We received a phonecall the other day asking us to investigate reports that Ron Paul supporters were being observed by law enforcement. At the time, I had only heard a few rumors, but this article seems to shed some more light on the subject.
It appears that the Missouri Information Analysis Center released a report identifying “small government types” as potential militia members and terrorist threats; it specifically mentioned supporters of Ron Paul, Bob Barr, and other libertarian political candidates.
The report by the Missouri Information Analysis Center was later retracted and those who oversaw its release were quickly reassigned after a strong outcry from state Republicans and the ACLU.
And yet, despite the reaction to this little episode, the Department of Homeland Security has issued its own report reaffirming some of the assertions brought by the MIAC.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, there is surge in “right-wing extremist” activity. And while the usual suspects (i.e. Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazi groups, etc.) are being targeted, others have been lumped together with the white-power crowd and identified as “right-wing extremists.”
The DHS released a report titled, “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Environment Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.”
Along with hate-groups, “those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely” were targeted. Not to mention, veterans, anti-abortion, and anti-immigration activists were also explicitly identified.
The DHS report was sent to law enforcement agencies across the country on April 7th.
While we must acknowlegde the existence of violent anti-government individuals/groups (i.e. Timothy McVeigh), the statement by the DHS certainly makes me feel uneasy, especially when “anti-government” individuals are defined as those “rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority.”
As many of our listeners know, I call myself a conservative. And while I may sympathize with some of the ideas espoused by the Ron Paul crowd, I have been incredibly critical at the same time. Yet when it comes to issues of state’s rights, I apparently find myself in some cases with the “right-wing extremists.” I have long criticized expanded federal powers in both Republican and Democratic administrations, I have long argued for increased devolution of federal powers to the states, and altogether, I feel that the federal government has overstepped its bounds considerably on countless occasions… Does that make me a “right-wing extremist?”
Certainly many will shrug off such talk, surely the government won’t target honest, law-abiding citizens. But when such assertions are made by a federal agency and then passed onto local law enforcement, I see a real danger of alienation, misinterpretation, and abuse.
Any student of American history should recognize the “extremism” of our Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson. With the evolution of parties in the early years of the Republic, Jefferson and James Madison (the author of the Constitution) found themselves among the Republicans, a group popular in the South and the frontier. This party advocated a strict constitutional interpretation, diminished federal powers, and was fiercely opposed the the creation of Hamilton’s National Bank.
I truly dislike when people conjure up the memory of the Founders to argue for their political positions, nevertheless, I cannot help but see how the ideas from a man like Thomas Jefferson would be considered “threatening” by the Department of Homeland Security. Jefferson’s figure represents the exceptionalism of the American political experience… the debate over government powers and the Constitution; a debate which can be easily traced back to Hamilton and Jefferson, and before.
I am no enemy to my government, but I have reason to distrust it. And I fear how this analysis may materialize nationally and locally.
- Marc
READ THIS ARTICLE BY THE WASHINGTON TIMES ABOUT THE DHS REPORT
UPDATE: READ THE “REPORT” HERE (notice the “analysis” of the potential threat and the lack of evidence)
I don’t like the idea of using law enforcement to squash debate. While I think that right wing extremist talk is a bit disturbing, they should be able to speak their opinions without worrying about the thought police nabbing them.
I am a fan of due process, not big brother. Dissenters should always be allowed to bring their concerns forward and let the police handle people that actually break the law.
The idea that you are being watched by people searching for a reason to nab you really puts a chill on lawful protest.