Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
With its Silence the Republican Party Shows Support for Violence Against the Government
http://www.politicususa.com/republican-violence-government.htmlWith its Silence the Republican Party Shows Support for Violence Against the Government
By: Rmuse
Jan. 13th, 2013
A patriot is someone who feels strong support for their nation, its government, and people who share unquestioned loyalty to their homeland. There is a misconception in America playing out since the election of President Obama that being a patriot is wrapping oneself in the American flag while clutching a bible to one’s bosom with one hand, and a firearm in the other, while at the same time threatening the domestic tranquility of citizens and peaceful existence of the legally elected government. Over the past four years, and especially the past year, there has been a rising chorus of conservatives calling for, or threatening, revolution or civil war against the government because they oppose the democratically elected President, and to cover their seditious speech, they cite the First Amendment’s right of free speech as justification for inciting armed conflict against the government.
It is true that speech is protected by the First Amendment, but the Supreme Court has ruled there are restrictions on speech that endangers the public or threatens the government. In 1919, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., writing for a unanimous High Court, ruled in Schenck v. United States that it was a violation of the Espionage Act of 1917 to distribute flyers opposing the draft during World War I, and argued this abridgment of free speech was permissible because it presented a “clear and present danger” to the government’s recruitment efforts for the war. Holmes wrote, “The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic. The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent.” However, the ruling in Schenck was later overturned by Brandenburg v. Ohio in 1969, which limited the scope of banned speech to that which would be directed to and likely to incite imminent lawless action.”
snip//
What one finds interesting is that none of the so-called leaders of the Republican Party, conservative pundits, national neo-conservative news organizations, or National Rifle Association have made any attempts to tamp down the seditious rhetoric inciting civil war, revolution, or violent action against the government over legally enacted laws such as the Affordable Care Act or discussions about gun safety measures. It is not that they advocate for violence or a new American revolution, but they do encourage opposition to this President and any agenda not originating from neo-conservatives at any cost; even sedition.
It is possible that many of the people calling for revolution or civil war are just ranting and raving at election results they disagree with, but for every irate, disaffected gun-fanatic with a public forum, there are thousands of heavily-armed Americans just waiting for a signal to start shooting people, and like yelling fire in a crowded theatre, are creating a clear and present danger they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent. Sadly, since Republicans advocate any means of advancing opposition to the legally elected President of the United States, it is safe to say that not only will they never condemn seditious speech and calls for a new American revolution, their silence is tacit consent.
12 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
This orta be good...
kinda fitting dontcha think? 
far too willing to accept during my lifetime (early FDR 1st term), but enoughs enough. Perhaps it's about time for government to figuratively bust some heads, bloody a bunch of noses, and otherwise put a large hurt on these purveyors of hate, rebellion, and insurrection. 
figuratively. 
