Eugene Robinson: There Are Crazies on One Side

[babylonsister]

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/there_are_crazies_on_one_side_20100329/

There Are Crazies on One Side
Posted on Mar 29, 2010
By Eugene Robinson


The arrests of members of a Michigan-based “Christian” militia group should convince doubters that there is good reason to worry about right-wing, anti-government extremism—and potential violence—in the Age of Obama.

I put the word “Christian” in quotes because anyone who plots to assassinate law enforcement officers, as a federal indictment alleges members of the Hutaree militia did, is no follower of Christ. According to federal prosecutors, the Hutaree—the word’s not in my dictionary, but their website claims it means “Christian warrior”—are convinced that their enemies include “state and local law enforcement, who are deemed ‘foot soldiers’ of the federal government, federal law enforcement agencies and employees, participants in the ‘New World Order,’ and anyone who does not share in the Hutaree’s beliefs.”

snip//

The episode highlights the obvious: For decades now, the most serious threat of domestic terrorism has come from the growing ranks of paranoid, anti-government hate groups that draw their inspiration, vocabulary and anger from the far right.

It is disingenuous for mainstream purveyors of incendiary far-right rhetoric to dismiss groups such as the Hutaree by saying that there are “crazies on both sides.” This simply is not true.

snip//

It is dishonest for right-wing commentators to insist on an equivalence that does not exist. The danger of political violence in this country comes overwhelmingly from one direction—the right, not the left. The vitriolic, anti-government hate speech that is spewed on talk radio every day—and, quite regularly, at tea party rallies—is calibrated not to inform but to incite.

Demagogues scream at people that their government is illegitimate, that their country has been “taken away,” that their elected officials are “traitors” and that their freedom is at risk. They have a right to free speech, which I will always defend. But they shouldn’t be surprised if some listeners take them literally.

[flpoljunkie]

1. Boehner's faux outrage 'Hell No' floor speech before final vote was raw meat to the nut wing base

[BrklynLiberal]

2. "mainstream purveyors of incendiary far-right rhetoric" = most of the media these days.

Expecting truth and accuracy from them is nothing short of a childish fantasy.
They should be considered co-conspirators.

[bluethruandthru]

3. When anyone mentions "liberal media" to me these days

I just laugh and ask them what they're watching! They still think CBS, MSNBC and CNN are "liberal".

[a la izquierda]

4. Ick, might I suggest not reading the comments. NT

[Paladin]

5. Robinson Nails It, As Usual. (n/t)

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

6. As always, Gene is the smartest guy in the room....

The best part about "Countdown" is that it introduced me to Eugene Robinson's column.