On Right Win Extremism

When the Obama administration released a report earlier this year on the dangers of right wing extremism, Republicans (and specifically conservatives) were outraged. Furious that the President would liken even the most extreme fringes of their ideology to domestic terrorists, they argued that the Democratic administration was simply trying to reduce conservative opposition to Democratic policies to terrorism in order to crush dissenting opinion. Right-wing terrorism seemed too farfetched to be seriously considered. Consider this video put together by Media Matters:



After the execution in of Dr. George Tiller two weeks ago in the lobby of his Kansas church, along with today’s news that a guard at a Holocaust museum was also brutally murdered by a white supremacist, I think that we should revisit the question.

I feel for the community and the friends and family of the deceased, and I hope they find a way through these difficult times. But my blood has been boiling ever since I first heard the story. And I’m tired of waiting for the politically correct time to begin talking about these tragedies, which some people on the right haven’t had the decency to do. Anti-abortion activists have voiced concerns over the political fallout that such a murder can create for their cause. Reprehensible. They are concerned that their opponents will use the murder to expose the entire anti-abortion movement as extremist.

That shouldn’t be hard for me to accomplish. Kansas Jackass has provided excellent coverage of the tragedy that has occurred in their own back yard, including this collection of Twitter comments

Doctor George Tiller was aborted today in his 204th trimester - aren't paybacks a bitch - Punch

George Tiller the baby killer was shot dead this morning. God bless the gunmen who hopefully won't be caught. - readnwatchchris, Creedmor. NC

The person who shot Tiller the baby killer simply exercised a man's right to choose. - Sami Shamieh, Walnut Creek, CA

Guy shoots a Dr. to death in Church. Me I'm willing to bet that Jesus was his co-pilot. - jeremyawhitman

These are only a few of the comments collected in the link above. The last one gets me the most. Was the person purposefully invoking a 9-11 reference with the “co-pilot” talk? Right wing groups have been quick to dismiss such comments as not indicative of their movement as a whole. But the sheer volume of this type of reaction from the right has left me unsure. It’s not one or two people, but rather dozens and even hundreds making similar comments.

So it’s time to take these threats seriously. This is not the first time that someone has carried out a violent action against someone working in a clinic in the name of the “Pro-Life” movement. Nor is this the first time that someone has carried out similar action out of anti-Semitic motivations. And until we recognize that it won’t be the last, they are just going to keep on happening. The FBI needs to begin paying more attention to the guy making threats on the message boards and forums on the internet from the conservative spectrum. They can be just as dangerous to the peace and stability of our nation as any terrorist half way around the world.