The language that Republicans have employed against Planned Parenthood over the last several weeks has been appalling. They have falsely accused the organization of being at the center of an illicit industry focused on increasing the number of abortion procedures in order to profit from the sale of "baby parts".

Even if that language did not directly lead to the violence that was recently perpetrated against Planned Parenthood, it is only a matter of time before this language does directly inspire such violence. This is the type of language that fascist dictatorships use to foment violent action against their political enemies. Worse still, most of the Republicans employing this language lack the conviction of their words and are merely attacking Planned Parenthood in order to further their political careers.

If we as a nation can't demand and receive an apology from these demagogues, as well as assurances that they'll stop attempting to terrorize their political opponents, then we may as well pack up. Because a two-party system can't last long where one of the parties starts to use pogroms and assassinations as legitimate tactics and no adults in the room stand up and call them out on their despicable and cowardly bullshit.