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I can't believe this is happening...
- Apr 15, 2009 at 11:47 AM
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- Comments (12) Total Views (250) Everyone can see this journal post.
You might be a “radicalized rightwing extremist” if…
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 200
What and who exactly are President Obama’s homeland security officials afraid of these days? If you are a member of an active conservative group that opposes abortion, favors strict immigration enforcement, lobbies to protect Second Amendment rights, protests big government, advocates federalism, or represents veterans who believe in any of the above, the answer is: You.
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano has turned her attention away from acts of Islamic jihad on American soil (which she now refers to as “man-caused disasters”). Instead, her department is sounding the alarm over an un-quantified “resurgence” in “rightwing extremism activity.” On April 7, DHS sent a nine-page warning memo to law enforcement offices across the country titled “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.”
The report includes a sweeping definition of the threat:
“Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.”
You cannot ignore the context or the timing of this DHS report. It’s no small coincidence that Napolitano’s agency disseminated the assessment just a week before the nationwide April 15 Tax Day Tea Party protests. The grass-roots events organized by fiscal conservatives, independents, Libertarians, and yes, even some blue Dog Democrats were fueled by the “current economic and political climate” of bipartisan profligate spending and endless taxpayer-funded bailouts. The growing success of the loose-knit movement has invited scorn, ridicule, and fear-mongering from Obama’s supporters. Liberal bloggers have likened the Tea Party movement to neo-Nazis, militias, and even Weather Underground terrorists.
These attempts to demonize the Tea Party movement come on the heels of widespread conservative-bashing over the recent shooting sprees in Pittsburgh and Binghamton, New York. Taking Hillary Clinton’s advice to “never waste a good crisis,” left-wing pundits and analysts have blamed the tragedies on everyone from Rush Limbaugh to Fox News to the NRA.
The DHS spokespeople I talked to on Monday insisted that the report was not a politicized document and that DHS had done similar assessments on “leftwing extremism” in the past. But past domestic terrorism reports have always been very specific in identifying security threats – such as the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front – and very specific in identifying their methods and targets, including repeated physical harassment, arson, and vandalism against pharmaceutical companies, farms, labs, and university researchers.
By contrast, the Obama DHS report is an overarching indictment of conservatives. “Rightwing extremist chatter on the Internet continues to focus on the economy, the perceived loss of U.S. jobs in the manufacturing and construction sectors, and home foreclosures,” the assessment warns. When I asked DHS spokeswoman Sara Kuban to explain who was responsible for this “extremist chatter,” she could not and would not name names.
Moreover, the report relies on the work of the left-leaning Southern Poverty Law Center to stir anxiety over “disgruntled military veterans” – a citation which gives us valuable insight into how DHS will define “hate-oriented” groups. The SPLC, you see, has designated the venerable American Legion a “hate group” for its stance on immigration enforcement. The report offers zero data, but states with an almost resentful attitude toward protected free speech: “Debates over appropriate immigration levels and enforcement policy generally fall within the realm of protected political speech under the First Amendment, but in some cases, anti-immigration or strident pro-enforcement fervor has been directed against specific groups and has the potential to turn violent.”
“Potential to turn violent?” So did the hysterical fervor whipped up by Capitol Hill over the AIG bonuses, which prompted ugly death threats from across the country. No mention here, though. Not “rightwing” enough. Nor will you see Obama DHS warnings to police and sheriff’s departments about self-proclaimed bank terrorists such as Bruce Marks of the aggressive Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America or the mob activists of ACORN who have committed burglary, stormed corporate executives’ homes, and vowed to conduct “civil disobedience” by “any means necessary” in response to the “current economic and political climate.”
If you can redefine dissenting opinion as “hate,” you can brand your political opponents as “extremists” – and you can marginalize electoral threats. “Antigovernment?” “Pro-enforcement?” “Disgruntled?” Feeling taxed enough already and “recruiting” and “radicalizing” your friends and neighbors through “chatter on the Internet?”
We are all rightwing extremists now. Welcome to the club.
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/04/15/you-might-be-a-radicalized-rightwing-extremist-if/?print=1
Below is the link to the document talked about.
Comments:
Obama is a jerk.
thanks for posting.
“Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.”
Sorry, but just being "pro-life", "anti-big government" and believe in your right to protest, you don't qualify. This is talking about those who feel the need to take the law into their own hands with violence and by preaching hate. BIG difference. But hey, whatever straw you can grasp at to blast Obama, right?
Obviously you did not read it all.
"and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority"
"It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.”
Hey Anouck try reading the WHOLE post.
"The SPLC, you see, has designated the venerable American Legion a “hate group” for its stance on immigration enforcement."
Wow seriously? Our country is headed for the crapper, we need to do something fast!
Anouck...You really need to read that report a little closer. The real issue is the DHS is trying to link preserving traditional conservative issues with radical extremism. You need to get your head out of the sand....or wherever it is!
Its funny, we can't call terrorists, "terrorists", but any type of dis cession from the American people ~ are being called "terrorists".
Voted popular Angel. Will respond more later....in a hurry!
This report is on so many sites and news networks and you pick one that puts such a conservative spin on it.
Other ppl need to google it and read it from other sources. And documents like these from DHS usually are not so in the publics face, this one got leaked on purpose I think for some reason.
The statement doesn't even use the word conservative at all in it. And I think if you are stock piling guns and planning on taking your violence to the streets than THe Department of Homeland Security needs to know about it so they can keep us all safe!
And why does this have anything to do with Obama? the DHS existed before him and they are not doing anything different than they have ever done in the past. They even had 2 reports of "Left Wing Extremist" so don't act like you guys are being singled out all of a sudden! sheeesh!
ladysylpher - You obviously did not read the report itself. That is the bottom link. The reason Obama is linked to it is because he is the one that ordered this change in the DHS. As for the left wing extremist reports, they do not call them terrorists (although considering BO's pal Bill Ayers, they should).
People like you and anouk are having freedoms stripped from you daily along with everyone else. The only difference, is we are calling them out and you are ignoring them.
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So basically, if you are pro-life, anti-big government, and believe in your right under the constitution to protest, then Obams now calls you a terrorist.
- AngelDawn7
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