Missouri GOP Politico's Flamethrower 'Rhetoric & Imagery' Denounced

Today's roundup from the AP represents the "official version" of this story that will be documented in most news outlets across the nation.

Honestly . . . A note about intention and aesthetics is kind of upscale for this week's news cycle. 

Here at TKC we're more practical . . .

Our bloggy hunch is that this publicity stunt backfired and the politico won't get much benefit from otherwise welcomed national coverage.

Fame for using weapons rarely translates to political advantage and, honestly, the trend has become a bit of punchline even amongst the most naive voters. 

Check-it . . .

Experts say Eigel's use of the flamethrower is a sign that rhetoric and imagery previously considered extreme are now being treated as normal in American politics. While Eigel didn't actually destroy books, his later statement about burning ones he deemed offensive ratcheted up fears that the video's circulation and his words on social media could help take the U.S. to a darker place.

“The slippery slope is that everything is a joke — everything can be kind of waved away,” said Kurt Braddock, an assistant professor of public communications at American University in Washington. “Everything can be seen as just rhetoric until it can’t anymore and people start using it as an excuse to actually hurt people.”

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

A flamethrower and comments about book burning ignite a political firestorm in Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A longshot candidate for Missouri governor and his supporters describe his use of a flamethrower at a recent "Freedom Fest" event outside St. Louis as no big deal. They s...