Recession Fueling Right-Wing Extremism in U.S., DHS Says »

Posted By ybdogsct 7 months, 2 weeks ago in News

Right-wing extremists in the United States are gaining new recruits by exploiting fears about the economy and the election of the first black U.S. president, the Department of Homeland Security warned in a report to law enforcement officials. The DHS report said such fears were driving a resurgence in "recruitment and radicalization activity" by white supremacist groups, anti-government extremists and militia movements. It warned that home foreclosures, unemployment and other consequences of the economic recession "could create a fertile recruiting environment for right-wing extremists."

Extremist groups are preying on fears that President Barack Obama, the first African American U.S. president, would restrict gun ownership, boost immigration and expand social programs for minorities, the report said.

It said such groups were also exploiting anti-Semitic sentiment with accusations that "a cabal of Jewish financial elites" had conspired to collapse the economy.

Read Full Story at uk.reuters.com »

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  • 80%
    hyperbola7 months, 2 weeks ago

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    We have seen this kind of thing before in the world. Perhaps we should be addressing urgently the identity of the oligarchs that finance the extremist campaigns. Germans would have been much better off if that had been done in time in Germany.

    Historical Comparisons: Fritz Stern Publishes "Five Germanys I Have Known"

    "Can It Happen Here?" is the headline of the NY Times review of the Fritz Stern's memoir:

    In November 2005, Fritz Stern received an award for his life's work on Germans, Jews and the roots of National Socialism, presented to him by Joschka Fischer, then the German foreign minister. With a frankness that startled some in the audience, Stern, an emeritus professor of European history at Columbia University, peppered his acceptance speech with the similarities he saw between the path taken by Germany in the years leading up to Hitler and the path being taken by the United States today. He talked about a group of 1920's intellectuals known as the "conservative revolutionaries," who "denounced liberalism as the greatest, most invidious threat, and attacked it for its tolerance, rationality and cosmopolitan culture," and about how Hitler had used religion to appeal to the German public. In Hitler's first radio address after becoming chancellor, Stern noted, he declared that the Nazis regarded "Christianity as the foundation of our national morality and the family as the basis of national life."....

    http://atlanticreview.org/archives/467-Historical-...

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    gamahuche7 months, 2 weeks ago

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    Good post, ybdogsct.
    Economic pressures were indeed the catalyst for the unleashing of the forces of Nazism in Germany but the agenda was not identical to that of the neocons.
    In some ways the US has an even more frightening potential for explosion, fuelled by the overwhelming number of guns in private hands.
    Not every gun owner is going to be on the same side but there is obviously a preponderance of right-wing weapons enthusiasts.
    The maverick factor, which bears no resemblance to any historical precedent is the issue of drug gangs and the potential for the "war on drugs" to get completely out of control.
    Mexico City comes to the US?
    Perhaps not, but that problem still has the potential to inflict or incite great damage to the culture and social fabric of the US.

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    • 88%
      engineer7 months, 2 weeks ago

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      There is a duplication coming now. Under Warren G Harding and Calvin Coolidge the depression was brought on. Reagan and the Bush's copied the actions of Coolidge and Harding. Hoover hardly did anything. It wasn't until FDR came in that things improved. Obama will be the new FDR but better just by his current actions.

      At that time, though, far right extremists grew as well, just as today they are there.

      History repeats itself. I won't go into a long dissertation as many will do But, the facts are the facts.

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      scott42617 months, 2 weeks ago

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      And to all the supporters of the 2nd Amendment (and I AM one, believe it or not....this is one of the FEW issues Obama is to my left on...), stop the panic. We have three branches of government, including a conservative judiciary and a congress which - despite all the screams to the contrary - has many conservative "blue dogs" who have no desire for gun control. (I live in Arkansas and I can tell you with certainty that my congressional delegation would vote against any restrictions in gun laws). And to tell you the truth, anything more than a reinstatement of the Brady Law (which banned assault weapons...a move even I support, BTW) would be a waste of Obama's time.

      Your guns are safe. Relax....

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    • 79%
      Spadecaller7 months, 2 weeks ago

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      Thanks for the story,ybdogsct. The combination of economic strife, disorderly immigration, abuse of foreign "guest-workers" and a black American president from left of the center certainly are perceived as a vital threat by the wingnuts and hate groups. Advocating violence against the Obama administration smarts of a fascist backlash that needs to be addressed openly.

      That these extremists account for less than 16% of our population should never be taken for granted. The danger of ignoring the rise of a reactionary right wing movement in this country could be disastrous. Uniting people by fear of economic security can certainly bring homophobic, xenophobic, racist, and antisemitic personalities together. Exposing their rhetoric and conduct is imperative to defusing their influence.

      After 8 years since our constitution has been dismantled, it is vitally important to restore confidence in a government that respects constitutional law and international law. These are precarious times we are in; nothing should be taken for granted.

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    • 83%
      Goppy7 months, 2 weeks ago

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      Okay ... here's the deal ...

      The Modern Republican movement began with two groups uniting their most heart-felt issues into a Political Force - thereby empowering each other.

      1) Christian Conservatives, (arrayed from Ocala Florida to Coeur d'Alene Idaho - and from Midland Texas to Paducah Kentucky) - were outraged at their perception that Liberals were bending over backwards to help black people ... providing welfare. You have to imagine how outrageous this was to a group of people who lived for decade upon decade under a racist society.

      2) Politically minded Conservatives - nationwide - were outraged at the efforts of Liberals to scale back our massive military expenditures. They were incensed that they were not permitted to turn Vietnam into a "Parking Lot".

      But it was the issue of Abortion that created a politically convenient nexus for these two affiliations to claim they shared a similar agenda.

      That's why I always say ... the Modern Republican Movement was born on bigotry and fear provoked war mongering.

      Look, it really isn't a very long step between murdering those four Freedom Rider boys in Mississippi ... to shooting police officers in Pittsburgh under the Right Wing Media Inflamed Paranoia that Obama is coming to take away people's guns.

      We're only talking 45 years between the murders of those young Freedom Riders ... for daring to register black people to vote in Mississippi to today.

      We're only talking 45 years between Little Rock Central High School and now.

      Social attitudes rarely change dramatically. And when they do - they more often coalesce under some other malformed, redirected misanthropic manifestation ... as opposed to being reformed towards any positive expression.

      For instance, RedRiverJ is trying his level best to instill a fear that Obama is a Communist.

      pc25 is trying his level best to instill resentment and fear for Obama from every angle.

      Glenn Beck is trying to instill fear that Obama is a Socialist out to destroy our country.

      Many have tried to instill fear that Obama is a Muslim - as if he's a turbaned terrorist.

      Others have even tried to instill a fear that Obama is not even an American!

      These are merely echos of 1950's Joseph McCarthy and 1960's KKK rhetoric.

      I think things are changing - but it will take many more decades.
      .

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      Klarissa7 months, 2 weeks ago

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      What targets have been chosen by eco-terrorists?

      The Earth Liberation Front (ELF) has claimed responsibility for setting several fires, including a July 1998 fire on a ski resort in Vail, Colorado, that caused $12 million in damage.

      The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) has been connected to break-ins, thefts, and vandalism at animal-research laboratories on the West Coast and to a March 1999 firebombing of circus trailers in Franklin Township, New Jersey. Most of the 600 crimes that the ALF and ELF are suspected of committing since 1996 have not been classified as acts of terrorism. These crimes, which include vandalism and theft, have resulted in some $43 million in damages, according to the FBI.

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      Klarissa7 months, 2 weeks ago

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      The far left:
      Communist Party USA
      Socialist Workers Party
      Spartacist League
      Workers League
      Guardian
      Black Panther Party
      Students for a Democratic Society
      Progressive Labor Party
      Workers World Party
      Communist Party USA (Marxist-Leninist)
      Revolutionary Action Movement
      Revolutionary Communist Party
      Communist Workers Party
      All African People's Revolutionary Party
      Marxist-Leninist Party, USA

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      Klarissa7 months, 2 weeks ago

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      "The Left is quite deceitful in their agenda. Upon examination, they in fact are not for the free exchange of ideas, but rather favor policies that restrict freedom of speech.

      They spawned the political-correctness movement. They label dissenting voices as “hate speech.” Contrary to the concept of innocent-until-proven-guilty, they shift the burden of proof to the accused: To not be labeled a “racist,” you must favor affirmative action programs.

      To not be a “homophobe,” you must favor legislation of hate crimes which makes it more of a crime to kill a homosexual than a heterosexual. To not be a “sexist,” you must favor eliminating the freedoms of private organization membership policies."

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      NoWayMan7 months, 2 weeks ago

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      the recession is just an excuse. we've been through lots of them.

      the real reasons are hatred, jealousy, racism, etc.

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      deathray7 months, 2 weeks ago

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      In case anyone wants to read the entire DHS report, it's embedded here:

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/14/homeland-...

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      calitennflo7 months, 2 weeks ago

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      Look at the numbers of law enforcement increased in the last , say eight years...that's what is worry-some. These law enforcement officials bend things a bit in return.

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        buckncindykill7 months, 2 weeks ago

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        "The April 7 report, which Reuters and other news media obtained on Tuesday, said such fears were driving a resurgence in "recruitment and radicalization activity" by white supremacist groups, antigovernment extremists and militia movements.......It did not identify any by name."

        In other words, they're making sh!t up.

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      • 91%
        CHAM7 months, 2 weeks ago

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        The Republican Party has pursued an insane policy of "Against Obama" . Makes no difference whether what he does is good for America or bad for America. The Republican mantra is "Trash Obama", Liberals, Democrats, Republicans should keep stating over and over that all the ills of today are because of Obama and Liberals.

        The commenter above who tries to show Obama as the "spend to destruction" president much less frugal than Bush, is either so full of it or just doesn't know what happened - you know like the third monkey - "What Happened".

        The fact is that during the Bush Administration the National Debt more than doubled, and the Long term Liabilities more than tripled. All that in eight years.

        That's why I am asking everyone to join with me in never voting for a Republican Candidate again - for any office. We need to let the Republicans know that we will not forgive them for what they did to this country in their eight years. Over time that once great party of mine, the GOP, will just fade away and that would be appropriate. I last voted for a Republican in 2000. Wish I had just stopped four years before.

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      • 89%
        CHAM7 months, 2 weeks ago

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        The Republican Party has pursued an insane policy of "Against Obama" . Makes no difference whether what he does is good for America or bad for America. The Republican mantra is "Trash Obama", Liberals, Democrats, Republicans should keep stating over and over that all the ills of today are because of Obama and Liberals.

        The commenter above who tries to show Obama as the "spend to destruction" president much less frugal than Bush, is either so full of it or just doesn't know what happened - you know like the third monkey - "What Happened".

        The fact is that during the Bush Administration the National Debt more than doubled, and the Long term Liabilities more than tripled. All that in eight years.

        That's why I am asking everyone to join with me in never voting for a Republican Candidate again - for any office. We need to let the Republicans know that we will not forgive them for what they did to this country in their eight years. Over time that once great party of mine, the GOP, will just fade away and that would be appropriate. I last voted for a Republican in 2000. Wish I had just stopped four years before.

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          pa41ul7 months, 2 weeks ago

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          I can't believe that legal taxpaying citizens would hold either party up as something to believe in. They all helped bring about the chaos and destruction of the American way of life. The companies that outsourced our jobs should be held accountable and the politicos who are intent on shredding our documents of rights and freedoms which cost American blood to formulate should have their feet held to the fire of American opinion.Something or someone is very intent upon shutting down OUR country and we are trying to catch you and put you on trial.

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          buckeye31187 months, 2 weeks ago

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          Just another attempt by President PopStar Messiah's goon squad to stifle free speech. Notice that none of the groups supporting the 'Blame America' position are mentioned. As long as the government, by taking away our freedoms and selling out to the UN (Useless Nothing), turning the US into just another third-world, disease ridden dictatorship, gives these wackos (left and right) a reason to exist, they will always be a threat. I'm more worried about the wacko left, as they out-number the wacko right by at least 100 to 1.

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          • 90%
            moongrim7 months, 2 weeks ago

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            No small irony. Republicans exploiting the very situation they themselves created.

            ad infinitum ad nauseum

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            2ndSamuel7-107 months, 2 weeks ago

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            USA should never have fought against our German racial brothers. It was the Bolshevik Communists that starved 66 million of it's people within their borders that were the real enemies. Christians were duped into another fratricidal war by the Jews with their money powers again. Nazis built Christian Churches, Bolshevik Communists burned them down.. Jews have always been ancient enemies of Jesus Christ & Christians.. Most of the Christian Church today duped to cover for them.. Things will change.. Will they ever.. The so called Holocaust should be seen by most now as the hoax that it is.. Anglo-Saxon Israel.com

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          • 86%
            Natureboy7 months, 2 weeks ago

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            It is predictable.

            A whole mess of otherwise unaware 30-something white males, who ate the crap all their lives, took the miserable corporate jobs, lived in the cookie-cutter homes in cookie-cutter "bedroom communities," all for their big screen TVs tract homes and SUVs, and now they are LOSING IT ALL.

            They filled their end of the bargain - they dummied up about the war, waved the flag, did what they were told, and they got the short end of the stick - let me tell you, these people are P!SSED, and they lack enough analysis to know who to be be mad at, so bet they will blame the hippies, the Jews, the Blacks, the Mooselims, the Mexicans. And they will jump right into the lap of anyone who says he'll make it like it was.

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            • 0%
              lloydm657 months, 2 weeks ago

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              scott 4261:son it looks like you have potential,if you go back,and take third grade over you might actually become an educated pi$$ idiot.

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