Some Twitter users are speculating that the Aurora, Colo., shooter was inspired by comments made by Rush Limbaugh. The shooting occurred at a midnight premiere of the movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.” On Tuesday July 17, Limbaugh said on his radio show that the name of the villain in the movie is a thinly-veiled dig at Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney:
RUSH: Have you heard this new movie, the Batman movie, what is it, The Dark Knight Lights Up or whatever the name is. That’s right, Dark Knight Rises. Lights Up, same thing. Do you know the name of the villain in this movie? Bane. The villain in The Dark Knight Rises is named Bane, B-a-n-e. What is the name of the venture capital firm that Romney ran and around which there’s now this make-believe controversy? Bain. The movie has been in the works for a long time. The release date’s been known, summer 2012 for a long time. Do you think that it is accidental that the name of the really vicious fire breathing four eyed whatever it is villain in this movie is named Bane?
https://twitter.com/14tigersis14/status/226286676211806208
Hannity beck limbaugh paraphernalia
Found at aurora shooters home— L J (@jakecovo) July 20, 2012
Just got to see #Aurora. Is this connected to Limbaugh?
— MBC ??? (@GrammieMBC) July 20, 2012
https://twitter.com/Jelaci_Jaxun/status/226279025549651968
.@EricTTung Wondering about a connection between Rush Limbaugh's Dark Knight Bane Diatribe & the Horrific Aurora Theater Shooting This AM
— Jon Hardie (@BonhoefferLives) July 20, 2012
https://twitter.com/MentalRiot/status/226257687179059200
so very sad. I wonder what Rush Limbaugh will say today, considering how he incited hatred against the film http://t.co/3PuVAfy6
— Gloria Brame (@DrGloriaBrame) July 20, 2012
https://twitter.com/PeacefulInfidel/status/226290397209587713
https://twitter.com/Phnarrcissist/status/226297688780587008
But it was Democrats — not Limbaugh — who first linked the “Dark Knight Rises” villain to Romney. This is from an article in The Washington Examiner published Monday July 16, the day before Limbaugh’s comments:
This summer’s much-anticipated Hollywood blockbuster, “The Dark Knight Rises,” is getting an unusual boost from Democrats and other foes of Mitt Romney who are eager to tie the Gotham crushing villain to the GOP presidential candidate. Their angle: the mask-wearing, “Venom” gas breathing bad guy has a name that sounds just like Romney’s former investment firm that President Obama has been blasting as a jobs killer.
“Bane” is the terrorist in the new movie who drives the caped crusader out of semi-retirement in the final Batman movie. Democrats, who believe they have Romney on the ropes over the president’s assault on his leadership at Bain Capital, said the comparisons are too rich to ignore.
“It has been observed that movies can reflect the national mood,” said Democratic advisor and former Clinton aide Christopher Lehane. “Whether it is spelled Bain and being put out by the Obama campaign or Bane and being out by Hollywood, the narratives are similar: a highly intelligent villain with offshore interests and a past both are seeking to cover up who had a powerful father and is set on pillaging society,” he added.
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