The Fall of David Frum

A few years ago, David Frum was a medium-sized master of the universe. The Canadian-born wordsmith was writing speeches for the President of the United States and takes credit for coming up with the “axis of evil” phrase that came to characterize much of the Bush-era foreign policy. He would go on from there to become a sought out commentator on politics and world events. He wrote for National Review and the Daily Beast, among others. He obtained a cushy post at the conservative American Enterprise Institute think tank.

Nowadays, no one seeks out Frum’s opinion. He opines at his own site and Twitter. National Review let him go. AEI let him go.

Today, as many as 12 died in an attack on the US Naval Yard in Washington DC. The motive behind that attack is unknown and as of this writing, several hours after the attack began, there may still be two suspects at large.

So very few facts are known. But that did not stop Frum from launching his own assault on law-abiding American gun owners. Ever the deskbound warrior, Frum blasted at millions of Americans dealing with the shock of an attack on one of our military installations from the safety of distance and the comfort of Twitter.

Another mass casualty shooting, this time at Washington Navy Yard. (1)

— davidfrum (@davidfrum) September 16, 2013

In wake of this most recent mass-casualty shooting, it is important that we all respect the feelings of America's gun enthusiasts. (2)

— davidfrum (@davidfrum) September 16, 2013

Observing a few simple rules of etiquette will help the post-shooting conversation to proceed in appropriate ways. (3)

— davidfrum (@davidfrum) September 16, 2013

Rule 1: It is "ghoulish" to suggest in any way that the easy availability of guns might in any way enable gun slaughter.

— davidfrum (@davidfrum) September 16, 2013

Rule 2: Gun crime in the president's hometown proves that guns anywhere else are no fit topic of conversation.

— davidfrum (@davidfrum) September 16, 2013

Rule 3: All gun owners are to be complimented as responsible and law-abiding until they personally have hurt themselves or somebody else

— davidfrum (@davidfrum) September 16, 2013

Rule 4: Any attempt to stop mass casualty shootings is "political." Allowing them to continue is"non-political."

— davidfrum (@davidfrum) September 16, 2013

Rule 5: Gun ownership is essential to freedom, as in Serbia & Guatemala. Gun restrictions lead to tyranny, as in Australia & Canada.

— davidfrum (@davidfrum) September 16, 2013

.@EWErickson urges me to "grow up" & cover mass shooting as if this were the 1st time it ever happened in US history http://t.co/B7CvOFHzyU

— davidfrum (@davidfrum) September 16, 2013

I’ll disagree with Erickson, who thinks Frum should “grow up.” There’s a malevolence to the way Frum trolls conservatives and exploits tragedy that precludes belief that adulthood would make a difference. He is an adult, who is also a nasty piece of work.

Thinking before tweeting would be wise, though. Until we know a motive for today’s shooting, and maybe after we know that, Frum may unwittingly have made himself a mouthpiece for terrorists or murderers. That’s a long way from crafting speeches for the leader of the free world.