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Increasing Fear Among the GOP of Extremist Fringe Party Takeover

by Karen Hatter | September 14, 2009 at 08:20 am

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Specifically naming World Net Daily (WND) as the leading source of many of the Right Wing conservative extremist viewpoints circulating among the base supporters of the Republican Party, among those: President Obama was born in Kenya, Nazi detention camps are being prepared for political opponents, the President is a communist and those that have crowned South Carolina Republican Congressman Joe Wilson a hero for heckling the President during a joint address to Congress, conservative author and speech writer for former President George W. Bush, David Frum, says he and others within the GOP have been critical of the extreme rhetoric that has seemed to take over the direction of the Republican Party.
From the article :

They are "wild accusations and the paranoid delusions coming from the fever swamps," said David Frum, a conservative author and speechwriter for President George W. Bush who is among the more vocal critics of the party base and of the conservative talk show hosts helping to fan the unrest. "Like all conservatives, I am concerned about this administration's accumulation of economic power," Frum said. "Still, you have to be aware that there's a line where legitimate concerns begin to collapse into paranoid fantasy."

Frum and other establishment Republicans have spoken out in recent days against the influence of what they view as their party's fringe elements.

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a211423

at 09:46 on September 14th, 2009

David Frum, says he and others within the GOP have been critical of the extreme rhetoric that has seemed to take over the direction of the Republican Party.

The extremists became most apparent to me with the disruptive and uncivil ocurrances at town hall meetings, although they were not all Republicans. Sarah Palin, seemingly the self appointed spokesperson for the Republican Party, took advantage of the momentum to inflame those who were already under the influence of misinformation to add her own set of "wild accusations" that of course were false.

Karen Hatter

at 10:03 on September 14th, 2009

A, it would seem there has been a tendency within the Republican Party to look the other way as this has been occurring, with most of this beginning during the 2008 presidential campaign.

a211423

at 10:38 on September 14th, 2009

Thank you for the link to your previous article. Devisive tactics used by Palin serve to fracture her own party and serve as a unifying mechanism for Democrats similar to what we just saw happen with the Congressman Wilson episode. As a Democrat, I suppose I should be glad, but I am not. To move forward with meaningful legislation like health care reform, creation of jobs, and environmental issues we need honest debate because both parties have a lot to contribute, but it's being side tracked by the mine field of explosive incidences grounded in misinformation and many times lies.

bettermaker (not verified)

at 12:20 on September 14th, 2009

Remember that similar stories were talked about with Bush as president. Not exactly the same, but conspiracy theories attack anyone in power. It would be surprising if they stopped with Obama. Let them have their fun; you don't need to believe everything you hear.

JoeThePlumber (not verified)

at 12:37 on September 15th, 2009

We're NOT extremists. We just know what's best for you. We have big plans for the world and the Armageddon. We need you to comply so we can gain even more power and wealth because after the rapture we have to leave it behind for the normal people.