This is a response to Rainer Shea, a "communist" author whose Substack I follow. Recently, Shea posted an article suggesting that the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump was part of a deliberate "business plot" against him. He makes these claims without evidence, asserting that "parts of the deep state" are targeting Trump due to his influence outside of policy. However, there is no evidence to suggest anyone beyond the shooter, Thomas M. Crooks, was involved. Communists should refrain from speculative claims without concrete evidence.
Since the shooting, the media has extensively profiled Crooks, revealing he was a recent high school graduate who struggled on his school's rifle team. It's implausible to suggest such a person was part of a sophisticated plot by the deep state.
Shea suggests communists should align with public suspicions about hidden agendas, but this reasoning is opportunistic. Our role is to provide factual analysis of working-class conditions, not endorse every conspiracy theory embraced by the public. While we reject establishment narratives, we must also avoid baseless assertions.
Later, Shea absurdly suggests that Crooks' Republican registration implies the Republican National Committee was involved in the assassination attempt. This is unsubstantiated; party registration is a bureaucratic process and doesn't imply organizational membership. Anyone who thinks that registration implies a high level of political organization is invited to touch grass.
Shea as stated previously, advocates for connecting with Americans disillusioned by mainstream narratives, but this risks tailing popular sentiments rather than advancing revolutionary consciousness. Our duty is to educate the masses on capitalism's systemic exploitation and empower them to resist, not to echo fringe theories.
As the essay concludes, Mr. Shea delves into what can only be described as pure delusion, claiming that "the primary wing of the deep state has gone too far with this violent coup attempt, provoking a backlash that it's now trying to manage by downplaying the attack." However, there is no visible backlash to support this claim. There are no masses on the streets demanding an investigation, nor are there any organized efforts to provide armed guards for Trump's protection. Instead, the investigation into the attack is proceeding through standard channels and protocols.
In order to create hope in revolutionary change where none exists, Shea imagines a mass backlash where none exists. In reality, the response has been subdued, with congressional hearings scheduled in accordance with normal procedures. While the attack has undoubtedly heightened tensions, it remains another tragic incident in America's history of gun violence
While Shea calls for advancing the class struggle, true progress comes from building an independent communist and working class movement, not aligning with reactionary elements of the right wing.