Time To Revisit Criticism Of DHS Report On “Right Wing Extremists”?
You may recall the enormous controversy that erupted in April over a Department of Homeland Security report that assessed the threat of “right wing extremists.” The story provoked days of nonstop cable chatter, and DHS chief Janet Napolitano ultimately apologized.
Fast forward to the huge and horrible news yesterday that late-term abortion doctor George Tiller was shot dead by a man who reportedly posted on the blog of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue. Maybe we should take another look at all that criticism?
One passage from the DHS report that provoked nonstop outrage said that right wing extremists “may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.”
Some on the right read this passage and decided it was a reference to them. Top conservative blogger Michelle Malkin warned that it meant you’re being targeted by Obama’s big brother government “if you are a member of an active conservative group that opposes abortion” or if you are active on other issues.
This wasn’t a fringe interpretation of the report, by the way. RNC chair Michael Steele for instance, blasted the report for labeling peaceful dissenters on issues “as terrorists.” Other Republican members of Congress sounded similar tones.
It’s true that the report committed a misstep in suggesting returning veterans are a risk. But the general intent of the report, which was chock full of warnings about “lone wolf extremists” capable of violence, now looks perfectly defensible, even reasonable.
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Greg
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I think you mean “late term abortion doctor” in the second graff.
thanks, SG. By the way, where did you see the Colin Powell memo?
Oh I put the link up in the weekend thread. It was from a dailykos diary.
So when are we going to get the apologies from the Republicans who were so quick to bash Napolitano? I mean, it’s not like they can argue that this guy isn’t an extremist.
If this wasn’t so tragic, it’d be hilarious. Talk about proving the point. I hope someone in the MSM picks up on this.
“I hope someone in the MSM picks up on this.” Me too. I also hope Nicole Kidman drops over tonight with a pizza, and asks me about what I’m planning for breakfast tomorrow. I share your hope, DJShay, but reality suggests crickets and tumbleweeds, as usual.
Thanks for writing this Greg, I would like to make one suggestion though.. I know my voice probably doesn’t carry much weight.. but can we please STOP defining Dr. Tiller as just an abortion doctor.. He was so much more than that. I realize that’s what everyone wants to make him into but he was really did practice other forms of medicine.
He was an OB/GYN and did adoptions, saved lives, performed operations and many other things besides abortions.
Just my thoughts, we can’t let the terrorists define us once again.
That was my first thought when I got the email yesterday from HuffPo that told me what had happened.
That was classic terrorism – he was murdered in his own church on purpose to terrify every doctor in the country and I don’t believe in capital but I hope he gets it just the same cause if anyone ever deserved it, the terrorist who did this thing does.
Murder is too timid a word in my book for what happened. this was a cold-blodded Assassination on the part of the guy who did it.
Check out this link from Sullivan, it pieces talks about the comments the suspect posted to Operation Rescue in May 2007, and links to a video that OR put out specifically to target Tiller. In one comment that the suspect posted, he actually said:
“Bless everyone for attending and praying to bring justice to Tiller and the closing of his death camp.
Sometime soon, would it be feasible to organize as many people as possible to attend Tillers church (inside, not just outside) to have much more of a presence and possibly ask questions of the Pastor, Deacons, Elders and members while there? Doesn’t seem like it would hurt anything but bring more attention to Tiller.”
Here’s Sullivan’s post: “Tiller The Killer”
When do we waterboard the terrorist who killed Tiller?
I hope, as someone said yesterday, that when Roeder is put on trial the jury chooses life —life without parole. I want him to have a good long life, amongst the hardcore, who no doubt will be curious to see how tough Roeder is against men who aren’t doctors attending church on Sundays.
demit – you’ve got the right idea. I’m just mad as hell. I cannot believe this **** – cannot believe it. What the hell is it with Kansas? Y’all constantly want to throw Texas out of the union – hell, Kansas is the worst nazi state in the United States. Wichita is a fuckingnightmare.
The organization that the killer posted to Operation Rescue is a piece of work. Hilzoy over at Obsidian Wings has a great post up detailing how this group Operation Rescue (I’m not going to link to them, you’ll have to google them yourselfs) terrorized not only Dr Tiller, but his employees as well once it became harder to terrorize Dr Tiller.
Operation Rescue (from Obsidian Wings blog)
Typically thoughtful piece from Tomasky on this matter…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/01/america-abortion-george-tiller
I am concerned there is going to be more of this sinister background noise with the Sotomayor nomination. For some reason, this year, the ad package for Twins radio broadcasts includes occasional minute sermons. Yesterday, there was one about the difference between cultural Christians and people who are truly committed to Jesus. Then later, when I caught an inning of the game on Fox Sports North, there was an ad for “House” that said something like what do you want when your life is on the line, empathy or intellect? Maybe these were both just happenstance, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a coordinated set of dog whistles out there intended to rouse the wingnuts about Sotomayor. Is anybody else noticing any of this? We’ve had a pattern of inflammatory, hate-mongering from various media outlets for a long time. Is it time Congress looks into this?
Using the logic of conservative, right-wing republicans, our next step should be to torture the members of Operation Rescue to discover what other terrorists are in their organization and what plots they might be hatching.
“Right” to “Life.” This movement is turning out to just be “We kill people who disagree with us and claim to be against killing.” Your god thinks you people are jerks. Abortion is just an excuse for them to live out their murder fantasies.
Somewhat inexplicably, given their fondness for the term “terrorist”, I note that no one at National Review or Weekly Standard have wielded this term in the context of yesterday’s event.
ABC – not sure about those specific instances you’ve noted but clearly (as present and past demonstrate) there is/will be a coordinated set of dog whistles moving out through the numerous media access-points that the right has developed over the last three decades or so. But I don’t know under what justification Congress would initiate investigation. It seems to me a reportorial responsibility. That said, I do think that unless Congress moves to limit/decrease media ownership rules then the entire media landscape will likely continue to move towards control by too few and will be increasingly susceptible to the techniques of propaganda. Did you ever read Lapham’s “Tentacles of Rage”?
Why do so many journalists call the late Dr. Tiller “an abortion doctor” or “late-term abortion doctor”? From what I’ve read, he was an OB/GYN who tended to pregnancies, general medicine, pregnancy terminations and other womens’ health needs. Any journalist worth their salt should avoid loaded terms like those in my first sentence. “Late-term abortion” is used by “pro-life” advocates because it evokes the image of a fetus developed very close to the human form – indeed a powerful image, especially if the pregnancy needs to be terminated. The term leaves out all of the medical reasons that might justify the termination a pregnancy at the late stage. These serious issues should be discussed without invoking hysterical and incomplete terminology.
Bernie, I know that thinking about a Congressional investigation would raise all sorts of free speech questions. I also think this should be a reporting job, as you say, though that’s complicated given the confused nature of journalism these days. There’s also the matter that people don’t like to think they’ve been manipulated, so there will be resistance in some quarters to exposing these campaigns for what they are. But this has been so insidious for so long. It infects and affects our politics. Though it may come down partly to the need for Congress to change the ownership rules, it’s an area right now where there’s a desperate need for exposure.
I TOTALLY agree with Annette, Dr Tiller did not go to school and get his degree in “abortion.” While I did not know him personally, I am positive that his life can not be narrowly defined by one word, nor should it.
ABC – We are agreed on the seriousness of the issue which is why it has become the focus of what I am trying to figure out about the dynamics of American politics. A lot of very good writing/reporting has been done by Alterman and Brock particularly, I think, but from others as well. Media Matters has become a very important and valuable institution in this regard, as you know. Many of us on the left now have a far better understanding of how the right’s propaganda enterprise works and how/why it was established than we did a decade ago. So I see it as an expanding ripple of awareness moving through the culture (though surely not as quickly as we’d like).
At bottom, I think a Chomskian analysis gets closest to the real states of affairs and the structural underpinnings that have facilitated the media environment we find ourselves in. And I think a realistic appraisal of all that probably leads us to an acknowledgment that this battle will be ongoing. By which I mean, we all have to keep our shoulders (however skinny) to the wheel because the folks with money, power and privilege will be pushing in the other direction.
The present turn away from GOP and its modern extremism carries with it, I think, an implicit rejection of the propaganda content and techniques of the last few decades. And that seems due in part to the work of everyone who has set to the task of exposure. We’re in a much better place as regards all this than we earlier. Take heart.
Fringe elements don’t stop being fringe elements just because they take over a political party and elect some fringe elements to office.
I wish when the Obama administration takes a stand on an issue or a person (Sotomayor,) it doesn’t back track and second guess itself.
SAY WHAT YOU MEAN,AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY
It is hell to live in a state that repeatedly makes itself the butt of every joke and condemnation on far-right thinking and action. I am a lonely Dem. voice in Western KS, horrified with the recent assassination of a man who took women’s health issues seriously and acted on his beliefs. I too wish ‘abortionist’ were not in the discussion. Dr. T was sure that he was advancing the cause of women’s health, something that MANY men and unthinking women would love to ignore or decry. This is domestic terrorism==and not the last, I fear.
It is my observation that only the right wing fringe are willing to kill people if they do not get their way. Also, folks who consider themselves part of the conservative movement seem to be the ones who make the ugliest comments about people who do not agree with them. I find it terrible that someone who claims to be part of a group who values life was so willing to take one. Roeller will one day soon find out that only God sits in judgement.
Well said Greg… I immediately thought of that report when I first heard the news.
I *do* find it fairly hilarious that Steele and the rest of the “mainstream” GOP were complaining about the suppression of “peaceful dissenters”, given that they have a long and proud history of the violent suppression of “peaceful dissenters” — especially those who, unlike Steele’s GOP, *don’t* support torture, military attacks on civilians, and elimination of the rights of anyone they dislike.
I imagine that the government will eventually cast a wider net to include resentful or reluctant taxpayers and antiwar protesters etc. The first goal to is create suspicion and turn group against group so it appears the heavy hand of authority is justified. Never underestimate the ulterior motives of government.
Please note that the report did not describe returning veterans as dangerous. It described them as in danger of being targeted by extremist groups that see them as trained in the use of weapons, used to taking orders, and possibly at loose ends after their deployment — i.e., vulnerable to recruitment drives.
Strange how the two soldiers shot outside the recruitment office is so quiet yet the abortion doc gets all the attention. Guess people who don’t like the military are on the government “good” list.
The abortion doc gets all the attention because the pro-life crowd made him a target. The only similarity between the two incidents are that they were both performed by religious extremists.
I know a little profiling never bothered the Right much, so I hope you don’t mind much when the light shines on you too.
All this divisive nature is ridiculous. The taking of a life for whatever reason is ABHORRED by both sides. To clain all Cons are like this man is to claim all libs are gun hating abortion loving people. Which is just not true so quit generalizing. I am against abortion but detest what this man did to the Dr
Republican politicians are mass murderers of unborn babies!
HERE IS THE PROOF!
Between 2003 – 2006, the Republicans had complete control of the White House, The Supreme Court, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Yet they did nothing to reverse Roe v. Wade or to pass an antiabortion law.
Why? Because they cynically want to keep abortion as a wedge issue to attract more conservative voters (very unsuccessfully)to the polls.
The Democrats want women to have control over their own bodies and to prevent needless deaths from botched DIY abortions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that. Their reasons are in fact commendable.
But the Republicans have no good relevant reasons for covertly supporting abortion through inaction within the federal government.
That is why the Republicans and not the Democrats truly are the mass murderers of unborn babies. Well technically speaking, fetuses, embryos and zygotes.
When abortion is outlawed, only outlaws will have coat hangers. Rich pregnant women will take unexpected vacations to Mexico. Poor women will journey to the metaphorical back ally, and possibly take unexpected trips to the emergency room, or worse, to the morgue.
So do we also issue a bulletin about anyone that converts to Islam because of the shooting of the Army recruiter?
The Southern Poverty Law Center told us about this stuff months ago.