Eugene Robinson: Feeding the Lone Wolves

[deminks]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/11/AR2009061103038.html

We are blessed to live at a time when violent acts of hatred based on race, ethnicity or religion have become rare, at least in this country. As the act of terrorism committed Wednesday at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum should remind us, though, rare doesn't mean nonexistent.

James W. von Brunn, the 88-year-old white supremacist who allegedly took a rifle into the museum and killed security guard Stephen Johns, is more than a bitter, demented old man. He is a known figure in the domestic hate industry, a venom-spewing polemicist whose Web site offered readers the chance to download the opening chapters of his racist, anti-Semitic tome for free -- and to buy the rest of the book for the bargain price of 10 bucks.

(snip)

The thing is, though, that words have consequences.

There's profit for the pundits, and perhaps personal advantage for some politicians, in calling President Obama a "socialist" and calling Judge Sonia Sotomayor a "racist Latina" and claiming that Democrats want to "take away your guns" -- in creating and nurturing a sense of grievance among those inclined to be aggrieved. But what about those who might not understand that it's all just political theater?

The Homeland Security memo made the assessment that "lone wolves and small terrorist cells embracing violent right-wing extremist ideology are the most dangerous domestic terrorism threat in the United States." It recalled an April 4 incident in which three Pittsburgh area police officers were killed, and said "the alleged gunman's reaction reportedly was influenced by his racist ideology and belief in anti-government conspiracy theories related to gun confiscations, citizen detention camps, and a Jewish-controlled 'one world government.' " It's clear that James von Brunn was a firm believer in this whole insane scenario long before the financial meltdown or Obama's election. Maybe it was his personal financial situation that pushed him over the edge. Maybe he reached a point of no return years ago, when he made a bizarre attempt to take members of the Federal Reserve Board hostage.

(end snip)

[Psychic Consortium]

1. The GOP wants the violence. Creating chaos and destruction

is their specialty. Feeds their sadism and need
for power and control.

[get the red out]

2. Yes, it is all they have left

Their track record in governing is indefensible at this point.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Excellent column by Robinson.