{"id":2501119,"date":"2025-10-20T14:35:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T18:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/politicians-only-apologize-for-out-of-hand-rhetoric-when-caught-salena-zito\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T14:36:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T18:36:34","slug":"politicians-only-apologize-for-out-of-hand-rhetoric-when-caught-salena-zito","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/politicians-only-apologize-for-out-of-hand-rhetoric-when-caught-salena-zito\/","title":{"rendered":"Politicians only apologize for &#8216;out of hand&#8217; rhetoric when caught: Salena Zito"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpoliticians-only-apologize-for-out-of-hand-rhetoric-when-caught-salena-zito%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2501119&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnns-voice-of-reason-scott-jennings-caps-trump-victory-with-one-final-masterpiece\/\" title=\"CNN...s Voice of Reason Scott Jennings Caps ... Victory with One Final Masterpiece\">article discusses commentary<\/a> by Washington Examiner Senior Columnist Salena Zito on the rise of &#8220;dehumanizing&#8221; rhetoric among politicians, which she warns is &#8220;very dangerous&#8221; as unstable individuals might take such language to violent extremes. Zito highlights recent incidents, including Democratic Maine Senate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-continuous-media-covid-fear-mongering-may-backfire-and-diminish-democrat-voter-turnout\/\" title=\"The Continuous Media COVID Fear Mongering May BACKFIRE and Diminish Democrat Voter Turnout\">candidate<\/a> Graham Platner&#8217;s apology for controversial 2018 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-collins-unlikely-to-support-tanden-narrowing-path-for-biden-nominee\/\" title=\"Report: Collins Unlikely To Support Tanden, Narrowing Path For Biden Nominee\">social media comments<\/a> about fighting fascism with weapons, and the arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro&#8217;s residence. She argues that political apologies often come onyl after backlash and lack genuine remorse. The article also references Democratic Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones&#8217;s leaked texts suggesting violence, noting the different reactions within the Democratic Party compared to past scandals. Zito questions when politicians will face real consequences for inflammatory remarks and expresses concern about the impact of dismissing these statements on younger generations.The piece includes reactions from Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin and condemnation from former President Donald Trump.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Politicians only apologize for &lsquo;out of hand&rsquo; rhetoric when caught: Salena Zito<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2377942\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Washington Examiner<\/em> Senior Columnist Salena Zito said the growing number of &ldquo;dehumanizing&rdquo; statements from politicians is &ldquo;very dangerous,&rdquo; warning that &ldquo;unstable&rdquo; people could take this rhetoric &ldquo;to the next level.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Democratic Maine Senate candidate <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/1979312580490596829\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Graham Platner apologized Friday<\/a> for social media comments he made in 2018 that included encouraging anyone expecting &ldquo;to fight fascism without a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >good semi-automatic rifle&#038;rdquo<\/a>; to read history. Zito, who witnessed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3444699\/timeline-increasing-incidents-political-violence-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">President Donald Trump almost get assassinated<\/a> in July 2024, said &ldquo;the bulk&rdquo; of these inflammatory statements comes from &ldquo;the left wing,&rdquo; such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3849356\/cody-balmer-firebomb-josh-shapiro-pennsylvania-governors-residence-pleads-guilty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">arson attack on Gov. Josh Shapiro&rsquo;s (D-PA) residence<\/a> in April.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3856906\/andrew-cuomo-curtis-sliwa-irrelevant-nyc-mayor-race\/\">Cuomo says Curtis Sliwa was &#8216;put on&#8217; the NYC mayoral ballot by party leadership<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3856785\/jay-jones-tying-jason-miyares-trump-virginia-attorney-general-bid-falters-text-scandal\/\">Jay Jones goes on offensive, ties Miyares to Trump as Virginia attorney general bid falters after text scandal<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3855230\/obama-mikie-sherrill-endorsement-power-foray-new-jersey-governors-race\/\">Obama tests endorsement power with foray into New Jersey governor&rsquo;s race<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;If you take a look at what that arsonist did to the governor&rsquo;s mansion, the Shapiro family are very lucky that they survived that attack. And again, I go back to, we just dehumanize people. What the candidate from Maine did was, you know, he doesn&rsquo;t say he regrets it. He says he&rsquo;s sorry for it, and I think there needs to be a more in-depth understanding from voters. Voters are going to be very skeptical if someone doesn&rsquo;t show remorse. They only apologized because they got caught.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Zito also pointed to Democratic Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones&rsquo;s leaked texts, in which he suggested a former Virginia House speaker and his children should be killed. Zito said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3854300\/hakeem-jeffries-jay-jones-leaked-texts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">no Democrats are requesting<\/a> that Jones step down from the race, an&nbsp;opposite&nbsp;reaction to&nbsp;how they&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/715293\/2020-democrats-urge-ralph-northam-to-resign-over-racist-photo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">called for then-Gov. Ralph Northam&nbsp;to resign in 2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Jones apologized for his text messages. Zito said an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/leftist-lawfare-firm-sues-madison-for-disenfranchising-voters\/\" title=\"Leftist Lawfare Firm Sues Madison For Disenfranchising Voters\">apology isn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t &ldquo;enough&rdquo; and reiterated her belief that politicians apologize after their statements are discovered. She also wondered when consequences would be given to those who run for office and make these statements, asking what younger people are taking away from others waving off past comments.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/3855322\/democratic-party-cried-fascism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>THE PARTY THAT CRIED FASCISM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said Platner&rsquo;s past comments are &ldquo;indefensible,&rdquo; but he believes people say things <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3856438\/ken-martin-graham-platner-posts-maine-senate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;at their most vulnerable times.&rdquo;<\/a> He added that he &ldquo;absolutely&rdquo; believes Platner acknowledges he used &ldquo;harmful&rdquo; words.<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump condemned Jones as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3856785\/jay-jones-tying-jason-miyares-trump-virginia-attorney-general-bid-falters-text-scandal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">an &ldquo;animal that wanted to kill somebody&rdquo;<\/a> on Sunday when talking to the press aboard Air Force One. Different polls show either Jones tied with sitting Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetrafalgargroup.org\/news\/va-gov-1016\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Miyares leading by 4.9%<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Politicians apologize for harsh rhetoric only when caught: Zito<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2501120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25289850395385.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[8049,5447,11152,3950,34951],"class_list":["post-2501119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-accountability","tag-apology","tag-politicians","tag-rhetoric","tag-salena-zito"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25289850395385.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2501119"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2501123,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501119\/revisions\/2501123"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2501120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2501119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2501119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2501119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}