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Discourse that is civil is key today in politics

After someone tried to send a bomb to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other Democratic political leaders, President Donald Trump’s reaction, as White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders emphasized, was that, “These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held acountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Blaming such outrageous acts on rhetoric by one’s political opponents has become standard practice among some in both the Republican and Democratic parties.

But harsh language is nothing new among American politicians. It has a long, sordid history.

Most of the time, it results in actions no more serious than public officials and their families being harassed. That certainly is bad enough — and there is no excuse for it.

Acts like these and the vicious attack last year on Republican members of Congress are those of deeply disturbed individuals. They are a threat regardless of how restrained officeholders and candidates are in what they say.

Still, let us hope that both Democratic and Republican leaders do a better job of toning down their exhortations. They add nothing to the quality of our public discourse.

Let us also hope that if the man accused of these acts is found guilty, that he is punished as severely as the law allows.

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