GOP pauses from demanding civility to mock Hillary's car crash

The Republican party in the era of Trump isn’t exactly known for its decency, but the GOP’s Senate campaign arm managed to stoop to a new low on Tuesday when it turned a car crash into an opportunity to mock Hillary Clinton.

The reprehensible incident took place after Clinton was involved in a motor vehicle collision near a campaign event for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

Using its official Twitter account, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) posted footage from the crash showing Clinton and close aide Huma Abedin getting out of the vehicle after it collided with a barrier.

In a failed attempt at humor, the NRSC tweet said the video provided a “live look at Hillary Clinton trying to save Bob Menendez,” who will face off against GOP nominee Bob Hugin in November’s New Jersey Senate race.

“Spoiler alert: She crashes,” the account tweeted.

LIVE LOOK at @HillaryClinton trying to save @SenatorMenendez. (Spoiler alert: she crashes.) #NJSen pic.twitter.com/7poUpIYxl6

— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) October 16, 2018

Making fun of someone in a car crash is bad enough on its own, but the sick “joke” is made all the worse given that it’s coming from an official campaign arm of the Republican party.

The GOP has spent the past several months demanding civility and bemoaning even the most minor criticism or inconvenience as examples of supposed incivility on the part of Democrats.

Republicans want people to feel sorry for them when voters show up at their offices or dare to protest on Capitol Hill, with Mitch McConnell even going as far as saying that Republican senators are the real assault victims because they had to face scrutiny for forcing a thrice-accused sexual predator onto the Supreme Court.

But they can’t have it both ways.

Republicans have made it clear that they will take the low road every time, and Tuesday’s failed attempt at humor is simply one more example to add to the mix.

If they want to demand civility, they’re going to have to answer for their own behavior first.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.