others last week is similar to that of Middle East extremist groups, Jack Posobiec, conservative activist and author, told Newsmax TV.
"When I did counterterrorism work in the Navy and we would go after some of these extremist organizations in the Middle East, you would see the radicalization process," Posobiec told host Steve Malzberg. "It would start with the madrasa that would preach radical hate rhetoric, hate speech. And then the groups would recruit from those people that were already radicalized. And you're seeing a very similar process play out here."
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James T. Hodgkinson, a 66-year-old supporter of leftist causes who volunteered for the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was shot by police after opening fire Wednesday during a congressional Republican baseball team practice. Scalise was the most seriously wounded and is still being treated in a Washington-area hospital.
Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh has blamed liberal elements of the mainstream media for "radicalizing" Hodgkinson, who expressed an intense hatred for President Donald Trump and Republicans who support him.
Posobiec was one of two protesters thrown out of the New York Shakespeare in the Park production of "Julius Caesar" after they interrupted the performance Friday night over its depiction of the title character as Trump, complete with a graphic depiction of the scene where Caesar is stabbed to death by members of the Senate.
Fellow activist Laura Loomer was arrested for taking the stage during the protest, and Posobiec himself was escorted out by security shouting "You are all Nazis like Joseph Goebbels . . . you are inciting terrorists" and "The blood of Steve Scalise is on your hands."
Fox News political editor Chris Stirewalt on Monday criticized the protests saying they were no different than "snowflakes" on the left protesting speech they disagree with.
But Posobiec defended his actions, telling Malzberg the right has to "Fight fire with fire."
"We've seen certain tactics have effectiveness," he said. "So if the other side is going to do it, I don't see any reason why the same effective tactics shouldn't be used."
Posobiec is author of "Citizens for Trump: The Inside Story of the People's Movement to Take Back America."
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