RAHWAY -- A Democratic strategist from Union County is defending his use of the hashtags #HuntRepublicanCongressman and #HuntRepublicans, saying they are meant to be a metaphor about "hunting" Republicans out of Congress and not an endorsement of Wednesday's attack on the Republican congressional baseball team.

Jim Devine, a longtime Democratic strategist who has worked on both local and presidential campaigns and once ran for mayor of Rahway, said he would never condone violence and called the shooting "a terrible tragedy."

"I'm not advocating violence, but I'm saying I understand it," Devine said in a phone interview. "I can recognize why it's happened, because this is the predictable and preventable outcome of 40 years of increasingly vitriolic, violent, corrupt and corporate-controlled rhetoric. This is the chickens coming home to roost."

We are in a war with selfish, foolish & narcissistic rich people. Why is it a shock when things turn violent? #HuntRepublicanCongressmen — James Devine (@James_J_Devine) June 14, 2017

In 2002, Scalise was a speaker at the European-American Unity & Rights Organization (EURO), a group founded by David Duke. #HuntRepublicans — James Devine (@James_J_Devine) June 14, 2017

When asked if he would apologize for or if he regrets using the inflammatory hashtag, Devine replied, "I really apologize to any Republican snowflakes out there wringing their hands on Fox News because I hurt their feelings. That's the apology. 'I don't have time for political correctness' is the President's mantra, so don't ask me to play by different rules. I'm not going to unilaterally disarm myself in the face of maniacs."

Devine pointed to other seemingly violent political messages from Republicans, including Sarah Palin's crosshairs map -- which drew targets on elected officials who supported Obamacare -- and a "Liberal Hunting Permit" bumper sticker, among others.

He also said President Trump's rhetoric -- and his offer to pay legal bills of those who assault his critics -- shows the President has incited people to violence.

"Typically I don't throw fire when fire is thrown at me, I throw water," Devine said. "But when normal people try to have a rational political discourse, they are silenced. Hence, when it becomes necessary to fight fire with fire, I'll do that."

Devine added that he retweeted a post from Senator Rand Paul, where Paul quoted a judge who said the Second Amendment exists so people can take action against a tyrannical government -- and that that's the path the Virginia shooter, Tom Hodgkinson, chose.

"You can't try to kill people and expect them not to get angry," Devine said, referring to GOP attacks on Obamacare. "You can't govern in secret and expect them not to get angry. Tom Hodgkinson used his Second Amendment remedies. That's not the way to do this, a violent revolution is not a good thing, but he was a guy who first tried to effect change through positive action."

Devine's says he's received a few threats because of his posts, never mind the scores of folks who replied online to slam him for them.

"I had one friend from Boy Scouts unfriend me," Devine said. "Some coward called me up without identifying himself to tell me to watch my back."

Union County's Democratic Party Chair Jerry Green said he does not condone Devine's tweets and that Devine does not represent the views of the Union County Democratic Party.

But Green didn't want to wade farther into the controversy, saying only, "There are more important issues facing the state of New Jersey and this country."

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that Rand Paul's tweet was a quotation of a speech and not his own words.

Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.