Arkansas Senator Jason Rapert Fires Back

Recently Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert was hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19.  Rapert managed to communicate with supporters and friends through his various social media accounts.  When the announcement was made, it was simple, direct, and positive.  Rapert asked for prayers for his "family and every family who has lost a loved one to COVID-19."  It should have ended there with some follow up post of support and then updates from Rapert as he fought the battle.  It did not, unfortunately, stop there.

Within minutes of Rapert's post, hate postings started showing up on the Twitter account.  Some wanted to know if he would have a mask on his casket, and others outright wished him death.  At a time when politics should have been set aside, some chose to attack a man in the hospital fighting for his life.  Sadly, this is what many in our nation finds acceptable.  These people would take a moment of crisis for Rapert and his family and turn it into a driving force for hate.  I followed some of the posts and responded to some of them.  I will tell you that what I saw was simply appalling, nasty, and downright horrible. 

While several people immediately jumped to Rapert's defense, offered prayers, and chastised those who would attack Rapert while he was down, nothing could have prepared the attackers for what would come.  Not only did Rapert continue to get better and recover, but he also began to systematically fire back at his attackers. 

The responses that Rapert decided to take was unique.  He did not directly respond in most cases to the attacker; instead, he promoted the attacker's post.  Rapert took screenshots of the hate postings, reposted them on his own timeline, and called the person out by name and notified Twitter as well as other social media outlets regarding the hate post.  Regardless of where you stand on politics, hate posts are generally not accepted on social media.   By taking this approach, Rapert called attention to the post, ensured it was kept as part of the record, and the original posting person could not delete it. He called it to the attention of the social media review groups.  Rapert was professional, direct, and blunt with his attackers.

Rapert's response is not only the right thing to do; it is the thing that has been needed for a long time.  Too long, Republicans have sat by as Democrats, and others call us "Racist," "Anti-Women," "Deplorable," "Ignorant," and so many other things.  We have sat and listened as people try to scream over our speech and yell obscenities in our faces.  We have watched as they tear down our political signs, attack our headquarters,  and knock campaign hats off of kids.  We have listened to the death threats and even the cheers when candidates have been sick, hurt, or attacked.  We have also seen recently a Trump supporter killed for what police believe was his support of the President.  No more.  It's about time that our leaders lead the charge.  Trump set the stage, and it shocked the world when he acted "Non-Political" in his responses.  Now it's time that we do it on all levels. 

Rapert is leading the way as an Arkansas Senator and showing that we do not have to sit by and simply accept the attacks.  We can, and we should respond to them.  We do not have to drop to their low levels and use curse words and name-calling.  We can simply repost, point out, and fight back in a way that shows we will not roll over and go quietly because someone screamed at us. 

It's high time the Republican Party and Republicans, in general, met the attackers.   Jason Rapert not only had to fight a battle with COVID-19, but he also had to fight a struggle with radical people wishing him death.   Well done, Mr. Rapert.  You have an army of Arkansas supporters at your back, we are with you, and we will not take it anymore.