Was Trump's speech the epitome of "Both Sides Do It?"

[Unapologetic Chinaperson]

I'm talking about Trump's infamous speech in response to the Charlottesville violence:

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Plus, does it improve or worsen your opinion on the "both sides do it" argument when used on Atlas, in its myriad forms?

[SNJ1985]

Trump accurately pointed out that there are plenty of violent leftists in America.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Congressional_baseball_shooting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_shooting_of_Dallas_police_officers

[Green Line]

Is it not true?  Both sides do it.  We should condemn ALL political violence.

[Don Vito Corleone]

I mean, he's not wrong in saying that both sides have committed and do commit violence. But saying that in the aftermath of a violent act committed by one side is a bit like condemning the KKK after a Jihadist attack (which is to say everyone knows you're just trying to divert attention away from the incident at hand).

[Alabama_Indy10]

Is it not true?  Both sides do it.  We should condemn ALL political violence.

[The Govanah Jake]

Is it not true?  Both sides do it.  We should condemn ALL political violence.

[Tekken_Guy]

Definitely. The whole outrage is just a leftist smear tactic. If he was more specific about it the media would have just gone the "But Bannon!" or "Remember your campaign?" route.

[GGover]

The "both sides do it" argument was always garbage. It's the simplest cop out for someone who just wants to shift blame, rather than address the situation at hand.

Is it not true?  Both sides do it.  We should condemn ALL political violence.

No one is saying that it's false. Your post fails to address the criticism of the speech at all. Whether his statement was true or not is completely irrelevant.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Is the Pope Catholic? Is Tom Cruise with Scientology? Is Donald Trump a narcissist?

Of course!

[Alabama_Indy10]

The "both sides do it" argument was always garbage. It's the simplest cop out for someone who just wants to shift blame, rather than address the situation at hand.

Is it not true?  Both sides do it.  We should condemn ALL political violence.

No one is saying that it's false. Your post fails to address the criticism of the speech at all. Whether his statement was true or not is completely irrelevant.

So is it garbage or is it the truth? You're very misleading

[vanguard96]

His statement was a platitude. Weak as usual.

Of course how many people are using this one event to signal how virtuous they are.

Or further ratchet up their extremist views.

I think people need to stop reducing others to stereotypes based on group identity and resorting over-reaching statements like saying this one event is a sign of White America dying or that this is Trump's America.

[Catholics vs. Convicts]

If this was a Muslim terrorist attack, trump wouldn't be out there saying "both sides do it." He would call it what it was. What he said was factual, fine, but it was weak as hell because he doesn't want to call out people who clearly support him.

[RINO Tom]

If this was a Muslim terrorist attack, trump wouldn't be out there saying "both sides do it." He would call it what it was. What he said was factual, fine, but it was weak as hell because he doesn't want to call out people who clearly support him.

This is what bothers me, as I agree with your speculation.  Both sides DO do it (one of the lamest Atlas traditions ever is this growing trend of people mocking you when you defend your side by pointing out that the other side literally DOES DO IT, LOL ... if "both sides do it" will turn into a meme,  it, I stand with my boy bronz then, if forced to choose a side), but I'd prefer him condemn the offenders in each instance by name to publicly discredit them.  Islamic extremists, White supremecists, whatever.  Call them by name and call out their shlt for what it is.

[Xing]

Yes, and the problem with the "BOTH SYDZ DOOIT!!!!" argument isn't that there isn't truth to it. It's that it's nothing but a deflection and a refusal to acknowledge problems that exist on your side of the political aisle. Imagine a parent who refused to punish their child for beating up another kid, and simply said "lots of kids do it!" Disavowing white nationalism should have been easy for Trump, and his response makes it sound like he doesn't even care about it.

[Fight for Trump]

"Both sides do it" is a pretty insensitive thing to say when only one side had one of its members actually murder someone. I criticized Obama when he talked about "tolerance" after terrorist attacks, and I will criticize Trump for this.

I've always said one of the best things about Trump was that he was good for our national self-esteem, much like Reagan was. His speech was inappropriate and damaging to that self-esteem.

[HisGrace]

The funny thing about the "both sides do it" argument in this case is that Trump fans are basically acknowledging that Klansmen and Neo-Nazis are on "their side". Ten or even five years ago you wouldn't have seen Republicans doing that.

[GGover]

The "both sides do it" argument was always garbage. It's the simplest cop out for someone who just wants to shift blame, rather than address the situation at hand.

Is it not true?  Both sides do it.  We should condemn ALL political violence.

No one is saying that it's false. Your post fails to address the criticism of the speech at all. Whether his statement was true or not is completely irrelevant.

So is it garbage or is it the truth? You're very misleading

I wasn't misleading at all, you just chose to hear what you wanted to hear.

As I said earlier, no one is making the assertion that it is false, and the truth of his statement is irrelevant. The argument can be both true and garbage because those to statements aren't contradictory at all. My original post explained what I meant when I called the argument "garbage," so there really should be no ambiguity.

[TDAS04]

Worse than the typical version.  Saying "both sides do it" regarding the trouble in Charlottesville caused by white supremacists is particularly disgusting. 

[Unapologetic Chinaperson]

I posted this in the other thread, but I think it bears mentioning that the "both sides do it" argument has a long history with segregationists.

The History of Blaming 'Both Sides' and Why Language Matters

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[Kingpoleon]

I mean, at least he wasn't denying his "side" does it - no names.


Wasn't the police chief or mayor quoted as saying that both protests were responsible?