'Watch Out Obama,' Former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh Tweets After Dallas Police Officers Murdered

Chicago, IL — Joe Walsh, the one-term arch-conservative congressman from Illinois' 8th District, took aim at President Obama and the Black Lives Matter movement with this warning after Dallas police were murdered Thursday night: "This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks."

Walsh posted this on Twitter at 10:56 p.m. as the scope of the sniper attack against police officers and death toll were growing. The July 7 terror attack in Dallas is the largest loss of life for police officers in the United States since 9/11.

In Dallas late Thursday during a Black Lives Matter demonstration, five police officers were shot dead and seven more wounded by at least two snipers. Police have taken three suspects into custody. Police also engaged in a standoff and shootout with a suspected sniper, killing him with explosives.

Walsh's tweet has since been deleted. Walsh, now a nationally syndicated radio show host, continued to comment about the murders and Black Lives Matter via @WalshFreedom.

Walsh said "Real America is coming after you" wasn't a call for a race war or violence against the president or black protesters, though that's how many have taken his words.

“I wasn’t calling for violence, against Obama or anyone. Obama’s words and BLM’s deeds have gotten cops killed,” he tweeted. He went on to call the president a "cop hater."

Thursday night, President Obama learned of the massacre while at a NATO summit in Poland. Standing on a stage with other world leaders, Obama spoke about Dallas.

"Police in Dallas were on duty, doing their jobs, keeping people safe during peaceful protests. I believe I speak for every single American when I say we are horrified and we stand united with the people and police department in Dallas. ...

"We will learn more, undoubtedly, about their twisted motivations," Obama said of the shooters. "But let's be clear: There is no possible justification for these kinds of attacks or any violence against law enforcement.

"Anyone involved in these senseless murders will be held fully accountable. Justice will be done."

Also on Patch

• Chicago Police Officers Required to Work in Pairs After Dallas Attack

Demonstrators took to the streets in Dallas, New York, Chicago, St. Paul, Atlanta and other cities Thursday night in response to the death of Castile and Alton Sterling in Louisiana.

Walsh, 54, who served a single term in Congress from 2011 to 2013 representing Chicago's north and northwest suburbs, is a Tea Party conservative who took to talk radio after getting bounced from Congress in the 2012 election by Democrat Tammy Duckworth.

Walsh's show airs on WIND-560 AM. Walsh continued on Friday to portray the president as an instigator of violence against police officers.

Despite Walsh's protestations to the contrary, reaction to Walsh's initial tweet was seen by many as an incitement to attack the president.

Others simply voiced their disgust at the overall sentiment and targeted his employer.

And at least a few want to make sure the right Joe Walsh is on blast.

Get Patched In

• Subscribe to Patch Email Alerts, Join Facebook Pages