The Cost of Political Hatred: A Family, a Dog, and a Nation in Mourning

I write political stories every day. Some are sharp. Some are funny. Some are biting with sarcasm — because let’s be honest, this country gives us no shortage of absurdity to dissect.

But this one?
This was one of the hardest stories I’ve ever had to write.

As I typed these words, my heart broke. And the tears streamed.

In Minnesota, the grief is heavy. The sorrow, unbearable. And the silence — deafening.  Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were gunned down in their Brooklyn Park home in what authorities are now calling one of the most chilling political assassinations in state history. But this tragedy didn’t stop with two lives lost. Their golden retriever, Gilbert — a flunked-out service dog turned beloved companion — was shot during the same brutal attack and had to be put down just days later.

This isn’t a political talking point. This is a nightmare for a family, a wound for a community, and a warning to a country.

Remembering Melissa, Mark, and Gilbert

Melissa Hortman wasn’t just a legislator. She was a mother. A wife. A community leader. And as Helping Paws, the Eden Prairie nonprofit she supported, put it, “a neighbor and a friend.” She trained Gilbert and another service dog-in-training, Minnie, showing the same care and patience she brought to public office.

After her service dog-in-training Gilbert failed to complete the program, she joyfully welcomed him into her home as family. That decision speaks volumes about her heart. He didn’t meet the requirements to serve strangers — but he was exactly what she needed. And he gave her comfort until the very end.

The Suspect and the Manhunt

The man accused of this unspeakable crime is Vance Boelter, 57 — now facing multiple federal and state charges, including two counts of murder and two counts of stalking. He also stands accused of shooting Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette in a related attack.

What began as a house-to-house targeting of Democratic lawmakers spiraled into the largest manhunt in Minnesota’s history. Authorities finally found Boelter hiding in the woods near his home. The terror he unleashed was calculated, personal, and cold.

A Child’s Grief, a Dog’s Goodbye

In the wake of this massacre, Melissa and Mark’s adult children were left to make an agonizing decision — to put Gilbert to sleep. As Rep. Erin Koegel explained, “Her children had to put down him after learning their parents had been murdered. Gilbert wasn’t going to survive. Melissa loved that dog. She trained him as a service dog. He flunked out of school and she was so happy he failed so he could stay! She needed him in heaven with her.”

That statement has been echoed across social media, where tributes to Gilbert and the Hortmans have poured in — some from political colleagues, others from ordinary Minnesotans who just felt the heartbreak from afar.

The family’s statement was simple: “Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.”

Not Just a Tragedy — A National Reflection

We’ve seen violence politicized. We’ve seen it spun for narratives. But this? This is different.

This was evil, targeted, and devastating. There’s no humor in this moment. There’s no punchline. Just a gut-punch. If this doesn’t cut across ideological lines and shake people to their core, what will?

The toxic rhetoric that fuels hate, the demonization of political opponents, the slow erosion of shared humanity — it all led here. And while most people will never act on it, this story is a chilling reminder that someone eventually will.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t about red or blue. It’s about right and wrong.

Melissa Hortman dedicated her life to public service. Her husband stood by her side. And her dog? He did what dogs do — loved unconditionally and stayed close. Now, all three are gone.

Let’s honor their memory not just with words, but with reflection. With decency. With courage. And with the willingness to push back on the dangerous idea that our political opponents are our enemies.

Because they’re not. And when we start believing they are, we get stories like this.

JIMMY

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