Well, the press office got back to me and verified that the document is indeed for real.
They were very defensive — preemptively so — in asserting that it was not a politicized document and that DHS had done reports on “leftwing extremism” in the past. I have covered DHS for many years and am quite familiar with past assessments they and the FBI have done on animal rights terrorists and environmental terrorists. But those past reports have always been very specific in identifying the exact groups, causes, and targets of domestic terrorism, i.e., the ALF, ELF, and Stop Huntingdon wackos who have engaged in physical harassment, arson, vandalism, and worse against pharmaceutical companies, farms, labs, and university researchers.
By contrast, the piece of crap report issued on April 7 is a sweeping indictment of conservatives. And the intent is clear. As the two spokespeople I talked with on the phone today made clear: They both pinpointed the recent “economic downturn” and the “general state of the economy” for stoking “rightwing extremism.” One of the spokespeople said he was told that the report has been in the works for a year. My b.s. detector went off the chart, and yours will, too, if you read through the entire report — which asserts with no evidence that an unquantified “resurgence in rightwing extremist recruitment and radicalizations activity” is due to home foreclosures, job losses, and…the historical presidential election.
She has a few choice quotes listed from the 9 page PDF file that the Liberty Papers Org. has posted on their site, but one specific one caught my eye.
Page 2:
(U//FOUO) The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communitiescould lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.
(U//FOUO) Proposed imposition of firearms restrictions and weapons bans likely would attract new members into the ranks of rightwing extremist groups, as well as potentially spur some of them to begin planning and training for violence against the government. The high volume of purchases and stockpiling of weapons and ammunition by rightwing extremists in anticipation of restrictions and bans in some parts of the country continue to be a primary concern to law enforcement.
— (U//FOUO) Returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are
attractive to rightwing extremists. DHS/I&A is concerned that rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to boost their violent capabilities.
So, according to Obama's DHS, people who believe in the second amendment and an individual's right to bear arms, is now potential "extremism".
Page 3 and 4:
(U//LES) Rightwing extremists are harnessing this historical election as a recruitment tool. Many rightwing extremists are antagonistic toward the new presidential administration and its perceived stance on a range of issues, including immigration and citizenship, the expansion of social programs to minorities, and restrictions on firearms ownership and use. Rightwing extremists are increasingly galvanized by these concerns and leverage them as drivers for recruitment. From the 2008 election timeframe to the present, rightwing extremists have capitalized on related racial and political prejudices in expanded propaganda campaigns, thereby reaching out to a wider audience of potential sympathizers.
If you are concerned about illegal immigrants being given amnesty, gun bans and socialism vs capitalism, it is also considered "extreme?"
Read the whole report... about the only thing correct in it is considering those using race as a divisive issue as an extremist.
All in all, if you are not a communist urging, socialism pushing, illegal immigrant amnesty proponent and against the second amendment, and if you ARE a veteran, then you must be an "extremist" or a potential extremist in the making.
Oh yeah, I forgot, if you are worried about the economy and the massive spending of the government that has already started (think $800 billion stimulus and $410 billion omnibus spending bill with almost 9,000 earmarks aka pork in it) and you plan to join in tomorrow at one of the hundreds of Tea Parties around the country..... you too might just be a "rightwing extremist."
If you do attend a tea party and you happen to have a camera or video camera, look for the "men in black" and make sure to capture them on film, we all need some good laughs.
[Update] This Ain't Hell is annoyed (understatement), and rightly so, for the way this report targets veterans. TAH also slaps up the statistics to show how off base that particular target is.
Go. Read.
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