Par for the course, Sanders is now accusing reporter April Ryan of wanting her to be “decapitated.” Ryan was talking about Trump firing his staff and said he will have to start “lopping the heads off” of some of them especially Sanders.
This coming from the same woman who said people’s heads were in the gutter for being upset when Trump tweeted that Kirsten Gillibrand “would do anything” for a campaign contribution.
With the exclusion of Fox News reporters every journalist that asks Sarah Sanders a question at a press conference should use the preamble “will you be telling the truth in your answer”.
Regardless of what Sanders has said to defend Trump, I think there is merit in the idea that public figures (politicians, talking heads, reporters, celebrities) should avoid using metaphors and figures of speech that include violent imagery. When they use a poorly chosen phrase, an apology is appropriate, IMO.
It is wrong to paint cross-hairs on a map and say that you are “targeting” your political opponents. It is also wrong to use the phrase “lopping off heads.” It is wrong when the President talks about roughing up reporters, hecklers, and protestors. It was wrong when Kathy Griffen held a faux severed head of Donald Trump. There is a small but not insignificant number of mentally unstable folks listening. It’s important to not embolden or encourage them to take action.