Democratic strategist Jim Devine defends #HuntRepublicans, #HuntRepublicanCongressmen tweets

Nick Muscavage | Courier News and Home News Tribune

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump: 'Thoughts, prayers' to shooting injured U.S. President Donald Trump continued to send "thoughts and prayers" Thursday to the critically wounded top GOP leader, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, and others injured in a shooting over 24 hours ago. (June 15)

RAHWAY - Jim Devine, a Democratic strategist, sent out a tweet from his Twitter account Wednesday afternoon with the hashtag "HuntRepublicanCongressmen" after the shooting of Republican Congressman Steve Scalise.

"I think it speaks for itself," Devine said of the tweet on Thursday afternoon. "Yesterday's events are the result of escalating rhetoric and vitriol that has been evident in our political system culminating with the election of our president and the chickens came home to roost, you know?"

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

READ: NJ Democratic creates Hunt Republicans hashtag after shootings

The tweet was first reported by the MoreMonmouthMusings.net political blog.

Devine said that the tweet may come as a shock to some, but it may awaken others to the vicious political environment that he said has emerged in the last couple years and swelled dramatically since President Donald Trump's election.

"I think some people will be shocked and offended," he said, "and other people might be woken up to the fact that this is nothing that wasn't invited by things like Sarah Palin's crosshairs on Gabby Giffords before she was shot."

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During an interview with MyCentralJersey.com, Devine went on to say that by using Republicans' gun-rights rhetoric, one could make the case that Scalise's shooter, James Hodgkinson, was utilizing his Second Amendment rights.

"Or Sen. Rand's charge that the Second Amendment wasn't so that people could hunt rabbits, it was so they could fight against a tyrannical government," he added. "Well, now that we have a tyrannical government, to use another Republican's words, James Hodgkinson is a citizen availing himself of his Second Amendment remedies."

The issue of violence is being recognized by state elected officials. Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick will hold a joint news conference Friday to discuss civility and violence. The press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. in Room 109 of the Statehouse in Trenton.

"The only response I would have is that I abhor all violence and there is no place for violence in American democracy, " said Kevin O'Brien, the newly elected chairman of the Rahway Democratic Committee.

A state Democratic official disavowed Devine's tweets Thursday. A spokesman for New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman John Currie said the organization "is in no way associated with Mr. Devine's hashtag.''

"We reject incitements to violence and deplore such sensationalism," said the spokesman, Matt Farrauto.

Devine formerly served as a political consultant to attorney Billy Delgado when he ran for mayor in Perth Amboy in 2012. Delgado, who formerly served as Perth Amboy’s Democratic chair, declined comment.

When Rahway Mayor Samson Steinman was running for re-election, he was challenged by Devine, who has been involved in politics for 35 years and previously worked on campaigns for former Mayor and current Assemblyman James Kennedy and state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-20th District) but has not held elected office.

Devine also had previously worked for various media outlets in New Jersey, accoridng to the bio on his website. In 2013, Devine was arrested and accused of shoplifting about $22.47 worth of merchandise from a ShopRite store in Linden. A store loss prevention office told police that Devine was observed on surveillance camera placing two bags of lettuce, a bottle of hair conditioner, a container of protein powder in a shopping bag and walking out without paying.

Devine on Wednesday also posted a tweet with the hashtag "HuntRepublicans."

He said that although he does not condone violent acts, Republicans who speak with aggressive rhetoric should be prepared for violence.

"If you want to behave in an uncivilized and violent manner, which I do not condone, but if you want to operate under those circumstances," he said, "then you have to be prepared to accept those consequences."

He said that lawmakers should be focusing on passing better gun-control laws and toning down vicious rhetoric, but that Trump instead incited violence during his campaign.

"He offered to pay the legal fees of people who assaulted his political critics," Devine said. "Yes, I do think that Donald Trump encouraged people to take matters into their own hands and to use violence."

He also said that conservatives have mashed up politics and war in their rhetoric.

"One thing I said is that Republicans in this country have failed to distinguish the difference between politics and war," he said. "And too many Democrats have failed to observe the similarities."

Devine said that he isn't one to fight, but if provoked by partisan rhetoric, he can't hold back.

"If somebody throw the first punch," he said, "I'm not going to sit back and take it.

"For too long, these snowflakes in the Republican party that are wringing their hands on Fox News at night, well they have to realize something: this is 15 years in the making."

He said that a war of classes has been created by the Republican party.

"If you want to invite a class war," he said, "then you have to expect people to fight back at some point."

As for the attack on Scalise Wednesday, Devine said, "I think it's horrible, but I think it was extremely predictable, and I think it was entirely preventable."

Contributing: Staff Writers Suzanne Russell and Bob Jordan.

Staff Writer Nick Muscavage: 908-243-6615; ngmuscavage@gannettnj.com