The United States Secret Service intercepted packages with explosive devices intended to be delivered to CNN, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and other political figures Tuesday and Wednesday.
Sen. Maxine Waters (D-California) and Democratic Party donor George Soros were both also targeted with an explosive device in the mail. So far, authorities have yet to identify the person or group responsible for sending the devices.
Joe Hayden, a University of Memphis journalism professor who studies the relationship between presidents and the press, said the act of mailing bombs to prominent political figures may be related to the upcoming election.
“If I was a citizen, I would be concerned about the rhetoric,” Hayden said. “There is a lot of misinformation. This is an election year, and sometimes we see politicians resort to the worst tricks to try to get elected by scaring people or trying to perpetuate hate.”
Hayden said more hate has been showcased in recent years by some public figures during elections to get votes.
“We see that right now,” Hayden said. “We’ve seen it before and other years, but were seeing a lot of it right now.”
Hayden said President Donald Trump’s criticisms of the media may have inspired some to lash out and cause harm.
“He might be inspiring people or encouraging them,” Hayden said. “If you’re constantly talking about a group of people as the enemy of the public, then somebody might read that like an assignment to go do something about it. Most of us, especially educated people, might think that’s ridiculous … but some people might believe it.”
Hayden said although the bomb threats are a cause for concern, threats to politicians and the media are not a new phenomenon, and citizens themselves should not fear for their day-to-day lives.
“I think incidents like this are so isolated, people tend to overreact to the possibly of terrorism or possibly of incidents like this,” Hayden said. “Statically your chances of getting affected are so small that it’s not something to worry about.”
Otis Sanford, a local political commentator who occupies the Hardin Chair of Excellence in Economics and Managerial Journalism, said hearing political figures receiving life-threatening devices has become a concern.
“It was more than just threats, but actual explosive devices that were intended to be mailed to the homes of the Obamas, Clintons and offices of CNN,” Sanford said. “Now I’m hearing this afternoon, when I’m leaving my meeting, that Maxine Waters, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and some others may have been scared.”
After learning the news, Sanford said he may view society and those in charge in a different way.
“The first reaction I had was this is a highly disturbing event, and you have believe it was fueled by this unbelievably harsh, divisive, hate-filled rhetoric that we have right now in our political discourse,” Sanford said.
Sanford said the one person who should bring peace, the president, is only causing more issues.
“I’m not blaming one person, but you have to point to the number one leader of our country and ask yourself what kind of tone he sets in trying to create stability, in trying to tamp down the anger and the animosity,” Sanford said. “If you ask yourself that question, you find out he is not doing anything about it. He is actually helping to create the anger.”
