A Troubling View of Post Obama America, Spring 2010

by Karen Hatter | March 3, 2010 at 09:38 am

749 views | 26 Recommendations | 17 comments

The day after the historic election of Barack Hussein Obama as the first African American President of the United States, on Wednesday, November 5, 2008, two things occurred worthy of note, mainly due to a certain underlying uneasiness attached to the events

The first thing, Stormfront, arguably the most well known hate site on the internet, gained thousands of new members, with an overall rise in hate and anti government group activity seemingly becoming a growing trend since November 4, 2008.

The second thing occurring on November 5, 2008, all across the United States, guns and ammunition began flying off the shelves. To date, as of March 2010, gun store owners continue to report it is an impossible task to keep items in stock.

The two occurrences are not necessarily related. It may be an odd juxtaposition or confluence of coincidence but, given the rhetoric provided by some who express their uncertainty of and disappointment and outrage with the 2008 presidential election results, there may be an overlap of these two realities at some undetermined intersection.

A new report entitled Rage on the Right, released March 2010, provides some disturbing statistics on the continued growth in numbers of a complex and intertwining segment of society that, in combination with a range of additional concerns, has also come to view America’s historic election as an event to be despised and scorned.

The radical right caught fire last year, as broad-based populist anger at political, demographic and economic changes in America ignited an explosion of new extremist groups and activism across the nation.

Hate groups stayed at record levels — almost 1,000 — despite the total collapse of the second largest neo-Nazi group in America. Furious anti-immigrant vigilante groups soared by nearly 80%, adding some 136 new groups during 2009. And, most remarkably of all, so-called "Patriot" groups — militias and other organizations that see the federal government as part of a plot to impose “one-world government” on liberty-loving Americans — came roaring back after years out of the limelight.

The anger seething across the American political landscape — over racial changes in the population, soaring public debt and the terrible economy, the bailouts of bankers and other elites, and an array of initiatives by the relatively liberal Obama Administration that are seen as "socialist" or even "fascist" — goes beyond the radical right. The "tea parties" and similar

groups that have sprung up in recent months cannot fairly be considered extremist groups, but they are shot through with rich veins of radical ideas, conspiracy theories and racism. “We are in the midst of one of the most significant right-wing populist rebellions in United States history,” Chip Berlet, a veteran analyst of the American radical right, wrote earlier this year. "We see around us a series of overlapping social and political movements populated by people [who are] angry, resentful, and full of anxiety. They are raging against the machinery of the federal bureaucracy and liberal government programs and policies including health care, reform of immigration and labor laws, abortion, and gay marriage."

The above report’s content would tend to support possibilities and conclusions offered in the report entitled Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment, released by the Department of Homeland Security in August 2009.

The report was compiled by the previous Bush administration and disseminated to federal, state, local and tribal counterterrorism and law enforcement officials.

The Homeland Security report noted the historic presidential election, the current economic and political climate and jobs losses, among other factors, might be exploited by Right Wing elements to garner support.

(U) Outlook(U//FOUO) DHS/I&A assesses that the combination of environmental factors that echo
the 1990s, including heightened interest in legislation for tighter firearms restrictions and
returning military veterans, as well as several new trends, including an uncertain
economy and a perceived rising influence of other countries, may be invigorating
rightwing extremist activity, specifically the white supremacist and militia movements.
To the extent that these factors persist, rightwing extremism is likely to grow in strength.

(U//FOUO) Unlike the earlier period, the advent of the Internet and other informationage
technologies since the 1990s has given domestic extremists greater access to
information related to bomb-making, weapons training, and tactics, as well as targeting of
individuals, organizations, and facilities, potentially making extremist individuals and
groups more dangerous and the consequences of their violence more severe. New
technologies also permit domestic extremists to send and receive encrypted
communications and to network with other extremists throughout the country and abroad,
making it much more difficult for law enforcement to deter, prevent, or preempt a violent
extremist attack.

Also at NowPublic:

Report States Populist Right Groups Exploded in 2009 by Susan Marie Kovalinsky

Religious Extremism and U.S. Politics: Often an Ominous Pairing

My Interview with Religious Right Founder’s Son, Frank Schaeffer

Why There is Danger in Ignoring Racism in America

The Politics of Fear

2 See all footage | View Slideshow

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YankeeJim

at 10:10 on March 3rd, 2010

It is reasonable to conclude that a significant segment of the "right" might become so enraged to resort of violence. We have seen it with anti-abortionists. We have seen it with white supremisists of various kinds. We have seen it with anit-government anti-IRS finatics, etc. We have also withness radical religious people who have resorted to violence.

The gun crowd surely scare me because you can't trust people who are unstable in the head who might prefer me to be dead.

Karen Hatter

at 10:12 on March 3rd, 2010

Sadly, all you state is true, Jim.

YankeeJim

at 10:57 on March 3rd, 2010

I listened last evening to a discussion on American University radio about the Supreme Court's deliberation about guns and local governments' rights to determine their legality and regulation.

The justices and lawyers make it very complicated, though I think common sense should prevail.

The right of the public to protect themselves from tyrannical government was an argument for the right to have a state militia and the right of people to bear arms dating to the founding of the nation. There was great distrust of government that is itself a creation of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Apparently people today don't trust themselves very much if they still believe that the US Government is so unstable and potentially tyrannical that they must arm themselves. I don't think my war-oriented neighbors have thought this through. To amass the firepower needed to take on today's government, they would need a lot more than handguns and automatic rifles.

Then I ask them, do you intend to shoot soldiers or something? Let me remind you, those are your children and your neighbors' children, so put down that loaded weapon.

OK, now, you are telling me that you are afraid that a drug dealer might break down your door at night to enter your house and steel some of your stuff. You want to be ready for them.

I am sorry that you live in such fear. Perhaps if the government -- your government -- was not off to war in far flung places, there would be sufficient resources to commit to education, job creation, and local safety to eliminate what you perceive to be a threat.

It is a matter of priority and choice.

The mechanism for expressing your priorities and choice is through the ballot box and your representatives. If you have a beef, surely communicate with them.

I hope that we can all strive for the day when we all feel sufficiently safe and secure to pursue our lives, liberty, and happiness without being afraid that some crazy neighbor might shoot somebody by accident or on purpose.

Karen Hatter

at 06:57 on March 4th, 2010

Jim, there are so many overlapping concerns that are being articulated on the gun issue in the U.S. right now.

I have seen folks interviewed, claiming to be part of militia groups, saying they're organizing in case the government shows up in their communities trying to take their guns or infringe on their rights as they believe them to be.

Many feel there will be some sort of door to door confiscation of their weapons, worrying that the government plans to implement all manner of laws and regulations that will achieve those feared actions.

Not all but many of these elements subscribe to the birther nonsense, not believing the President is an American citizen, therefore, in their minds, he is not a legitimate president and anything he may support or intiate, in these circles, must by virtue of who he is, be countered or fought against.

The racist aspects of elements of this movement add the most unpredictable factor to this equation. Fear that America, as I have written of before, is browning and that true Americans are losing control of their government is at the heart of those element's concerns.

This phrase true Americans is used by many in these circles to mean White people, with White people having been warned for at least two decades, by the Right Wing, that minorities will soon outnumber them and overrun the country and they are going to be denied rights because they are White.

This fuels and motivates many spoken of in the two reports and they want to be prepared and armed, to face what is believed by many of them to be an inevitable minority onslaught or assault.

As both reports say, not all of the angst within these groups is related to the President but, as many aspects of the movement intersect with the nationalist/supremacist groups, there is a too close for comfort reality that can't be denied.

It must be that the more rational within American society work continuously to ratchet back what are, in many cases, unreasonable fears.

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 10:45 on March 3rd, 2010

Excellent report , Karen, and thank you for linking mine. There can be no doubt that Barack Obama as symbol sparked something more than any prior Democrats within the culture wars years, which we are of course still in. I keep wondering where it will all lead. The situation seems to be a powder keg, with only a movement needed to combine all of these forces and to ignite them. It is something to dwell on with a degree of seriousness.

Karen Hatter

at 10:55 on March 3rd, 2010

Thank you, Susan.

I would expand your simile to say, that powder keg has many fuses, whose lengths are difficult to measure.

Hugh Askew

at 12:05 on March 3rd, 2010

Interesting to consider that the sentiments, doubts, and fears held by the left, are not much different to the thoughts of the British Crown back in good ol' colonial days.

If they serve the people well, those that govern have little to fear.

I doubt the British thought highly of Jefferson, Payne, Adams, or Franklin, either.

YankeeJim

at 15:57 on March 3rd, 2010

Oblique comparison, HA.

Hugh Askew

at 16:09 on March 3rd, 2010

Close enough for the next revolution. Big mamma gummit keeps on ignoring the people, they will rise up. Happened before, it will happen again, unless they start paying close attention. I see nothing from the present administration that says they are paying attention at all.

t k kidwai

at 18:10 on March 3rd, 2010

The wrongs of the right is a disturbing phenoma,turning into a big menace to social fabric.Right was there because communism has to be contained,must be in place to tackle Islamic extremism,and fan right wing extremism.

Right after attacks on WTC,the head of Christian Coalition,Pat Robertson resigned.No body asked why?Robertson's message was clear:A man of God ,president Bush,was a rightful Head of Christian Coalition.

Left's and Liberals failed to put forward a coherent policy,plan for action.That is why tea party is there to instigate.The difference between Left and Right,Liberals and Conservativs is that formers have never taken a firm stand on many issues,the laters are best conspirators in the annals of history,to fulfill their agenda mass murder doesn't matter.Voilence by supporters at home is not worth a peanut.Whereever rights goes,voilence follows.

I was reading about two books,I guess both must make an interesting reading.Yet I have to read the books(certainly,I'll do that subject to availability in India).I would like to qoute the author of that article,to drive my point home:"James Douglass's JFK and the unspeakable:why he died and why it matters."This is the documented account ever produced of why and how CIA assassinated JFK"The CIA did it is beyond dispute, and the first president Bush was involved is well established Russ Baker's book'Family of Secrets".

There are no leftists to eliminate rightist that way.

Greg Hong (not verified)

at 19:59 on March 3rd, 2010

Violence by whom? A few militia men? Against whom? Perhaps against this totalitarian regime that has a police, a state police, a navy, FBI, army, marines, NSA, CIA, Xe a.k.a. Blackwater mercenaries, dozen spying agencies, 25% of all business dealing with the Government, increasing number of people depending on the Government etc? It's just a smoke screen. As long as "left" hates, despises etc. "right" and vice versa, no one would care about some hard facts like, for example:

The fact that the Government now owes:
36% of Citibank,
56% of GMAC,
60% of General Motors,
79% of Freddie and Fannie + 10% dividend paying preferred shares (90% of ALL mortgages in the U.S. are being funded or guaranteed by them),
80% of AIG ($200B hole) and,
0% of Goldman Sachs and 0% in Exxon and 0% in Lockheed Martin, just to name a few rulers of our lives.
Not even Cominterna of Soviet Union had such an enormous control over every segment of our lives. 90% of ALL housing in the U.S. is owned, controlled or "guaranteed" but the Government.

They openly steal from everyone to give to the Financial Crime Cartel -- we talking about trillions that would take us to a war, a real one, not this phony Forever War in Iraq, Afghan, Pakistan... -- and we worry about few crazy militia men. The Government is an enemy. The puppet-president installed by the Financial Crime Complex and the Military Complex can sell his smoke but not for long.

Karen Hatter

at 06:06 on March 4th, 2010

An excerpt from White Nationalists Find a Home in the Military:

A recent report issued - and later withdrawn - by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis warned of the possibility of an up-tick in violent activities by right-wing extremist groups.

The assessment pointed to a number of factors, including the election of the country's first African American president, the economic crisis combined with escalating unemployment, and conservative-initiated rumors that the Barack Obama administration would advocate stricter gun control regulations, that might fuel a growth in "right-wing extremist groups", and homegrown terrorist incidents.

Titled "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," it drew immediate criticism from conservative pundits and media personalities, but one "key finding" was particularly seized upon.

"Returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to rightwing extremists," read the section "Disgruntled Military Veterans". "DHS/I & A is concerned that rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to boost their violent capabilities."

"The willingness of a small percentage of military personnel to join extremist groups during the 1990s because they were disgruntled, disillusioned, or suffering from the psychological effects of war is being replicated today," the report said.

It pointed out that a 2008 FBI report on the white supremacist movement had noted that "some returning military veterans" from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had "joined extremist groups".

While many claimed to have found those passages offensive, the DHS warning reflected the changes in military recruitment policy guidelines. By loosening its standards, the military has allowed "large numbers of neo-Nazis and skinhead extremists" into the service, a July 2006 Southern Poverty Law Centre report pointed out.

"Since the launch of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. military has struggled to recruit and reenlist troops [and] as the conflicts have dragged on, the military has loosened regulations, issuing 'moral waivers' in many cases, allowing even those with criminal records to join up," Matt Kennard recently pointed out in Salon.

In addition, the military appears to have turned a blind eye to previous regulations that rejected members of hate groups.

"The lax regulations," Kennard wrote, "have also opened the military's doors to neo-Nazis, white supremacists and gang members - with drastic consequences. Some neo-Nazis have been charged with crimes inside the military, and others have been linked to recruitment efforts for the white right."

Many of these individuals have military training.

White nationalist/supremacists have encouraged those sympathetic to their cause to go into the military and return to 'the Brotherhood' with the skills and knowledge they have obtained to teach the rest.

These individuals are called ghost skins.

The F.B.I. noted an increase in White supremacist recruitment of this nature since September 11, 2001, during the Bush administration.

A link to the F.B.I. report, White Supremacist Recruitment of Military Personnel since 9/11.

Karen Hatter

at 06:43 on March 4th, 2010

In my article, Two Sides of a Coin, written nearly two years ago in August 2008, at the time it was written, much was being written of former Republican Louisiana Representative and Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke's and others of the White nationalist/supremacist movements comments, claiming they welcomed a possible Obama presidency, with an intent to use the election of Barack Obama as a rallying cry to galvanize their movement.

An excerpt from the article:

On the other side of the coin, however, the internet blogs of White supremacist sites have been filled with calls for the death of Senator Obama.

An interview, aired by FOXNews, was conducted with the Grand Wizard of the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan International, where he discussed his views about a possible assassination of Senator Barack Obama.

From an article titled, America Burning: Racists Say Obama Must Die, posted by Scotsman.com:

John W Hickenlooper, the Democrat Mayor of Denver (the host city, in Colorado, for the Democratic National Convention beginning August 25, when it is presumed Senator Obama will be officially named the Democratic nominee for President of the United States), confirmed that he was aware of threats against Obama from white supremacists and other racist groups.

t k kidwai

at 09:39 on March 4th, 2010

Karen,thanks for these comments which may send chills down many spines.Obama may be liquidated like kennedy by secret services,a monster created not to gather intelligence but to dissiminate misinformation to protect associates of military-industrial complex and to eliminate those who stood in the way of military-industrial complex.

Hugh Askew

at 09:50 on March 4th, 2010

"Obama may be liquidated like kennedy by secret services...."

Yeah ,and we might get invaded by little green men. Maybe that is why these folks are arming themselves.

Please, take some medicine, lie down for a while, the hallucinations will pass.

t k kidwai

at 00:36 on March 5th, 2010

Thanks for the advice.Kindly consult a psyhchiatric.

Karen Hatter

at 11:07 on March 4th, 2010

You're welcome, TKKidwai.

The odds are, in lieu of any proven, large scale, conspiratorial involvement, what should be of most concern are those unhinged elements, alone or in small groups, hanging out on the periphery of these movements, soaking up all of the vitirolic rhetoric, whipped into a frenzy of righteousness of purpose as they set out on their decided upon mission.