General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRepublicans Blasted Obama Administration For Warning About Right-Wing Domestic Terrorism
Here's a blast from the past. Remember the stink the GOP made about the DHS report that was withdrawn back in 2009?
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/08/07/645421/right-wing-extremism/
But when, in 2009, the Department of Homeland Security reported that white supremacy is the USs biggest threat for domestic terror, it was met with harsh criticism. Conservatives blasted the department for defining terror threats too broadly, instead of focusing on potential Islamic terrorists. Then-House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) was one of those who berated DHS, saying that they werent focusing on the real threats the US faces.
The report was titled Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment, and it named white supremacists, radical anti-abortionists, and a few disgruntled veterans as most susceptible to recruitment by extremist groups, or to harboring resentment that may lead to domestic terrorism. DHS stressed that, during recessions, these threats go up, and law enforcement should be on the lookout for such extremism.
The reports findings were congruous with previous studies that indicate right wing extremism is responsible for more instances of violence every year (with the exception of 2001, when the September 11th attacks happened) in the United States than Islamic extremist. It also tracks with the rise of hate groups in the US since 2000.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)cheapdate
(3,811 posts)The right-wing media machine exploded in fear and outrage for months. There was rampant loose talk that the Obama round-up of political opposition was on the verge of beginning. There was talk of FEMA camps to hold political opponents. The rank-and-file right-wing conservatives went crazy posting pictures of ordinary looking conservative families with captions referring to "right-wing extremists."
Fucking ridiculous. The report made perfect sense then -- it was obviously credible and reasonable. And it's certainly proven to be true since -- as if there was ever a serious question.
Moostache
(9,895 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,002 posts)Omaha Steve
(99,645 posts)K&R!
OS
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Yet another Obama betrayal.