"Terrorism" - Are Fox News, RW Radio and the GOP Engaging In It Or Promoting It?

[TomCADem]

Terrorism - "the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear)."

I think we have begun to cross the line from mere heated rhetoric to the active promotion of domestic terrorism. Fox News and other right wing radio media types have been offering self-fulfilling promises about the anger of the people while describing the HCR vote as an act of tyranny. They have offered half-hearted condemnation of racist and homophobic slurs against Democratic leaders. They have justified threats and acts of violance and vandalism as the expression of rightious anger. Now, they sit by passively at best, and encouraging at worst, as their followers engage in a campaign of intimidation against Democrats in order to achieve political ends.

Yet, everyone is giving Republicans and right wing media a free pass on organizing and leading acts of terrorism. When Beck repeatedly says that we are under tyrannical rule, and that we are going to need a revolution, how is that different from a member of Al Queda saying the same thing among angry Islamic youth? One group gets millions of corporate advertising dollars. The other gets bombed from afar by remote controlled drones. However, one group is larger, looks like us, and is much closer to home.

What is happening now, and is being encouraged by the right wing media, is unacceptable. Can you imagine the reaction among Republicans if Keith Olbermann encouraged people to be angry and predicted/promoted a revolution when Bush was President? Can you imagine the reaction if Olbermann dismissed threats and vandalism against Republicans as understandable expressions of outrage against Bush? KO would be off the air before you could blink.

This trend has gotten worse, not better. We are naive to rely on the inherent decency of the right wing to pull them back from the edge. Instead, it appears that they are beginning to cross that line from civil discoure to actively engaging in acts of terrorism: "the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear)."

[my2sense]

1. K&R -

[FrenchieCat]

2. The Mainstream media is in on it too......

as they were there at the Teabagger convention of 600, magnifying the size
of the astroturf movement in order to mislead.

So it ain't just the Right Wingers, it's Corporate interests that have promoted this!
They know it.

Watch them start walking it back now, since they no longer have a choice.

[TomCADem]

6. When The GOP Intentionally Spreads Lies About "Death Panels"...

...They should reasonably foresee that people might actually believe them and react accordingly. I think most folks would potentially react in a violent manner if they truly believed that the government was going to murder them or their elderly parents and grandparents in order to save costs. Yet, you have the former Republican VP candidate saying:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090813/pl_politico/26078

“Yesterday President Obama responded to my statement that Democratic health care proposals would lead to rationed care; that the sick, the elderly and the disabled would suffer the most under such rationing; and that under such a system, these ‘unproductive’ members of society could face the prospect of government bureaucrats determining whether they deserve health care,” Palin wrote in a note on her Facebook page.

“The provision that President Obama refers to is Section 1233 of HR 3200, entitled ‘Advance Care Planning Consultation.’ With all due respect, it’s misleading for the president to describe this section as an entirely voluntary provision that simply increases the information offered to Medicare recipients,” she continued.

“Section 1233 authorizes advanced care planning consultations for senior citizens on Medicare every five years, and more often ‘if there is a significant change in the health condition of the individual ... or upon admission to a skilled nursing facility, a long-term care facility... or a hospice program.’"

The White House and Democratic lawmakers have blasted Palin in recent days for suggesting that her own son, Trig, would have had to face a bureaucratic panel to get access to health care under the provision in the House health care proposal because he was born with Down syndrome.

While we may dismiss her as a kook, the fact of the matter is that there is a large segment of the population that believes her and trusts her. So, when she says that the government is going to put their family members to death under HCR, then they will act on that belief.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. Absolutely and for over a year with deliberation.

[TomCADem]

8. The Question Is Whether The GOP Is Past The Tipping Point?

It seems that number of acts of terrorism against members of Congress has rapidly increased, and the initial Republican was response was muted, if not somewhat encouraging. Will Republicans be willing to try to reverse this downward spiral or will they simply embrace and try to use its energy for short term political gain?

Look at Glenn Beck. Each show, he tries to top himself. The only way to stand out is to be more and more extreme. Jim Bunning is hailed as a hero. Joe Wilson gets thousands of dollars of campaign contributions.

Is there a line of decency that Republicans as an institution are not willing to cross? Or, will they just continue to push the envelope?

[kestrel91316]

4. Hutubagger radio? Hutubagger teevee? You need to ask, lol?

[Cha]

5. Yes, and there doing it for the basest

of reasons..the ratings and bringing down the President..not necessarily in that order.

[TomCADem]

9. Worse, Gingrich and Eric Cantor Are Now Blaming The Democrats For These Acts...

Since this post, Cantor and Gingrich have been blaming these acts of violence on the Democrats.

[Zoeisright]

7. They're doing BOTH.

The sick fuckers.