Updated below.
Reading this report from the Department of Homeland Security while eating lunch almost made me lose it. This document targets pretty much any conservative or libertarian in the country. Right in the key findings one can read this little gem.
The DHS/Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) has no specific information that domestic rightwing* terrorists are currently planning acts of violence, but rightwing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues. The economic downturn and the election of the first African American president present unique drivers for rightwing radicalization and recruitment.
The report later defines what they mean by “rightwing.”
Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.
Based on this definition, the Constitution Party, Libertarian Party, National Right to Life Committee, the Ku Klux Klan and Aryan Nation for instance are all one in the same. Really? No distinctions?
Fox News reports that a DHS official countered that they did “mirror intelligence assessment on leftwing extremism back in January” but as Michelle Malkin notes in reports related to leftwing extremism, they identify specific groups and identify how they are a threat. Basically what this document says is if you are a conservative you might be dangerous. DHS apparently believes that the Constitution is a subversive manifesto based on the findings of this report.
Well in celebration of my new status as a potential terrorist threat I’m going to a tea party. Care to join me?
Update: Dave Rehbein, the National Commander of the American Legion wrote an open letter to DHS Secretary Napolitano.
2nd Update (4/15/09): DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano issued a statement on the report.
