Promoting hate has consequences. When will Republicans learn that?

[TheBigotBasher]

An evangelical Christian hate group called “Repent Amarillo” is reportedly terrorizing the town of Amarillo, Texas. Repent fashions itself as a sort of militia and targets a wide range of community members they deem offensive to their theology: gays, liberal Christians, Muslims, environmentalists, breast cancer events that do not highlight abortion, Halloween, “spring break events,” and pornography shops. On its website, Repent has posted a “Warfare Map” of its enemies in town.

Calling Repent an “American Taliban,” blogger Charles Johnson notes that the group’s moniker “Army of God” is a rough translation of “Hezbollah.” Led by a man named David Grisham, a security guard at a nuclear-bomb facility called Pantex, Repent first gained media attention in Texas following a campaign to boycott Houston for electing a gay mayor. The group, which is associated with Raven Ministries, collaborates with other Christian groups as well as forced pregnancy advocacy associations like “Bound 4 Life.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/04/texas-taliban/

Selling hate has consequences. It gives these people legitimacy. It leads to lives being destroyed.

[Fumesucker]

1. What on Earth makes you think they don't already know it? n/t

[AlinPA]

3. They know that it works for them. They hold 41% of the US Senate seats and control it. nt

[SpiralHawk]

4. Or that they care?

After all, even though Jesus Christ was horribly tortured over 2,000 years ago, the Republicon Party of today is totally, enthusiastically into wholesale torture of other human beings -- even while 'claiming' to be devout followers of the teachings of Christ.

[TheBigotBasher]

7. I think that they do know

but they need to be called on it.

Ranting about socialists, de gay, Communism, death panels has a consequence. The political discourse needs to be toned down otherwise this will spread.

[Fumesucker]

8. From their point of view it's a feature rather than a bug..

As the political discourse becomes ever less sane their tactics become ever more legitimate in the eyes of many.

[paulsby]

9. it isn't just repubs that rant about communism, etc. nor should it be

john kennedy for one was a fierce opponent of it.

as am i

[TheBigotBasher]

10. My guess is that you do not suggest that

the President is a communist.

[paulsby]

11. lol no

nor that france is socialist

[lunatica]

2. This is something that is happening now and not in some vague future

They're terrorizing Amarillo. A town. It appears to me that the consequences are already playing out.

We must take a good look at this because it's Theocratic governance.

(snip)
Repent set out earlier this year to destroy a discreet club of swingers they discovered in town. On New Years eve, the harassment began, with Repent members, almost exclusively young men, showing up in military fatigues and bullhorns, blaring Christian music at the swingers’ club building. The swingers, made up of “regulars” of middle aged, working class couples, were then stalked at every following visit to the club. Repent not only took video of each member, but obtained the swingers’ license plates and dug through their trash, informing neighbors and coworkers of what was once private.

Repent has struck with some success at many of its enemies within the town. A community theater attempted to open “Bent,” a play about the persecution of homosexuals during Nazi Germany. But the day before opening night, Repent members helped shut down the play by calling in fire marshals to complain about the theater’s permit. Staffers at a nature preserve were featured on local news defending themselves against Repent accusations that their site represents something related to witchcraft.

[tom_paine]

5. I think it's quite clear the Busho-Corporate Rulers of America know full well what they are doing

and also have a prety good idea of the consequences.

They, like the German Industrialists of the 1920s and 30s think THEY are going to control Hitler and not the other way around.

It remains to be seen if that will be the case. Stay tuned.

[47of74]

6. Here's my message to that group

[fascisthunter]

12. Oh they know, and it's deliberate... they don't care about repercussions

which is another example of how arrogant, ignorant and disconnected they are. Also, sociopaths love seeing people get their lives destroyed, so maybe in their sick heads they are willing to deal with consequences because of their unquenchable thirst for abuse of others while being rewarded financially.

[Kievan Rus]

13. These people know crazy talk has bad consequences

And either they don't care or willfully know that crazy talk is capable of pushing wingnut fanatics over the edge.

I seriously hope the FBI is watching a lot of these wingnut groups. IMHO, these extremist wingnut groups are more dangerous than al-Qaeda or Islamic Jihad.

[TheBigotBasher]

14. Few however call out the idiot politicians that encourage this though.

The GOP is becoming the political wing of these self styled militia groups.

[Therellas]

15. all the reptillian brain has to do to perpetuate itself.....

is create fear.