This article contains news and commentary that sensitive Republicans may feel is unkind.
“Trump’s former campaign manager Brad Parscale was taken from his Fort Lauderdale home by police Sunday afternoon after his wife reported that he was armed and threatening suicide,” the Sun Sentinel reported on September 27, 2020 (read story here).
“He was taken to Broward Health Medical Center under the Baker Act, which provides for temporary involuntary commitment,” the newspaper said. The police chief announced, “We went out and it was very short. We went and got him help.” The mayor painted a bit different picture: “Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said he received a text message saying that there was a SWAT team standoff at Parscale’s home.”
Apparently Parscale wasn’t crazy enough to, well, you know — commit suicide by cop, taking a couple of them with him. But still, when people make threats, you should take them seriously. (I’ve written on this subject before, although in reference to someone else.) So he can’t be all that depressed, despite being
“demoted by Trump in July as the president’s reelection campaign suffered a series of blows. Among these was a campaign rally in Tulsa that was poorly attended, embarrassing the president …. He has also been sharply criticized … over extravagance with campaign money, including millions in payments to his own companies.”
After siphoning off all that money, he’s depressed? I thought money could buy happiness. Isn’t that why Republicans embezzle from their own campaigns? Besides, his family loves him:
“Tim Murtaugh, Trump campaign communications director issued a statement Sunday night …. ‘Brad Parscale is a member of our family and we all love him. We are ready to support him and his family in any way possible. The disgusting, personal attacks from Democrats and disgruntled RINOs have gone too far, and they should be ashamed of themselves for what they’ve done to this man and his family.'”
Actually, I thought Trump’s family was Donnie Jr. the Big Game Hunter, Eric, Ivanka, and … am I forgetting anybody? … Wife #3. And, ah yes, blame his discombobulation on Democrats, but Parscale knew what he was getting into when he
“moved two years ago to … heavily Democratic Broward County, where Trump won 31.4% of the vote in 2016. In an interview with the Sun-Sentinel, he explained his move into hostile political territory by invoking his love of boating and the appeal of a state without an income tax.”
And anyway, it’s not like his next door neighbor is Rand Paul, just some Biden voter who gives him the finger, with justification, whenever he comes out his front door.
The mayor, a Democrat, wishes Parscale well, and so do I, but he should be kept in the psych ward until after the election. It would be better if he was protected from political news altogether. But, as the mayor said, “Politics aside, this fellow obviously suffers from emotional distress. I’m glad he didn’t do any harm to himself or others. I commend our SWAT team for being able to negotiate a peaceful ending to this.” Me, too.
The Sun Sentinel wrapped its story by saying, “A reporter rang the doorbell of the Parscale home Sunday evening. No one answered, and as the reporter was walking away, a woman opened the door, looked at him [with knives flying from her eyes, and spitting blood] and closed [i.e., slammed] the door.” You know how reporters are, they’re not supposed to use flowery language in stories, so I filled in the missing details.
Why do these people hate the journalists so much? Are they afraid the media will tell the world what they’re really like behind the P.R. facade?
Update (9/28/20): Parscale’s wife called police during a “verbal altercation” with her husband when he chambered a round into a pistol. She then fled the house and he fired a shot inside the house. She had bruises from a beating a few days earlier that she hadn’t reported to police. The SWAT team talked Parscale into coming outside, but he didn’t comply with police commands, and was tackled and thrown to the ground by SWAT officers. People confiscated 10 guns from his home. Read story here.
Photo: Parscale even looks like a freak.