Rightwing extremism report spurs no apology from Obama or administration

The Dept. of Homeland Security report on rightwing extremism, despite an outpouring of criticism from the public, has elicited no apology from President Barack Obama or members of his administration. ‘Big Sis’, aka DHS secretary Janet Napolitano, did say if she could rewrite the report, she’d rewrite this footnote: “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.” She did apologize to veterans for slurs like this, among others: “Returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to rightwing extremists.”

If you read the whole report, there is implied hatred for anyone considered “rightwing.” And if you consider the phrasing in some passages, there is possible conflict with free assembly/expression rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

According to Napolitano’s report, almost every conservative could be deemed a “right-wing extremist” based on the single issue passage alone. How will this report impact law enforcement? Your privacy? Your security?

The White House basically shuttled responsibility away from the president, but that’s disingenuous. Napolitano is Obama’s DHS chief; what she supports he supports whether he likes it or not. Just reflect on President George W. Bush’s term if you don’t agree with my statement.

Missouri, Maryland and other states have allegedly issued their own advisories. The Liberty Papers said Maryland specifically targeted tea party participants. Doesn’t that last sentence sound insane?

Meanwhile there are some real domestic terrorists who need watching, if you believe the National Gang Assessment report issued by the Dept. of Justice. In 2009, the report said, “Approximately 1 million gang members belonging to more than 20,000 gangs were criminally active within all 50 states and the District of Columbia as of September 2008.” And this: “Criminal gangs commit as much as 80 percent of the crime in many communities, according to law enforcement officials throughout the nation. Typical gang-related crimes include alien smuggling, armed robbery, assault, auto theft, drug trafficking, extortion, fraud, home invasions, identity theft, murder, and weapons trafficking.” How many gang members are in the country illegally?

As governor, Napolitano did not deal effectively with border security, and if the new DHS report citing those who disagree with “immigration” is considered, it’s easy to leap to the conclusion the governor didn’t want the border secure. By the way, I don’t know a single conservative who disagrees with “immigration.” I do know conservatives, liberals and libertarians who disagree with open borders for obvious security reasons.

Napolitano has the highest security perch in the land. That an individual with this sort of power could declare political war on conservatives by fiat says it all. And it implies we are definitely not tuning in to real threats that can take the lives of Americans regardless of race, creed or ideology—a perfect repeat of Clinton’s fatal errors, fatal at least for more than 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001.

Rightwing extremism report spurs no apology from Obama or administration by Kay B. Day

Update on Friday, April 17, 2009 at 10:11AM by Kay B. Day, Editor

The report has already drawn a lawsuit: Savage sues Napolitano for targeting vets.

Really, that report would be right at home in Iran, China or Russia. Maybe Obama can share it with our new friends.