Homeland Security Study Warned of Right-Wing Extremism--boehner & rethugs attacked it

[spanone]

from newsweek

The Missed Warning Signs
A 2009 study warned that the rise of right-wing extremism could spur violent attacks. But the report was attacked by Republicans, including now-Speaker John Boehner.

Two years before the Tucson massacre, the Department of Homeland Security warned in a report that right-wing extremism was on the rise and could prompt "lone wolves" to launch attacks. But the agency backed away from the report amid intense criticism from Republicans, including future House Speaker John Boehner.

The report, which warned that the crippled economy and the election of the first black president were “unique drivers for right-wing radicalization and recruitment,” described the rise of “lone wolves and small terrorist cells embracing violent right-wing extremist ideology the most dangerous domestic terrorism threat in the United States,” according to a copy reviewed by The Center for Public Integrity.

In the wake of last weekend’s attempted assassination of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, which left six dead and 14 wounded, the report’s warning of a lone wolf attack from someone with extremist tendencies seems prescient.

But when the April 2009 report was issued, it was overwhelmingly criticized by conservative commentators and lawmakers, who derided it as political propaganda from the Obama administration. Some experts worry that its findings were ignored due to political blowback.

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/11/homeland-security-study-warned-of-right-wing-extremism.html

[kestrel91316]

1. K&R

[SpiralHawk]

2. The k and the r

Watch this thread collect unrecs galore

As various SuckerPuppet minions work overtime to hide the ugly truth about how ethically corrupt Republiconism is...

[JuniperLea]

3. This reminds me of an all too familiar memo warning of terrorist action...

You know. It's all Obama's fault for being such a divisive non-leader. :sarcasm:

[spanone]

4. they called it 'political propaganda from the Obama administration'

[JuniperLea]

8. Right... it's being politicized...

Being used by Obama to further his evil plot.

Ridiculous. Seems to me that Obama has distanced himself from the ideological factor here and is sticking with concern for all involved, as it should be.

[avaistheone1]

9. True.

k&r

[Arctic Dave]

5. They had to attack the report.

It let the cat out of the bag about their plans.

[fascisthunter]

6. because I guess they don't want us to so anything about it

maybe someone should ask why they did what they did..

[malaise]

7. K & R n/t

[robdogbucky]

10. I have been posting this as frequently as necessary since Saturday

At the time, conservatives used the report to launch attacks on President Obama and DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. Michael Steele, for example, said the DHS was trying to "segment out Americans who dissent from this administration." A few of the other criticisms included:

Rep. Bachmann: "To me, it looks like the extremists are those running the DHS."

Rep. Burgess: "I don't know that the secretary understands the depth of the disruption that she's caused...I think the appropriate thing to do is for her to step down and let's move on."

Rep. Boehner: "The report that came out of DHS was offensive, and unfortunately, Secretary Napolitano still has a lot of explaining to do."

Rep. Peter King: " has never put out a report talking about look out for mosques. Look out for Islamic terrorists in our country. Look out for the fact that very few Muslims come forward to cooperate with the police. If they sent out a report saying that, there would be hell to pay."

Sen. Ensign: "...this report raised some serious red flags about the mission of the Department of Homeland Security."

Sen. Inhofe: "I believe this report to be very offensive to many Americans."

Newt Gingrich: "The person who drafted the outrageous homeland security memo smearing veterans and conservatives should be fired."

Source: NBC 4

[spanone]

11. it needs to be out there....they were warned and attacked it as partisan politics

[pnorman]

12. K & R this thread, mainly for those quotes!

n/t

[HuckleB]

13. K &R.