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Fox News continues with DHS freak-out even after Smith and Herridge's debunking

April 16, 2009 7:27 pm ET

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SUMMARY: Even after Shepard Smith reported that a DHS report on right-wing extremism "isn't about tea party folks," Fox News hosts and contributors continued to advance the claim that the Obama administration is targeting tea party attendees, as well as conservatives and others, simply because of political differences.

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On the April 15 edition of Fox News' Studio B, host Shepard Smith reported that a recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report -- which concluded that "rightwing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues" -- "isn't about tea party folks" and that "it sounds like just regular old, everyday people who are conservative just got, you know, got their dander up over something that is not applied to that." During the same segment, national correspondent Catherine Herridge noted that DHS recently issued "a bulletin that looks at the left-wing groups as well." Nonetheless, Fox News hosts and contributors have continued to advance the claim that the Obama administration is targeting tea party attendees, as well as conservatives and others, simply because they disagree with administration policies and proposals.

As Media Matters for America noted, the DHS report concluded that "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 also cited as potential mobilizing issues for right-wing extremism "immigration and citizenship, the expansion of social programs to minorities, and restrictions on firearms ownership and use," as well as "[r]ightwing extremist paranoia ... harkening back to the 'New World Order' conspiracy theories of the 1990s." The report further warned of a possible resurgence among extremist groups that "will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to exploit their skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat," citing, in part, a 2008 FBI report authored during the Bush administration.

On Studio B, Smith asked Herridge of the report, "Who and what are they talking about here? I mean, this isn't about these -- this isn't about tea party folks." Herridge replied:

No, essentially the driver in these intelligence assessments is the downturn in the economy. What they say essentially is that when people have less money, they're out of work, they feel disenfranchised, this is fertile ground for groups on the left as well as groups on the right.

And you remember from reporting on this show, Shep, that even at the end of last year, prior to the inauguration, the Homeland Security Department under the Bush administration was sounding the alarm about the potential for right-wing groups to act, specifically because of the economy, and also because America was going to have its first African-American president.

Herridge also noted that the DHS report "does talk specifically about returning veterans as being sort of attractive targets for these groups, because they've got the weapons training and they may feel somewhat disenfranchised when they return for a variety of returns." She later added, referring to the reports on left-wing and right-wing extremists, "I would point out that both of these assessments, Shep, were commissioned under the Bush administration. It takes some time to do them. They only came out after he had left office." Interviewing former CIA covert operations officer Mike Baker later in the segment, Smith said of the reaction to the report on right-wing extremists, "[I]t sounds like just regular old, everyday people who are conservative just got, you know, got their dander up over something that is not applied to that." Baker replied, "Yeah, it really is. It's a little bit, unfortunately, it's a little bit what the Republicans on the conservative side have been doing."

Later on April 15, even after Smith's and Herridge's reporting, the following Fox News personalities continued to allege or suggest that the Obama administration is targeting Americans simply because of political differences:

  • On his Fox News show, aired live from a San Antonio tea party, Glenn Beck stated to the attendees, "I read something from the Department of Homeland Security that said you're an extremist." He continued: "Moms that worry about massive debt, they are extremists. If you happen to believe that a state has a right to tell the federal government, 'No, we don't want your money,' you're a possible threat or an extremist. And the government -- the government may need to watch you."
  • On The O'Reilly Factor, radio host Laura Ingraham stated, "[T]his is the same media that wails when we have a terrorist surveillance program in place. And nary a word from them of indignation when we have a Department of Homeland Security issuing reports about right-wing extremism and equating, you know, domestic terrorism with, you know, the vets coming home from Iraq and people who are single-issue focused." She then asked, "Where's the outrage expressed by the media about that kind of, perhaps, surveillance of undesirable people who happen to be more conservative?"
  • Also on The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News contributor Dennis Miller stated: "Now we've got [Department of Homeland Security Secretary] Janet Napolitano coming out, talking about the right-wing conspirists [sic]. For God's sakes -- hey, Janet, if you're going to hover over me like this, at least ditch that Frank Luntz haircut, OK? Because I need something a little more together."
  • On his Fox News show, aired live from an Atlanta tea party, host Sean Hannity claimed, "I'd bet any amount of money -- you know they came out with -- the Department of Homeland Security, that no longer uses the term war on terror, they're calling it an overseas contingency operation. This is amazing. But they -- if you have a pro-life bumper sticker on your car, if you have an 'America is overtaxed' bumper sticker, if you have a pro-Second Amendment bumper sticker, they're viewing you potentially as a radical." Later in his show, he added, "The Homeland Security Department is probably checking the license plates of everybody here."
  • On Fox Business Network's Cavuto, aired live from a Sacramento tea party, Fox News contributor and syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin stated, "[W]hat we're seeing is -- what we've seen with this White House and with the Department of Homeland Security smearing of people who are patriots." Host Neil Cavuto replied, in part, "[T]hese are great people here; I wouldn't call them kooks or fringe."

As Media Matters documented, on April 14, Hannity, Malkin, and Fox News national political commentator Andrea Tantaros all responded to the DHS report by alleging or suggesting that the Obama administration is targeting Americans simply because of political differences, and suggested that the Obama administration declassified the report to coincide with April 15 tea parties.

Additionally, on April 15, TheFoxNation.com linked to an open letter from the American Legion to the DHS, which made no mention of tea parties in its report, to the headline, "Is Homeland Security Targeting Tea Parties?"

From the April 15 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: Yeah. Normally -- oh, by the way, hello, America -- normally, we start with a "Hot List," but today, the media -- all they're talking about or strangely not talking about are the tea parties. For the life of them, they can't figure out what these tea parties are.

This morning, I got up and I read two articles. One I read in the Los Angeles Times that just denigrated the people who are going to the streets today. And then I read something from the Department of Homeland Security that said you're an extremist; moms that worry about massive debt, they are extremists.

If you happen to believe that a state has a right to tell the federal government, "No, we don't want your money," you're a possible threat or an extremist.

And the government -- the government may need to watch you. Well, let me just send a message to Washington and to the DHS: For the next 58 minutes, you can watch all you want and you should listen, because these people have a few things to say to you.

From the April 15 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

BILL O'REILLY (host): I think -- It think that's an astute observation: that the protests today are against what these people -- and we must remind Americans that there are maybe as many Americans who say, yeah, let's have a big government, I want entitlements.

INGRAHAM: Sure.

O'REILLY: Barack Obama won the election.

INGRAHAM: Absolutely.

O'REILLY: He won the election.

INGRAHAM: Right, and they have a leader, Bill.

O'REILLY: Right.

INGRAHAM: They have a leader --

O'REILLY: So -- so it's not --

INGRAHAM: -- who is espousing that on a daily basis.

O'REILLY: But the debate is the thing that should be respected. And it is certainly not being --

INGRAHAM: Sure.

O'REILLY: -- respected by the liberal media --

INGRAHAM: Bill --

O'REILLY: -- that wants to shut it down or denigrate it. I'll give you the last word.

INGRAHAM: Bill, this is the same media that wails when we have a terrorist surveillance program in place. And nary a word from them of indignation when we have a Department of Homeland Security issuing reports about right-wing extremism and equating, you know, domestic terrorism with, you know, the vets coming home from Iraq and people who are single-issue focused, OK.

Where's the outrage expressed by the media about that kind of, perhaps, surveillance of undesirable people who happen to be more conservative? So they just have no credibility on this. And this is why Fox is killing them in the ratings.

[...]

MILLER: It's unfair up to the point that I stay here. You know, I've discussed this. I have a contingency plan. There's a part I won't go beyond. And it's not about greed. It's about some crazy thing in my head that I'd like to keep a buck for every buck I give away to strangers. It gets much beyond that, I'm going to split the state.

And I think -- you know, I've heard Trump is going to split New York. And you know, I just think it's getting to that point now where you've got to -- listen, I love to help the helpless. I don't care about the clueless. We're helping too many of the clueless nowadays.

O'REILLY: That's a good line.

MILLER: That's starting to bug me.

O'REILLY: That's a good line.

MILLER: Yeah, well, listen --

O'REILLY: You know, I want to help the helpless, too, but the clueless, hey, you're on your own.

MILLER: And you know, you don't even get any credit for it. Now we've got Janet Napolitano coming out, talking about the right-wing conspirists [sic]. For God's sakes -- hey, Janet, if you're going to hover over me like this, at least ditch that Frank Luntz haircut, OK? Because I need something a little more together.

O'REILLY: OK. Now -- OK. The media covering the tea parties, have you seen any of it?

MILLER: Come on, O'Reilly, grab it together.

O'REILLY: I'm just trying to -- I'm picturing Frank and Napolitano, and it's just not working for me. Did you see the media coverage of the tea parties?

From the April 15 edition of Fox News' Hannity:

HANNITY: Yeah. It really is. You know, what did you make -- what did you make of the president? Because, you obviously, you know, your moment helped John McCain. And I watched that debate up-closely and John McCain -- they all started mentioning you. And now Barack Obama has had some time in office. What do you think of his policies up to this point?

SAM WURZELBACHER ("Joe the Plumber"): I'm not impressed with his policies up to this point. But you also got to remember, he's just one man. I mean, Congress really bears a lot of the brunt here, a lot of the blame, so -- and it's not that I'm weak on Obama. I believe he's made some mistakes that could hurt our country.

HANNITY: Yeah.

WURZELBACHER: I mean, he's pretty weak on foreign policy, which scares me. With that being said, it comes back down to Congress. You guys got to turn off the soap opera that is Capitol Hill. You get unaddicted to drama and actually expect them to earn their money.

HANNITY: You know -- now, by the way, I'd bet any amount of money -- you know they came out with -- the Department of Homeland Security, that no longer uses the term war on terror, they're calling it an overseas contingency operation.

WURZELBACHER: Yeah. Yeah.

HANNITY: This is amazing. But they -- if you have a pro-life bumper sticker on your car, if you have an "America is overtaxed" bumper sticker, if you have a pro-Second Amendment bumper sticker, they're viewing you potentially as a radical. My question -- my question is, if those are right-wing radicals, does that mean that somebody that starts their political career in Bill Ayers' house and hangs out with Jeremiah Wright for 20 years -- what does that make them?

WURZELBACHER: I'll tell you what -- let me ask you one more question. Am I an extremist for saying, "In God we trust?"

HANNITY: No. And by the way -- and I say, "God bless America."

WURZELBACHER: Absolutely. Absolutely.

[...]

MIKE HUCKABEE (host, Huckabee): Today the tea parties across America have singled out the problem. Now we are going to be able to take it to the next step, and that's the solution, and that's what the fair tax brings to Americans.

HANNITY: All right, Governor, let me ask you this question, because the president went on his European tour and he referred to America as being arrogant. The Homeland Security Department is probably checking the license plates of everybody here. So I guess my question is, how do you think the White House responds tonight, as Rahm Emanuel will deny it to the world, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will downplay the massive crowd that showed up here.

HUCKABEE: Well, certainly the mainstream media is going to give more attention to six women dressed up in pink uniforms protesting the war than they will 6 million Americans standing across this country today. But they can do all they want. When it gets down to it, 6 million votes beats six votes any day.

From the April 15 edition of Fox Business Network's Cavuto:

CAVUTO: Why don't you think more of the media is here?

MALKIN: Because it doesn't fit their narrative. It doesn't fit their narrative to be here and to see peaceful, law-abiding people who are not scary right-wing extremists peacefully assembling and holding both parties accountable.

CAVUTO: Do you think they just didn't want to share the stage with us?

MALKIN: I guess that's part of it. I have to say that I've been monitoring the very skewed coverage by other outlets, and what we're seeing is -- what we've seen with this White House and with the Department of Homeland Security smearing of people who are patriots --

CAVUTO: Well, I'll tell you this -- I mean, these are great people here; I wouldn't call them kooks or fringe. And -- that one dude with the hat -- he was a kook. But I mean most -- no, you know what I mean? It's like, who are they to judge?

MALKIN: Yeah, that's right. Well, I have to say, it's unfortunate, because we have had some colleagues on Fox News who have also played into these smears by saying that somehow they don't see any people of color, so therefore the people that are here are racist -- that's completely untrue.

And, of course, this manufactured idea that somehow all of these grassroots people are being directed like robots and zombies by some top-down forces -- you can't do that. Now, there is no Republican Party or Democrat Party establishment that could have arranged what this had. It is totally organic, totally spontaneous -- and thanks a lot to the Internet for bringing all of these people together.

Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by mrhebert74 (April 16, 2009 7:42 pm ET)
      1  

      But they are. It says right there in the report that some extremists reject the federal government's authority. And that means that anyone who doesn't like the federal government is a rightwing extremist, right?

      Look, it's like this: Bernie Madoff is rich and an alleged criminal. That should tell you right there that the federal government is investigating all rich people.

      See people? It's simple logic!

      Report Abuse
      • Author by fairliberal (April 17, 2009 10:14 am ET)
          4

        Yes simple logic indeed. Here is more. The Bush admin was wiretapping some terrorist conversations. Some terrorists may be Americans, so I guess that also means that all Americans were being investigated by the Bush Admin. And more even. There are some conservatives who want to limit late term abortions, that is undeniable. So I guess that also means they want to do away with all abortions. Simple logic. It seems that there is some paranoia on both sides.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by NiceguyEddie (April 17, 2009 10:33 am ET)
          2  

          Do you ever actually read what you write?  Yeah... your're right.  Because that IS what they want: NO ABORTIONS FOR ANYONE (law passed in SD before that darned liberal,a ctivist court overturned it) and the AUTHORITY TO SPY ON ANYONE WITHOUT WARRANT OR ANY JUDICIAL OR INDEPENDANT OVERSIGHT.  That all ACTUALLY HAPPENED.  You people are scary.

          Report Abuse
        • Author by creeksneakers2 (April 18, 2009 7:48 am ET)
          2  

          There never was an issue about wiretapping Americans who are terrorists. The issue was whether it could be done without a national security FISA warrant.   All that was needed was a warrant.  The warrants were very easy to get.  They didn't even have to get the warrants right away.

          The domestic spying program also picked up conversations of Americans who had done nothing wrong.  That was the other part of the problem.  The demand from the left wasn't that this could never happen.  It was that some safeguards be put in place to keep that power from being abused.

          Those things were well established.  But, there is no establishment that ordinary conservatives are being spied on now.  That's just kook paranoia, and it doesn't equate to what the left did over FISA.

          Report Abuse
        • Author by solon (April 18, 2009 5:58 pm ET)
          2  

          What is your evidence that it was only TERRORISTS being wiretapped? Oh you dont HAVE any? Imagine my suprise you are just spewing whatever will push your argument with NO regard whatsoever about facst, truth, or reality.

          Report Abuse
    • Author by fortheforum6524 (April 16, 2009 8:34 pm ET)
        2
      Ed Morrisey is first on the draw with a comparison of the DHS' disparate treatment of right and leftwing extremism: [The report is]is here, courtesy of Jake Tapper. This is the report heralded by counter-critics of the DHS report on "right-wing extremism" that supposedly disproves political bias in the substance-free attack on conservative critics. Except that the report on extremism of the Left is much different than the other DHS report, starting with specifics. While the DHS report focusing on the Right expansively and generally indicted groups opposing abortion, illegal immigration, and federalism, this report instead focuses on actual and specific extremist groups - groups who have a long history of domestic terrorism and violence (page 9) The first report is based on long debunked stories and factless stereotypes of the Administration's political opponents. The report on the leftwing extremists seems to have been written on the basis of some real, demonstrable threats. But there is more, says Ed: This report differs from the latest in another key way. Instead of rambling on about how organizing for political change represents a threat to the US, this report focuses on the nature of potential attacks. Their choices are interesting in and of themselves. Instead of remarking on potentially violent threats from these groups, which have used violence in anti-globalization protests around the world, torching car dealerships for environmental causes, and destroying laboratories to free research animals, DHS mainly focuses on the threat of cyber attack from these groups. In fact, that's practically all it discusses, along with a specific list of targets that require protection, including the now-defunct Wachovia Bank. DHS sees no potential for violence in groups with proven track records of violent terrorism? Cyber attack is really the greatest threat we can see from Recreate 68, ELF, and ALF? Really? The differences between these two reports could not be more vast. In one, DHS downplays the potential for violence from proven and existing violent groups. In the other, DHS presumes violence from a wide range of mainstream political points of view without any evidence of a threat, any specific groups, and impugns millions of veterans as potential terrorists. The people behind both of these reports should be fired, and Janet Napolitano should resign as DHS Secretary
      Report Abuse
      • Author by NiceguyEddie (April 17, 2009 10:38 am ET)
        1  

        The first report is based on long debunked stories and factless stereotypes of the Administration's political opponents. The report on the leftwing extremists seems to have been written on the basis of some real, demonstrable threats.

        Any evidence of this?  Look facts are facts: There have only be three real terrorist attacks on US Soil.  On (McVeigh) was clearly a right-winger.  The other two (WTC'93 and 9/11/01) were carried out by RELIGIOUS EXTREMEISTS.  No... Osama Bin Laden may not vote Republican (seeing as how he doens't vote at all) but Religious Extremism IS a right-wing phenomenon and disease.  Convert Al-Queada to Christianity and you've got yourself just another band of right-wing nut-jobs.

        So, Please, by all means, let us know what REAL threats have ever come from left-wing groups in this country.

        Report Abuse
      • Author by creeksneakers2 (April 18, 2009 9:03 am ET)
        2  

        The DHS did not focus on the right expansively.  It said RW extremists may use some mainstream issues to recruit. That's always been the case. If you get a street flyer from Neo-Nazis, it will start people out with issues that have broader appeal.  It will ask if a black should be given a job that a more qualified white applied for. Stuff like that.  Then they lure people deeper into hatred.

        The DHS report also gave "new world order" as a recruiting issue. People are roped in over issues like states' rights and are spun into believing there is a global conspiracy to destroy America.  The same thing is happening here with ordinary conservatives being tricked into thinking the DHS is out to get them. The DHS hoaxers don't include "new world order" in their string of supposedly mainstream conservative viewpoints.

        Its interesting that the Earth Liberation Front is brought up.  Suppose a report on them said they use recycling as an issue to recruit with.  Does that mean the DHS report is saying that everyone who recycles is a terrorist? The Unibomber was called an environmental extremist.  Nobody on the left said that meant that all environmentalists were being called extremists.

         It's also twisted logic to conclude that because a DHS report deals with cyber attacks that it excludes groups from suspicion of anything else.

        Here's what really is happening.  Most of what you call left wing terrorism comes down to sensational property crimes.  Law enforcement has devoted vast resources to these left wing groups.  For example, those who call themselves "anarchists" threatened to block an intersection in New York during the Republican convention.  The FBI responded with 75 agents who combed the entire country investigating every "anarchist" they could find. That's a disproportionate response that was likely motivated by an intent to halt a political opposition group.

        The right wing actually kills people, yet that receives almost no news coverage.  Here is a list of right wing terrorist acts in the US since 1995:

        http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?pid=903 For an idea of the threat right wing groups pose, see: http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1027 What makes this all more frightening is that supposedly mainstream journalists like Jake Tapper promote right wing hoax propaganda.  See Media Matters for years worth of daily instances like this.  Yet, right wing extremism and violence is seldom mentioned when terrorism is discussed.  We've been told the most dangerous group in America is Earth First, who as far as I know hasn't killed anyone. I watch the right wing and like with this DHS hoax, it's obvious that more and more are being sucked into extremism.  Yes, believing that the DHS is out to get ordinary conservatives is extremism.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by roundhouse (April 16, 2009 9:33 pm ET)
      3  

      ***disclaimer for braindead right wingers: the following is a sarcastic commentary***

      These paranoid freaks, we might as well go ahead and target them for their extremist anti-American activity. I'm paraphrasing but it's like Coulter said, "they already feel like they're being oppressed, so we might as well go ahead and oppress them."

      Report Abuse
      • Author by jstephens005 (April 17, 2009 10:28 pm ET)
          3

        You generalize people who watch Fox News Channel as "brain dead right wingers", and I'm the one label extreme.  Hmmm.

        Anyway, I would love to debate the issue without calling names, if that is possible.  Isn't that what these forums are for? 

        The report starts by admitting that there is ZERO EVIDENCE of this alleged behavior.  It comes out one week before the grass-roots effort of Tea Parties.  Gee...that's not suspicous? 

        Report Abuse
    • Author by my4cents (April 16, 2009 9:37 pm ET)
         

      This says it all.

      "And, of course, this manufactured idea that somehow all of these grassroots people are being directed like robots and zombies by some top-down forces -- you can't do that."

      Hypocrisy?

      I will say you are following orders, because it is a fact. You know I will say it so you counter by saying before I say it, that I will say it, so it is not true.

      Hannity follows this logic all the time.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by my4cents (April 16, 2009 9:39 pm ET)
           

        Basically, accuse the other person of doing the same thing, before you do it yourself. That is right wing modus operandi.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by solon (April 16, 2009 10:14 pm ET)
          1  

          Its the old maxim. When you are caught with your hand in someones pocket you stand back and call THEM a thief

          Report Abuse
        • Author by nerzog (April 17, 2009 8:47 am ET)
             

          Kind of like a combination of Projection and the Straw Man argument.   Like Jedi mind tricks, it only works on the weak minded.

          Report Abuse
        • Author by NiceguyEddie (April 17, 2009 10:40 am ET)
             

          BEFORE?!  How about AFTER YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR SIXTEEN YEARS?!

          Report Abuse
    • Author by pete592 (April 16, 2009 10:40 pm ET)
      1  

      I really don't think there's any way the the DHS could have possibly won on this one.  No matter how politically correct they could have been in their presentation of a very real national security concern, in the end, the report is about right-wing extremists, it was released on the heels of a nationwide protest (a protest of what depends on who you ask) that has Fox News going orgasmic, and it was released while we have a Democrat in the White House.  It's a recipe for a full-blown, right-wing, Fox News freak-out.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by roundhouse (April 16, 2009 11:09 pm ET)
        1  

        I recall many, many liberals warning the right wingers that, should a Democratic majority and/or White House become a reality, they might not feel so comfortable with all these new security agencies and laws being used by anyone but Bush.

        Chickens coming home to roost fellas.

        And really, think about it. What a bunch of victims they make themselves to be. They talk so damn tough about not being worried about all this surveillance because they aren't doing anything wrong, then they melt like butter as soon they have the least bit of scrutiny cast upon them by the very agency Bush created. 

        Pathetic.  

        Report Abuse
        • Author by mjh (April 17, 2009 4:37 am ET)
          1  

          "I recall many, many liberals warning the right wingers that, should a Democratic majority and/or White House become a reality, they might not feel so comfortable with all these new security agencies and laws being used by anyone but Bush.

          Chickens coming home to roost fellas." - roundhouse

          AAAAAAAAAAMEN!!!!!!!

          As I posted in another thread:  remember how, when the knowledge of Dumbya's warrantless domestic wiretapping became public, the wingnut noisemakers constant refrain was, "if you've got nothing to hide, you shouldn't be worried"?

          If these righwingnuts don't wanna get labeled as "extremists", they should stop yelling about things like secession from the union and rejecting the authority of the federal government - those things tend to get you noticed.

          .

          Report Abuse
        • Author by fortheforum6524 (April 17, 2009 10:53 am ET)
            1

          is the beginning of crimializing differing political ideology, and you have no problems with it.  Let me guess, you were opposed to the Patriot Act right because of "potential" civil rights abuses.  Now when a police state is being created under your very eyes, you sit there chuckling.  Yet again, the inconsistency from the left on display.  Look at germany in 1938, and you'll see the situation is eerily similar.  Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, Castro, Mao were all leftists leaders.  See any patterns here?

          Report Abuse
          • Author by fawltylogic (April 17, 2009 11:42 am ET)
            1  

            What the hell are you talking about? Ideology is not criminalized. Hitler was not a left-winger.

            You need to turn off your radio for a while.

            Report Abuse
            • Author by fortheforum6524 (April 17, 2009 12:04 pm ET)
                2

              You know, just saying something doesn't make it true.  Hitler absolutely was a leftist.  History (and critical thinking) are not on your side. 

              Telling the DHS to watch those of differing political ideology is the first step to criminalizing political ideology.  What makes it criminal to you?  When the DHS acts upon it?  Tell me I am wrong when the DHS arrests someone who has a Ross perot bumper sticker as directed BY THEIR MEMO.  I'm sure you'll cheer it on just as OUR freedom will have been removed.

              Let me give a witty in-kind ressponse so you can relate.

              Go watch Olberman and Garofalo call protestors tea-baggers and racists!  That'll learn ya, eh?

              Report Abuse
              • Author by steelers84 (April 17, 2009 1:01 pm ET)
                   

                The entire point of DHS was to watch those who are "different", whether they be different religions (watching mosques), or viewpoints/ideologies (anti-war protesters, PETA, G-8 and RNC protesters). The entire point is that a group of people who stood by clapping and bleating "if you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to worry about" now decrying ONE memo after the past 8 years is pathetic. Personally, I'd be fine with the disolving of this monstrosity of a department. But you'll have to forgive me if I have no sympathy for the splinter that's in your hand that you received while beating me over the head with a baseball bat.

                Report Abuse
              • Author by jefffrane (April 17, 2009 1:57 pm ET)
                2  

                You know, just saying something doesn't make it true.  Hitler absolutely was a leftist.  History (and critical thinking) are not on your side.

                Hitler a leftist? That would explain why the first thing the Nazis did was to lock up all the socialists and communists, and why he immediately dissolved labor unions. It would explain why Hitler was brought to power by Germany's industrialists and bankers, and supported by American industrialists like Henry Ford. Quite a leftist.

                National Socialism was to socialism what the German Democratic Republic was to democracy or a republic.

                Report Abuse
              • Author by solon (April 17, 2009 6:55 pm ET)
                2  

                WOW. Without even an irony buffering sentence you point out that SAYING something doesnt make it true then pull out the Hitler was a lefty idiocy. You DO know that Hitler put real socialists and communists in concentration camps next to the Jews, homosexuals and Gypsies dont you? No serious political thinker puts Fascism on the left end of the political spectrum.

                Nothing in the report is criminalizing conservatism. That is both a strawman and the slipperslope argument which is a logical fallacy by definition. They are talking about threats to watch. When they ARREST someone for BEING far right get back to us. Until then you have no point

                Report Abuse
          • Author by foghornleghorn (April 17, 2009 3:59 pm ET)
            2  

            "potential" civil rights abuses.

            In case you missed it, Bush admitted to spying on people without a warrant.  Last time I checked, that's a crime, not your victim mindset that the rethugs are being criminalized.

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          • Author by mjh (April 17, 2009 5:03 pm ET)
            1  

            " Now when a police state is being created under your very eyes, you sit there chuckling.  Yet again, the inconsistency from the left on display. " - fortheforum

            "A police state being created under our very eyes"??

            And just what were YOU doing when Bubble Boy

            - suspended the writ of habeas corpus

            - wiretapped US citizens without a warrant

            - outed a covert CIA agent

            I suppose you were COMPLETELY OUTRAGED, too - right?


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      • Author by mfinn7314 (April 17, 2009 7:29 am ET)
           

        Right. If you didn't catch the Fox-Friends segment this morning with guest host Huckabee and a military vet. representative, it was gross. You would have thought the administration had just criticized all veterans and labelled them all as high security threats. The manipulation and use of vets to stir up sentiment against this administration is disgusting but not surprising.

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    • Author by captfoster2 (April 16, 2009 10:54 pm ET)
      1  

      "Where's the outrage expressed by the media about that kind of,"

      Laura IS A MORON!! Here's my little add on to part of her question...

      "Where's the outrage expressed by the media about that kind of," Her words

      "you know, while Bush was president" My add on!

      And if Beck thinks that he can get away with being a cheerleader to what amounts to near tresonous acts against the government instead of a disinterested journalist...

      Holy crap! How in the world can anyone possibly defend this??

      As for Fox News workers or other rightwing bloggers that no doubt are trolling in here... lurking in the corners... you can quote me anytime!

      You people are pathetic!

      Report Abuse
      • Author by nerzog (April 17, 2009 8:51 am ET)
           

        Beck, the perennial douchebag, seems to consider himself the reincarnation of Howard Beale.

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    • Author by phredicles (April 16, 2009 11:11 pm ET)
         

      I think the Fox people and the other right-wing talking heads are freaking out because they know full well they've been agitating the extremists and the crazies, and because they believe pretty much what the crazies believe; they're not even trying very hard to hide it.

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      • Author by dimes (April 17, 2009 3:16 pm ET)
           

        <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.EmailStyle15 {mso-style-type:personal; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-ascii-font-family:Arial; mso-hansi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:windowtext; font-weight:normal; font-style:normal; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none; text-decoration:none; text-line-through:none;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->

        I’m not sure I agree they’re freaking out.  Yet. 

        The cynic in me thinks they’re going so far over the top in an effort to garner ratings and attention, which is what’s happening now but will be a short-lived phenomenon if they don’t ratchet the rhetoric back from ‘stun’. 

        Hannity, in particular, is in danger of losing his Burger King crown to the upstart Glenn Beck, and has ramped up the conservative outrage accordingly.

        If you ran an alleged news network that openly backed the losing side in a national election, what would you do?  Your choices would either be to change your philosophy to reflect the views of the majority, or rail against it.  FNC went with option B.

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    • Author by hopeforbettertoday (April 16, 2009 11:57 pm ET)
         
      This angers me so much. Propaganda at its finest. How do they look themselves in the mirror each day, and see good people staring back. Are they human? In the fine words of many right wing extemist hillbilly hicks "If you don't like this country, then you can get out." I cancelled my cable a few weeks ago and realized how much happier I am when I can control what I see and whats "right" and whats good for america.
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    • Author by secondgate (April 17, 2009 5:07 am ET)
         

      I'm glad to see a bit of actual "fair and balanced" news reporting on Fox, but as usual it seems to get pushed aside by people like Malkin (I have to admire her total non-sequitur in that transcript, though).

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    • Author by mfinn7314 (April 17, 2009 7:25 am ET)
         
      The irresponsibility and dishonesty of Hannity, Malkin, Beck, etc. is incredible. Someday history will chronicle these times and this element of our culture and political discourse. These folks will be judged quite harshly and primarily as destructive, harmful and manipulators for-profit.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by fortheforum6524 (April 17, 2009 10:48 am ET)
        2

      Fox freaking out?  Are you all collectively insane?  You own the judicial branch, the legislative branch, the executive branch, academia, AND the propaganda machine, I mean the media, and one news network makes you all this paranoid?  Why the fear?  Look at the posts we have hear.  One guy is using "douche bag" as a means to show that he's not a pot calling a kettle black.  800 peaceful protests attended by over a million Americans received little attention from your Obeyme propaganda machine.  Now had those been 800 gay pride rallies, the coverage would have started a week before and gone on a week after.   Whose acting afraid?  I know, why don't you try to marginalize these people again.  You know, the protestors who are fringe.  People like doctors, accountants, business men, etc.  Clearly the insane.  Maybe if they had more tattoos (sorry, "ink"), set a few cars on fire, and assaulted a few innocent white people you all coukld applaud their efforts, right?

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      • Author by congero6189599 (April 17, 2009 1:37 pm ET)
        2  

        "...Maybe if they had more tattoos (sorry, "ink"), set a few cars on fire, and assaulted a few innocent white people you all coukld applaud their efforts, right?"

        What do you mean assualting "white people"?  If you want to be taken seriously on this site, maybe you should act responsibly!  Million people???  Yea, then you woke up!

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      • Author by congero6189599 (April 17, 2009 1:47 pm ET)
        2  

        You lost the election. Stop playing the victim, you got beat, that means your ideas. Protest all you want, where were you the last 8 yrs? Hitler was a leftist???  You are insane!  You really do need to broaden your infiormation sources?  Faux News?  I bet you believe we found WMD's in Iraq too!

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      • Author by foghornleghorn (April 17, 2009 4:01 pm ET)
        2  

        You know, the protestors who are fringe.  People like doctors, accountants, business men, etc.

        They were almost all young to middle age white people.  The Fox audience.

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      • Author by solon (April 17, 2009 6:57 pm ET)
        2  

        You are delusional. The neither the judiciary NOR the media are liberal. Again YOU think things become true just because you say them. Your baseless assertion CANNNOT be supported

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      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (April 18, 2009 5:11 pm ET)
        2  

        You own the judicial branch, the legislative branch, the executive branch, academia, AND the propaganda machine, I mean the media, and one news network makes you all this paranoid?  Why the fear?

        Actually, the American people own those things. A moderaltely, slightly less regressive group of people are in custody of it at the moment. You want custody back? Stop playing the victim and crying because your ideas couldn't get enough people motivated to vote for you.

        I mean the media, and one news network makes you all this paranoid?  Why the fear?

        There's no fear, that's you and your ilk once again projecting your weakness upon those who disagree with you and won convincingly doing it. The one "news" network you mention is not a news network, it's the propaganda machine you accuse the other news operations of being, another play out of the right wing "poor me" catalog of sociopathology. That "news" network is lying in such a way that those who are inclined toward violence are being given a reason to resort to it. That should concern anyone with a functioning brain in their heads. Why it doesn't concern you is left as an exercise for the reader.

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    • Author by fortheforum6524 (April 17, 2009 10:56 am ET)
        2

      It must be nice to have a moderated forum where half my comments are removed, but pictures describing teabagging are allowed, calling others a douche bag is allowed.  Offensive (just to the right)?  Welcome aboard!  Differing ideology?  BANNED !!  Yet there is no bias and Fox is the problem.  Why the fear people.  After all, Atlas never shrugs.  Just ask Texas.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by foghornleghorn (April 17, 2009 4:03 pm ET)
        1  

        We certainly don't fear you.  I'm assuming your lies and distortions didn't add to the forum.  I didn't flag you.

        I guess you need to try harder.  I have faith in you.

        Report Abuse
      • Author by solon (April 17, 2009 6:58 pm ET)
        2  

        Maybe they were deleted for the racism you show so clearly in your above post

        Report Abuse
    • Author by whillenbrand (April 17, 2009 11:27 am ET)
         

      I must admit that back in the 60's we all thought for sure that Nixon had all our phone bugged. In many cases we did find out(thanks to Freedom of Information Act) that we were on "lists". Today, when I hear these idiots talk about recording liscence plates I just have to laugh. Suddenly the snot nosed little choir boy Hannity is an "activist". and Levine is afraid he'll be a political target because of his taxes. These well paid entertainers have no idea what it means to put your neck on the line and have your picture taken everytime you showed up at a peace march.

      Has anyone noticed the type of advertiser that have begun to show up on these talk shows like the one that is selling "seeds" as an investment. They describe the seeds as essential for a "crisis" garden.What the hell are these media types trying to do???? I would defend there right for free speech but this is abuse of our rights.

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    • Author by jmh (April 17, 2009 2:10 pm ET)
         

      so, O'Reilly is ok with that so-called comedian besmirching someone's personal appearance?

      Report Abuse
    • Author by xititjur3300 (April 17, 2009 4:22 pm ET)
         

      Word to the right wing:  If you constantly talk like nuts, eventually a report is going to be released that reveals your nutty talk is a danger to the country.

      I don't see how that one is so hard to figure out.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Lamar (April 18, 2009 1:18 am ET)
        2
      So let me get this right. The Obama administration are looking at U.S. military (which I am a Black Sgt in the Army) who holds a conservative view on an equal footing as those who planned and executed the 1st 9/11, the embassy bombings of Kenya and Tanzania, the bombing of an U.S. Army barracks, the U.S.S. Cole bombing, and 9/11 WTC attack? Does the Obama administration seriously wants to equate conservative military men, regardless of race, as no better than Al Qaida? And last but certainly not the least does the Presidents administration seriously trying to tar and feather all conservative as that sick and wicked Anti American Fruit Cake T. McV (I don't want to disgrace my self by typing out his full name)and thus worthy to go on the terror watch list alongside OBL? If that is the case then the Obama administration have unknowingly or on purpose (I hope it's the former and not the latter) is making a wedge/fracture in the world greastest fighting military force. I work alongside liberal minded men and women every day and don't consider them a threat to me because of there beliefs. Furthermore the Bush administration didn't put liberals and there groups in the same breath as T. McV, Al Qaida, or OBL. The Obama administration has now proved itself a divider and not a uniter of America fighting force. And the quality of the military will suffer because this administration actually believes that conservative military men are no better than OBL. And that offends the hell out of me
      Report Abuse
    • Author by leatherhelmet (April 18, 2009 3:05 pm ET)
        1

      Napolitano should just resign and get a job at MSNBC where she belongs.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (April 18, 2009 5:13 pm ET)
        1  

        You mean alongside that liberal Joe Scarborough?

        Report Abuse
      • Author by solon (April 19, 2009 3:47 am ET)
        1  

        Ever the voice of cranky delusion. You never disappoint and you never make sense

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    • Author by jmh (April 18, 2009 3:39 pm ET)
         

      and to digress, not too much:

      These two: O'Reilly and Miller are clueless to the fact that their commentary is none other than __blithering__

      I am not impressed with miller's analytical skills

      Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (April 18, 2009 5:14 pm ET)
           

        His analytical skills are on a par with his comedic skills: nonexistent.

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    • Author by canaanxing9025 (April 19, 2009 12:03 pm ET)
      1  

      Shepard Smith gained my respect when he reported from New Orleans after Katrina. The segment with Herridge was excellent. It informative and sane.

      Kudos, Mr. Smith

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