On the Assassination

A couple years ago, Homeland Security put out a report in which it mentioned the increased possibility of attacks by right-wing extremists.  The right, of course, pitched a fit.

You can be right-of-center without being a terrorist, but some right-of-center people do resort to terrorism.  That's basic common sense.  It's not false equivalency to say that the same holds true of the left--or for any ideology.  However, it is telling to note that the right, as an aggregate, is unable to distinguish between 'right-wing' and 'right-wing extremists'.

Since that report, this happened.  Strangely, no one apologized for their earlier virulence, instead insisting that it was a crazy person acting alone.  This, of course, is precisely what the report concluded to be the greatest threat:

DHS/I&A assesses that lone wolves and small terrorist cells embracing violent rightwing extremist ideology are the most dangerous domestic terrorist threat in the United States.

If his name had been Mohammed, then all Muslims everywhere would have born full responsibility for an egregious and cowardly assault on everything that Americans hold dear all over again.  Being as how his first name was the same as mine, and his skin the same color, he was of course a mentally disturbed individual acting alone and not influenced in any way by any version of right-wing ideology or rhetoric and his actions really shouldn't even be classed as a terrorist attack.

There was also this little incident, in which violence was used for political intimidation against Democrats.

And now we have the recent attempted assassination of Gabrielle Giffords.

Palin put out a 'Hit List' with a crosshairs over Giffords' district, among others.  The crosshairs over representatives who were already leaving Congress were red.

Meanwhile, Giffords' opponent put out this slick campaign ad:

In which his massive gun obscures his tiny dick.  So ... Real Republicans are posturing morons with deeply rooted phallic insecurities.  Well, haven't I been saying?  Note the claim to be a Trve Kvlt Repvblican, as well. Jesse also hosted a special little event in which participants could fire an M-16 to "Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office".  Fun for the whole family!

Of course I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention Sharron Angle and her 'Second Amendment Remedies.'

The chain of events looks like this:

1) Placed on Hit List

2) Calls for assassination

3) Firing a gun to remove political opponent/overcompensation

4) Actual assassination attempt

I can't help but think that the people responsible for 1, 2 and 3 bear some responsibility for 4.  Of course we may argue that the individual was mentally disturbed, but then again a good portion of Muslim terrorists are, as well.

As for the folks I've named here ... nothing.  No hint that what they did was at best deeply wrong and at worst partially responsible.  If something comes out and I miss it, let me know.

I said earlier that it was telling that the Right is unable to distinguish between 'right-wing' and 'right-wing extremists'.  In their defense, it must be reported that I am increasingly having the same problem myself.