What someone was registered as has no bearing on his leaning on the political spectrum. Only which primary he was allowed to vote in. I don’t under stand why people are so fast to try to say what party he is with. Either way you know he was anti trump, which is for all intense and purposes anti republican. Actions speak louder than words

[–] todd_bonzalez@lemm.ee 25 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Look, I'm all about avoiding unnecessary speculation, but being registered as a Republican is a very strong indicator of where they stand on the political spectrum. I don't know why we are pretending that this isn't fairly conclusive. It's not like he changed party affiliation as a psyop, he's been registered as a Republican for nearly three years.

I don't know why he tried to kill Trump, but let's not pretend that these details don't matter.

[–] key@lemmy.keychat.org 6 points 4 months ago

That makes me curious if there's been studies on the typical percentage of people who register with a different party than the one they typically vote for. Especially comparing closed primary states (like Pennsylvania) to open primary states. Closed primaries clearly disincentivize registering independent but I could also see people believing it's advantageous to cross-register, especially when your preferred party is incumbent or when in a state that consistently votes the opposite way as you.

[–] SimplyTadpole@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 4 months ago

Sadly, that doesn't matter to them - at least from what I've seen, the predominating narrative among rightists and "centrists" is that he only registered Republican to sabotage/protest-vote in their primaries, and that therefore he's actually far-left Antifa did it.

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 8 points 4 months ago

* intents and purposes

If he was older I'd say he was trying to save the republican party from trump. I remember their disgust with him before he started winning, and even after by a few who have brand points in respectability.

[–] sp3tr4l@lemmy.zip 3 points 4 months ago

I guess the sarcasm was not obvious.

I was mocking what will presumably be a Republican talking point as a 15 dollar donation is immensely inconsequential.

I agree with you that party registration is basically meaningless for a 20 year old who seems to have not even ever voted, nor has any as of yet evidenced strong political beliefs voiced privately or publicly.

As of right now, the shooter does not seem to have been very politically involved either way and is being portrayed as basically socially awkward and picked on in high school.

If the person had a long history of political involvement either way or had published a manifesto or something like that, that may be worth discussing, but so far there is nothing to indicate any kind of strong ideological motive, more along the lines of 'troubled young adult has nothing to live for, decides to try and become famous and/or die trying.'

[–] PriorityMotif@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

The guys neighbors were all talking about how they were planning on going to the rally if it wasn't so hot out. I'm guessing there's deeper issues going on than just political. Trump supporters are insufferable and I'm guessing his dad and everyone else around him is a POS.

[–] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I've commented about this elsewhere, but the experiences, beliefs and opinions that radicalize ad hoc shooters typically are very removed from their choice of target. Though, heck, he might have written or recorded a manifesto somewhere. Otherwise he was sick and tired of living a life that sucks and just wanted to express pure rage.

Political operatives look for guys like this to turn into assassins and terrorists. Militant groups of the transnational white power movement looke for guys like this at earlier stages for recruits for counterprotests, harassing marginalized groups and liberal voters and other violence to serve their cause.

[–] WraithGear@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

And knowing this, calling him a republican is kinda reductive and early. Because “my side would never do an assassination, because we all are above that” Is not a rational statement. But assuming he was successful… how would this further the White lower movement?