The Rest of the Story
I keep seeing this rhetorical dodge pop up a lot on social media lately. It’s always in connection with a news item about someone abused or killed by ICE, the Border Patrol, or the cops. I pay a lot of attention to how MAGA types talk — as well as political rhetoric from Too Online ideologues and trolls from across the spectrum — so I feel fairly confident I haven’t seen this before. It’s really obnoxious.
↓ Transcript
Panel 1: A group of people put candles, flowers, and cards near a photo of someone killed by the feds. The photo is marked "In Our Prayers." Nearby, a grumpy MAGA guy in an eagle tee shirt looks on.
Narration: HEY THERE -- ARE YOU SICK OF THE PUBLIC MOURNING PEOPLE KILLED BY FEDERAL AGENTS?
MAGA Guy: YEAH! IT'S ANNOYING.
Panel 2: A bottled labeled "Whats the rest of the story?" appears in the air in front of the MAGA guy. (His tee shirt now shows Trump grimacing and surrounded by the words "Not a Cult".)
Narration: THEN TRY (indicating the bottle)
MAGA Guy: WOW!
Panel 3: MAGA guy looks excited as he learns about this new product.
Narration: WITH THIS TALKING POINT, YOU WILL SEEM "REASONABLE" WHILE ENJOYING THESE BENEFITS:
- DISMISSIVE
- DISTRACTING
- DEFLECTING
- NO EMPATHY
- CRUEL!
- INTRODUCE FALSE OR IRRELEVANT FACTS
- PISS OFF THE LIBS!
MAGA Guy: HELL YEAH!
MAGA Guy tee shirt: I heart boot.
Panel 4: MAGA guy yells at crowd of mourners.
MAGA Guy: WHAT'S THE REST OF THE STORY? HE WAS RESISTING! FACT CHECK!
Mourner: WHAT A DICK.
Narration: THAT'LL SHOW 'EM!
MAGA Guy tee shirt with a submissive snake: TREAD ON ME, DADDY.
Narration: HEY THERE -- ARE YOU SICK OF THE PUBLIC MOURNING PEOPLE KILLED BY FEDERAL AGENTS?
MAGA Guy: YEAH! IT'S ANNOYING.
Panel 2: A bottled labeled "Whats the rest of the story?" appears in the air in front of the MAGA guy. (His tee shirt now shows Trump grimacing and surrounded by the words "Not a Cult".)
Narration: THEN TRY (indicating the bottle)
MAGA Guy: WOW!
Panel 3: MAGA guy looks excited as he learns about this new product.
Narration: WITH THIS TALKING POINT, YOU WILL SEEM "REASONABLE" WHILE ENJOYING THESE BENEFITS:
- DISMISSIVE
- DISTRACTING
- DEFLECTING
- NO EMPATHY
- CRUEL!
- INTRODUCE FALSE OR IRRELEVANT FACTS
- PISS OFF THE LIBS!
MAGA Guy: HELL YEAH!
MAGA Guy tee shirt: I heart boot.
Panel 4: MAGA guy yells at crowd of mourners.
MAGA Guy: WHAT'S THE REST OF THE STORY? HE WAS RESISTING! FACT CHECK!
Mourner: WHAT A DICK.
Narration: THAT'LL SHOW 'EM!
MAGA Guy tee shirt with a submissive snake: TREAD ON ME, DADDY.
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