It's All Fun And Games Until Somebody Gets Hurt

Here's @mattgaetz in WRITING helping radicalize the Buffalo Terrorist. Others in GOP also helped radicalize the terrorist EXACTLY like ISIS recruiters do with repeating of lies over and over with the goal being action. https://t.co/pAj2jl0Yi0

— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) May 15, 2022

No, no, he was being "non-racist" when he spoke of "replacement theory."

"I've never spoken of replacement theory in terms of race. I was speaking in race-neutral political terms about how Democrats in many urban cities have failed their voters of all color and kind," Gaetz said. "Thus, I charge that Democrats seek unchecked immigration to replace the people who have relied on them most to their detriment."

See?  Nothing to see here! And if you do see something, you're part of the "sycophant media" (I guess "fake news" doesn't apply when they have your words in writing, from your pen):

In a statement to Newsweek, [Elise] Stefanik's senior adviser, Alex deGrasse, said that any implication or attempt to "blame the heinous shooting" on the congresswoman is a "new disgusting low for the Left, their Never Trump allies, and the sycophant stenographers in the media."

"The shooting was an act of evil and the criminal should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," DeGrasse said. "Despite sickening and false reporting, Congresswoman [Stefanik] has never advocated for any racist position or made a racist statement." 

Yeah, it's the shooting you should be focusing on.  As for "never advocated for any racist position or made a racist statement," well, there've been plenty of them.

Upstate New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the third-ranking member of the House GOP, has faced the most criticism since the shooting. A series of paid Facebook ads her campaign ran last fall that explicitly used great replacement theory rhetoric.

“Radical Democrats are planning their most aggressive move yet: a PERMANENT ELECTION INSURRECTION,” read one of the ads. “Their plan to grant amnesty to 11 MILLION illegal immigrants will overthrow our current electorate and create a permanent liberal majority in Washington.”

That would have been this one:

Subtle. pic.twitter.com/9S7qRXanpr

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) May 16, 2022

It's even less subtle than the text alone suggests.  Meanwhile, even Mr. DeGrasse himself has had replacement theories to espouse:

After Stefanik’s ads were highlighted by critics, she doubled down on Monday morning, declaring “It is a FACT that DEMOCRATS have been explicitly pushing for amnesty for years—specifically for political and electoral purposes,” while her team accused reporters of a “dishonest and dangerous” smear campaign. 

“We thank the groveling hacks in the media for reminding voters that Republicans oppose amnesty and will secure the border while Democrats support mass amnesty and voting rights for illegals,” Stefanik senior adviser Alex Degrasse said in a statement.

As we recall from history class, "illegal immigrants"  includes the near majority of immigrants who are "illegal" simply because they've overstayed their visas.  What, you think that's changed radically in 16 years?  Why?  Besides, "illegal immigrants" is a term clearly meant to stir up fears of a brown planet, rather than too many Europeans who aren't keeping up with bureaucratic procedures.

Besides, "overthrow" and "permanent liberal majority" is replacement theory updated from the 19th century for these modern times.  "Voting rights for illegals" is kind of a tell, too.