Rightwing Extremism

Terry Says Obama Makes Attacks Inevitable; Also Serves Beer, Wings

Brian Beutler | June 11, 2009, 3:46PM

This afternoon, anti-abortion activist and former Operation Rescue leader Randall Terry went ahead with his second press conference in as many weeks at the National Press Club, the first of which was held in the immediate aftermath of the murder of Dr. George Tiller in Wichita, Kansas. As promised, there were hot wings and Guinness. But there was also an ominous warning that the Obama administration may be making more violent attacks "inevitable."

I asked Terry whether he'd received any complaints or criticism for proceeding with his event despite the tragic murder just yesterday of Holocaust Museum security guard Stephen T. Johns at the hands of a right-wing extremist. He responded, "we've had this in progress for about a week. If I had known we would have done it at a different time."

But then Terry took a curious turn.

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Topics: Rightwing Extremism

Labor

Murdered Security Guard's Union Asked For Bulletproof Vests, Never Got Them

Brian Beutler | June 11, 2009, 2:25PM

Stephen Johns, the 39-year old man who was murdered yesterday at the Holocaust Memorial Museum, wasn't just a Wackenhut-employed security officer. He was also a member of the Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America--a union.

That union approached Wackenhut about the dangers Holocaust Museum officers face, and asked them to provide their employees with bulletproof vests. You can imagine how that turned out.

[D]uring contract negotiations with Wackenhut two years ago, the union pressed for company-issued protective vests. Although Wackenhut seemed open to the idea, vests have not been issued, Faye said.

"I hammered this in our negotiations two years ago because of how sensitive that museum is," he said. "Our guards needed more protection." He said that one of the guards at the museum was "verbally assaulted by one guy walking by, saying anti-Semitic remarks. For that reason, I made that the center of the negotiation."

Authorities said Johns was not wearing a protective vest.

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Topics: Labor, Rightwing Extremism

John Boehner

Boehner: Connecting Museum Attack With DHS Report Exploits Tragedy For Political Purposes

Brian Beutler | June 10, 2009, 6:09PM

Among the chief critics of a recent Department of Homeland Security report on right wing extremism was House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), who, after the report was released said, "The report that came out of DHS was offensive, and unfortunately, Secretary Napolitano still has a lot of explaining to do."

After it became clear that the suspect in today's deadly shooting at the Holocaust Memorial Museum is the sort of right wing extremist that report warned about, I put in a call to Boehner's office to ask whether the tragedy had made him reconsider his earlier criticisms.

Here's the Republican Leader's response: "Trying to exploit this awful tragedy to score political points - from the right or the left - is simply grotesque. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."

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Topics: John Boehner, Rightwing Extremism

House of Representatives

House Votes Unanimously To Condemn Tiller Murder

Brian Beutler | June 10, 2009, 5:21PM

For what it's worth, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution yesterday, authored by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), condemning the murder of Dr. George Tiller. Full text below the fold.

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Topics: House of Representatives, Rightwing Extremism

Rightwing Extremism

Shepard Smith Blasts Right-Wing Extremism ... From Fox News Viewers

Eric Kleefeld | June 10, 2009, 5:15PM

Shepard Smith has spent a good chunk of his time on Fox News today saying how today's shooting at the Holocaust Museum vindicates the Department of Homeland Security's report on the threat of right-wing extremists -- that birthers and other such conspiracy theorists who vilify President Obama have to stop.

At one point, he focused his ire on a particular group of right-wing extremists -- the Fox News viewers who write e-mails to the channel:

"I read a lot of e-mail around here," said Smith. "And the e-mail to me has become more and more frightening. It's not a new thing. it's been happening over the past few months. It's been happening, you know, to some degree, since the election process went along."

He then proceeded to read an example of the e-mails, which he collectively described as being "out there in a scary place."

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Topics: Rightwing Extremism

Department of Homeland Security

Does Holocaust Museum Shooting Vindicate DHS Report?

Brian Beutler | June 10, 2009, 4:48PM

Back in early April, the Department of Homeland Security released a report warning that the ranks of right wing extremist groups might swell. There was nothing especially controversial about the memo, which was put together under the supervision of a Bush appointee. It was the sort of threat assessment certain government agencies are supposed to provide; and DHS had prepared a similar memo about the threat of left wing extremists just three months beforehand.

But that didn't stop conservatives and Republicans from turning on the outrage. The story drove cable news coverage for days, and inspired elected officials like Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) to stand before Congress and denounce the report.

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Topics: Department of Homeland Security, Rightwing Extremism