American Morning
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November 17th, 2009
01:50 PM ET
We Listen – Your comments 11/17/2009
Editor's Note: Part two of Jim Acosta’s series on the militia movement had Tuesday’s American Morning audience evenly split on such groups’ legitimacy and relevance. Those for allowing such organizations viewed them as “misunderstood” because they provided needed assistance in emergencies. Those opposed termed militias as “dangerous whackos.”
- Linda: On the Militia, many states have their own militia. They pick up the ball in an emergency, when or if, the national guard is elsewhere. There is a big difference between being part of a militia, and being an unbalanced person with murder in his (or her) heart. Don't start demonizing the good guys.
- Todd: Patriots or extremists: militias are misunderstood, because there are also constitutional rights to form militias. The National Guard is considered a militia, most importantly there are State Defense Forces in most states, which are directed by their state Governors. I think if more was said about the State Defense Forces people would be more understanding about the concept of militias.
- Orville: Concerning the feature on militias. I don't belong to one, however, I have a license to carry a concealed handgun(one of over 60,000 in the state of Arkansas alone). I don't even go out to the curb to get my mail without carrying a semi-automatic handgun. And at home, I have an even bigger handgun for home security. When the news reports children getting beaten to death or a 15 year old girl being raped for over 2 hours with multiple onlookers doing nothing, I wish that I had been there. Things would have been different. Am I a gun "nut"? No, I'm a realist.
- Dan: Why in the world would you go out of your way to soften the image of the militia movement? How hard did you have to search to find a "reasonable" militia member? This is a dangerous movement made up of delusional people who think the government is out to take away their rights. For every "reasonable" member, there are probably a hundred skinheads, Aryan supremacists, and other assorted whackos. It is irresponsible to pander to these people.
- Joe: The American militias that we have been seeing and hearing about on CNN are militant extremists. They say they think Obama my be dangerous. What the hell did they think about Bush and Cheney, the two most dangerous persons to walk the face of this planet since Adolph?
- Joel: Why in the world are you featuring 100% certified paranoiacs like the Miracles? 22 guns and 8 kids?? Insanity and paranoia. Full camo and shooting trips with a 6 year old? You are aiding and abetting the right wing crazies and crypto nazis. Why not a full hour on the Aryan brotherhood or whats left of the kKan; sometimes I wonder about you people […].
What do you think of the militia movement? Continue the conversation below.
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Well as I stated before all these events are likely true but do not in any way reflect the current office of government, G.W. Bush was the tyrant the world feared not just American civilians.
We are unable or unwilling to bring all those guilty of the crimes to justice, and you cant hold the entire government accountable for the acts of a few crimminals abroud in our employ.
A perfect example is the imprisonment of U.S. Military Soldier's who took apon themselves to murder Iraqis prisoners, why you ask because even if our enemies are complete barbarians we don't need to become so.
Our government and Military has a balance of laws and check points, it was only G. W. Bush who abolished them in doing so became the most hated President in U.S. history.
Even so it doesn't excuse the threat that militia's pose to the average American, think about how unarmed civilians with react to this.
On April 19, 1995 McVeigh drove the truck to the front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building just as its offices and day care center opened for the day. Prosecutors said McVeigh ran away from the truck after he ignited two time fuses; one was a two-minute fuse and another was a backup of five minutes. At 9:02 a.m., a massive explosion destroyed the north half of the building. The explosion was so powerful that McVeigh, who was jogging away from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, was lifted off the ground. The explosion killed 168 people and 450 were injured. Nineteen of the victims were small children in the day care center on the ground floor of the building.
McVeigh did not express remorse for the deaths of the children, what he referred to as "collateral damage", but said he might have chosen a different target if he had known the day care center was open. According to Michel and Herbeck, McVeigh claimed not to have known there was a day care center in the Murrah Building and said that if he had known it, in his own words:
“ It might have given me pause to switch targets. That's a large amount of collateral damage.
Joseph W. Walden Jr:
Its been nice debating with you. Here's the thing, if we can agree that these torture methods were conceived within the context of mind control in the Cold War era (WWII ended in 1945), and if we can (and I believe we can) prove that it is these methods of torture that were brought back by Bush and more personally Cheney; then I think we can clearly rule that the detainees in the current war could have very realisticly been BRAINWASHED in congruency with these torture methods to claim being part of something that they might not be!! If that's the case (and I think it is) then we have a problem of what to do with a government who manufactures enemies that are not; and to think that they could pattent this sort of thing and do it at will.
Moreover, what to make of Claudia Mullen? She testifies at the hearing, "...Between the years of 1957 and 1984 I was exploited all through the use of chemicles, radiation, drugs, hypnosis, electric shock, isolation in tubs of water, sleep deprivation, brainwashing, verbal, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. I was not alone, there were countless other children. I was sent to a lodge in Maryland to learn how to sexually please men. I was used to entrap many unwitting men all with the use of a hidden camera. I was only nine years old."
There is simply no way to justify any of it! What's relevant is that the acts of turture confirmed in this war on terror are proven to be linked to MIND CONTROL not INTERROGATION, and that they are proven to have been used on American children!! Anybody who supports a furthering of this war without a thurough investigation and cleaning of the federal goverment is crazy!! We don't have any proof that the torture has stopped abroad, let alone here at home, because there has been no official inquiries into the matter. The fact that Congress and the President want to look forward smacks of very sinsiter motives on the part of Washington DC. This is a lot bigger than it appears, or else they would wash their hands of it publicly.
After some research and thoughts on the matter I believe both accusations of Presidential Advisory Committee Hearing on Human Radiation, and C.I.A. acts of rape & torture to be true.
However Average Joe Taxpayer you ignore the fact these events originate from 1940-1949 era America, so I quote "The 1940's were dominated by World War II. European artists and intellectuals fled Hitler and the Holocaust, bringing new ideas created in disillusionment".
Government experimentation to effect mind control sounds almost a 3rd world activity but I believe the 1940-1949 era American government officials did behave in a barbaric & paranoid mindset and so Amercian decendants of Italian, German, Russian, & Japanese where all suspected & treated as war collaborators & spies as where thier children by the C.I.A. But Mr.Taxpayer you also neglect that it was The Clinton Administration that made all of these documents available to the public,
no information leaks but Liberal government officials wanting full government disclosure in 1995.
So my conclusion would be to try trial all parties of C.I.A. and government officials involved as a war crime, but the question is how many of these men are still alive as its been 30-61 years ago.
Remember The Geneva Conventions that set the standards in international law for humanitarian treatment of the victims of war. The singular term Geneva Convention refers to the agreements of 1949, negotiated in the aftermath of World War II.
I don't think it's rational to Blame President Obama for national scandals that took place before he or I was ever born, so I don't support taking arms against the American Government especially if the militias sponsor is racism.
Joseph W Walden Jr.
Well, we both agree that Bush was horrible. I voted for Obama as well as contributed to his campaign. I am not a card carrying memeber of any organization other than my college. However, the issue of taking arms aginst the government is one raised by the founding fathers themselves who insisted the People retain that right. I'm not talking about the 2nd Ammendment, I'm talking about the Declaration of Independence. While I don't condone any violence in principle, I do believe that if the people truly exhaust every effort to have their voices heard and the elected officials do not listen it is permissable to alter or abolish the government by any means necessary. That is what makes me proud to be American, that I have the right to revolution.
J. Edgar Hoover once said, "If the youths and moderates and Negros want to succumb to the ideals of revolution, they must be assured that they will be dead revolutionaries." Abraham Lincoln also said, "If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finnisher." So please don't misinterpret my style of expression and dissent. Barrack Obama would not be allowed to serve as President if it were not for the right to revolution which legally justified the rebellion of the Rebel States and the civil war that ensued. Those rights have not gone away and if the people petition for and vote for war against the government, that war would have more solid legal footing than the undeclared wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What should concern you more than the thought of taking arms against the government is the simple fact that so many Americans are so angry they are infact discussing it. Moreover, you still have failed to give me your opinion on the CIA raping and torturing American children. Please read the 1995 Presidential Advisory Committee Hearing on Human Radiation, read the statements by Dr Valerie Wolf, Claudia Mullen, and Chris DiNicola. How can those women recall from memory in 1995 being subject to acts of torture as children that were not officially documented until this year, and they were children – not terrorists!?!? If the CIA raped and tortured your kids would you simply protest and file a lawsuit, or would you take arms?
What country do you live in?? For the last 43 years I can recall we voted for elected officials they didnt just decide to hold public office, and even then hold a limited terms in office.
Sorry I don't understand because I was born, raised, and will die on American soil, so let me remind you.
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands: one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
If you really like living in a total Banana Republic may I suggest that you go out and colonize some unpopulated corner of the world,
if you don't like a democratic government for the people by the people..
Surrender your United States citizenship and abandon the idiotic notions of over throwing the elected President of the United States of America.
I find it amusing to even think any Oathkeepers/KKK/Extremist/Patroits/or Survivalist you belong to would even survive the colonization process.
Basic human nature will breed in a growing sense of mistrust, delusions, greed, and yes strife among you, starting conflicts over common resources like fresh water, food,and shelter.
Now that being said I will tell you truthfully I don't like Corporate America, laws that promote racial injustice, and illegal immigrants whom I view as nothing more than slaves.
I suffer illness and proverty due to both this countries health care system and a failing economy, even so I will never take arms against my country when I have a legal means to change it.
American's everywhere of every nationality voted President elect Barack Obama into office including myself, I tried and failed for eight years to remove now former President George Walker Bush from office.
Never once did I ever take an oath to the Constitution, not the president.
Remember, we are a Constitutional Representative Republic, NOT A DEMOCRACY.
Now I really think you do have problems Joe Average, for starters those same problems like crime, poverty, and yes war exsisted in 3rd world countries for decades.
It doesn't require the as you say wealthy pigs in Washington DC to lift a single grubby finger, mainly because those conflicts are ethnic cleansings, disputes over wealth and resources.
Be it South America, Africa, or Middle East but what it isn't is within the borders The United States.
And if there was blatent hypocricy as you say, then it falls on the head of George W. Bush himself and not on the new administration lead by current President Obama.
I'm am sicken by any racist posting here in pretense to be Black-Native Indian, do not mock a investment in freedom.
"Don't Tread On Me" you say... Well sir as a native born American citizen I say obey the law because we are a nation of laws...
If your desperate for change vote for it as everyone one does in a democracy, take up arms you'll likely end your life in a state or federal prison.
Joeseph W. Walden Jr:
Maybe the commentors on this thread aren't drunk. Maybe their stoned, or maybe on crack, or maybe on heroin; and all the drugs we buy go to make billionaires in third world environments instituting a power vacuum that inevitably results in violence and who gets to be the hero? Why the USA of course!
The world, including the majority of Americans, is disgusted with US Government policy because all it does is create more problems like more crime, more poverty, and more war – then the government turns around and tries to offer a solution for the problems it created – then those solutions expressed as jail and torture and killing serve only to create more problems like crime and poverty and war.
It's a violent and backwards cycle that wealthy pigs in Washington DC have pushed upon all of us if only to stay in power. People are intelligent beings who will inevitably destroy the US government if God doesn't destroy them first for this blatent hypocricy and please tell me which concpiriacy theory I pulled out of my hat when I wrote about the CIA raping and torturing American children during the Cold War?
And Lib's/Progressive/Marxist/Socialists/Snob's profile every one while screeming, "NO PROFILING". Who act like tin-foil-hatters, seeing everything as a over-up of the "REAL TRUTH". Must go through alot of Maylox with all that worry.
All we (SMVM MILITIA) are is what you see, and it is available for you to se at Public Meetings, Public Trainings, at http://www.MichiganMilitia.com and our YOU TUBE account – militia48186. You need but look for yourself. There is concern, but no HATE. We are not the ones frothing at the mouth, you are. So look for yourself, then judge. Don't act as if "IGNORANCE WERE A VIRTUE". I can ask no more of myself.
Thank You
SMVM THUMPER
Mambolo what makes racist transparent is thier attempts to speak as if black-indian and sir you are a racist. I don't know what Oathkeepers/KKK/Extremist/Patroits/or Survivalist you belong to but nobody is returning to Africa anymore than you would return to Europe.
And by the way if your really that stupid the English wont have you, bringing up the name of some foreign born idiot named Marcus Garvey doesnt help your case. That being said grow up stop drinking get a job and join the living world and its not recently, its 25 years ago maybe 30 by now that England allowed Jamacia's independence.
Yeah the Empire is nolonger the Empre but you cant study if your drunk in school assuming you attended school.
Recently, England told Jamaica and other ex-colonial countries that they would be happy if they took their final court of appeal elsewhere, because they were clotting the British legal system.
That is telling us that the whiteman has no developmental interest in us, we should not have waited for him to tell us that, we should have left America en masse.
However some Blackfolks have grown accustomed to white society and no matter how much whitefolks throw against them, they insist on living with them. They should know we have been shacking up with the whiteman for too long now. We need our own society.
It's time we relocate to Afrika or at least plan to, but then came Obama and Blackfolks in America thought that all is well. It will be when we follow the leadership of Marcus Garvey and relocate to Afrika. We will only survive with our own kind.
Let's leave the whiteman to Ted Bundy, Clifford Olsen and the like, we can do better than put up with these children of the slavemaster.
Another hate group in disguise.
I wasn't gonna say anything else but you guys are so stupid I have too, what did you do???
Drank Jack Danials til you passed out pulling conspiracies out of a hat, seriously I want to know because your having delusions that the United Nations is taking over the world as the New World Order.
You sound as retatarded as a guy I listened too rambling in Yahoo voice chat that Democrats engineered the entire 9/11 attack to get Barack Obama elected President.
I tell you what, Oathkeepers/KKK/Extremist/Patroits/or Survivalist whatever you want to call yourselves you still have to answer to the law.
Once you violate the state laws under which you live you'll recieve a fair trial assuming you wasn't killed in a shootout with law enforcement.
I'll pray for you brother but stop drinking and wake up and join the living world, there is no mass conspiracy to take over the USA.
There is a need for global not just domestic economy, and yes you do need banks or you'll have no means to process money.
The world doesnt revolve around just you, hell my only motive for buying an assault weapon would be idiots like you walking around in mobs.
Randy's comment gave me hope again. I wish you were the CNN reporter interviewing the founder of the "Oath Keepers" we would have had better questioning. Because the american people are so tainted by poor news coverage of what the goverment is doing. But what Bill admitted in his book about the media is unfortunate – it doesn't reflect the truth in many cases. Thank God we have independent new sources. I am losing faith in CNN. Where are the Lou Dobbs and Ron Pauls?
I begin my comments with this truth…GOVERNMENT CAN ONLY EXPAND OR GROW BY CONSUMING OR TAKING AWAY AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF LIBERTY.
I support the Oathkeepers, but before you label me as a radical, hear what I have to say.
President Bush did a great deal of harm with a questionable war in Iraq, and no bid contracts to select companies who are profiting greatly on the war. His stimulus package did little to help the economy, but his political friends profited greatly at taxpayer expense.
The Patriot Act was an assault on liberty, and there are GUN CONTROL provisions with the creation of martial law…a tool of the president for any reason he chooses. Then there is the Brady Bill. Registration of my fire arms infringes on my second amendment right to own and bear arms. How much more infringement is there than the government having a complete list of all fire arms in the US and the address where those firearms can be confiscated.
President Obama has taken the Bush abuses to new heights, and he is attempting to do more.
Where did the money from his first stimulus go? It obviously is not doing the economy any good. How about his bail out of (nationalizing) banks, insurance companies, and auto manufacturers...?
The health care bill, that just passed the house, is more of a power grab bill than health care. It gives the government unprecedented power. Just a couple that affect the individual directly.
The bill gives the government complete and unfettered access and control of all your medical records.
It also gives the government total access to all your financial records. Even more horrifying is the government’s ability to automatically withdraw funds from your account if your insurance is deemed ‘INADEQUATE’ by a governmental agency.
Can you imagine the bounced checks and the profits to the banks from ‘Insufficient Funds’ fees?
I have an enormous fear of both the Republicans and the Democrats. It is blindingly obvious that neither party is listening to the people.
History shows that all totalitarian governments start with slow but accelerated power to the government and a corresponding loss of liberty for the people.
How different would the world be if Hitler’s Germany had had a constitution like ours and a high percentage of the military sworn members of an organization like the Oathkeepers?
Yes, I fully support the Oathkeepers and hope and pray their numbers grow exponentially.
We no longer have a government "For the People and By the People" it is by the "Congress for the Congress". We lost our voices, this is a group using what the constitution is based upon, our rights as citizens of this country, freedom of speech! And sure as hell if OUR president can call us all Arrogant Americans he better remember those for fought for "his" freedom of speech! So what is our government and President Obama so afraid of? A group that will not follow his sect with his czars? Stop the blame game all you netwtorks ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN you are all so afraid of something and it is so obvious, but you will be the first to waive your freedom of speech when it works for you. At least FOX has the American Pride still written all over it! The PRESIDENT CAN BE WRONG! He is NOT a Messiah! So with that I say GOD BLESS AMERICA! THAT Is MY RIGHT!
we the people are not crazy .i see on tv there is not one black in there group.i am 73 and been around a long time and have seen a lots of junk go on.i dont see where these people see the goverment taking there weapons away from them.they want to start something but i hope they get the butt end of it.the Lord teaches us to love one another but some people make it hard to do.
HOORAH!! OATH KEEPERS!!_ If you read the 1995 Presidential Advisory Committee on Human Radiation, you will witness three American women who claim they were raped, tortured, and brainwashed as children by the CIA. The question is, how could they recall specific acts of torture from memory in 1995 that were not officially documented until 2009? Craig Murray, former UK Ambasador to Uzbekistan is just now blowing the whistle on a CIA torture facility in Uzbekistan where the CIA is alleged to have raped a terror suspects child in front of him with a broken glass bottle. After torturing his child, they allegedly proceeded to place the man inside a boiling vat.
So there does come a point at which the people are justified in taking arms against the government, and I believe that the US Government has crossed that point. I like Obama, I hate the torture of American and foriegn children, the Patriot Act, the bailouts, the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, illegal investigations of Americans, use of electric or so – called "invisible" weapons on Americans (LRAD), Organized stalking and/or Gaslighting, The war on drugs, NAFTA, the list goes on. The US Government is due for a rude awakening and every citizen who is not beholden to the Constitution will be in serious trouble.
The bottom line is that the Government must obey the People, The People do not have to obey the Government! Also, We the People are free to forcefully alter or abolish the Government if we so choose. That power is vested in the Declaration of Independence.
I noticed in your picece the group had no people of color, lets not forget the kkk belived in their on minds that they were christians and protecting the constitution, when in reality they were nothing more thanTERRORIST.
I wish you reporters would quit with the SCARE tactics when talking about firearms. When in doubt just call it a firearm or call it a pistol, revolver, shotgun or rifle.
Semi-automatic firearms are NOT bad firearms, it simply means one shot per trigger pull. I wish Kiran Chetry and John Roberts would get a NRA taught handgun safety course.
Kiran if I wish to carry my PISTOL on me to the mailbox, it does not deserve an eye roll from you and its my right given to me by the Second Amendment of the United States.
The same document that gives us the Freedom of Speech.
Some of these folks may be a bit over the edge but most are legitimately concerned. The issue is not so much Obama as it is people like Pelosi, Waxman, Fienstien and the left side of the Democratic Party. Rumors abound like the one saying they will try back-door gun control by new international treaty agreements.
I am as middle of the road as one can get but I own guns for sport and self defense. I'm not a radical. However, I own guns because the constitution says I can and the supreme court has so ruled. Here is the bottom line. If we legislate against the second amendment, we can then legislate against all the other 9.
Some of you here are sure not aware of the UN and its goals for international authority over all, particularly the US and its citizens. Ever heard of the sovereignty movement? I suppose some of you will call them names, say they too are racist, or fearmongers. I suggest you read the UN Agenda 21 and the Marakech Transition Process to see what global powers envision for us. Go ahead, google it. Many people such as Oathkeepers are aware of Obama's ,as well as others, who have a goal of international treaties giving the UN powers to put US citizens on trial, use US forces under the UN's direction, and abide by the UN's rules on use of the oceans, production of carbon, behavior of parents towards their own children, and the payment of taxes to other nations to eliminate "world poverty". In other words, they want to control the decisions that the USA makes. WE would be a PART of the New World Order, but not a sovereign and independent nation. Gee, I wonder why some might oppose that; like me. Wake up people. There are forces out there conspiring against the US and it's superior way of life. The vast majority of people do not live the great way we do here in the states. Bigger homes, more personal space, individual means of transportation. Talk about the "Top 1 %"; globally, we all are it!
I fully support the purpose and activities of the Oath Keepers. Your show seemed to be baffled by the movement, its motivation and roots. For me, it comes down to 911 and the distrust of government that it generates. Regarding 911, you have over 1000 scholars, scientists, engineers, pilots and other experts who have come out publicly declaring that it is impossible for 3 buildings to come down by fire and gravity alone, without the aid of explosives and have declared the official report to be shameful and a fraud. They have called for a new investigation and it has fallen on deaf ears. The news media refuses to touch it, it is too controversial, too wacko or too hard to get our minds around. Yet, until it is taken on and until all the questions are conclusively answered, the patriot movement will continue and will grow rapidly.
This is disturbing, I will remind these oath keepers and each member of our Military that we already took an oath, "Uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, against all enemies Forign and domestic. and to bare true faith and alegance to the same."
I was watching your piece on CNN about the resurgence of the militias since Obama has been elected. O course the rallying cry was "he is destroying the constitution”!
Regardless of the fact that it really does not support either a socialist or capitalist economic model they insist Obama's trek toward socialism (weak as it maybe) is an affront on the constitution.
It was obvious that to these people the "constitution" really was just the second amendment.
I got thinking where these patriots were during the Bush administration. By my account he clearly violated the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th and probably violated the 7th and 9th amendments. Where was the outrage then? And where are the cheers as Obama brings us back under the bill of rights?
I think what frustrates me the most is that corporations have been pillaging the country of its wealth and jobs using these fools as a convenient distraction. They have been doing it by firing up these uninformed and uneducated people. By making the enemy the terrorist, the gays, abortion rights, gun control, and Obama, those faceless rascals have taken everything we have. If we survive and get our country back history will document this as a very very dark age of democracy.
And one more thing! Remember Tim McVeigh?? He had connections to the Michigan Militia didn’t he!! Why yes yes he did!.. I live right in the middle of these "patriots" in Michigan and they scare me to death.
Liberals don't understand what's going on beyond the "Lamestream Media" because half of what's going on, just to name one example , the illumination of who the prez's CSARs are (very alarming) and the lack of / erroneous reporting of the TEA PARTY PATRIOTS March on DC. You see, moderate Repubs and independants not only feel betrayed, lied to and marginalized but now threatened. What seems to worry YOU now is a consrvative movement to put the Constitution back in AMERICA, take marxists, communists and socialist DemoKrats out ! Are you even aware of who Obama's CZARS really are or whose theologies he truly follows and represents?
After all that's been revealed "to date" and you still don't get it ?
I am opposed to any form of violence to defend what, in my point of view, serves me, my community, my country and the world best .. there are other ways without pouring blood on the streets
After seeing what is happening in the US with the militias I can't help from wondering if the leader of the free world is any different from those radicals we are fighting against in Afghanistan and Iraq .... Over there, they are fighting against a foreigner that, in their eyes, is imposing change...
Over here, militias are fighting for the same, a democratic change and not an imposed one
Who gets to criticize who I ask
I would sincerely ask that you stop lying to yourself and others about the motivations of these groups. They are racist in every way and they absolutely hate the fact that a black man is now president of this nation. You do the nation a disservice by catering to the intellectually blind!!
You aren't LISTENING to what is happening. From Henry Kissinger's own lips, came we are preparing him to LEAD the New World Order.
That alone, from a man who is soooooo deep into the SECRET SOCIETY, sends chills down our collective backs. Look at the Gov of Montana. Look at what he said to Obama, in regards to the GUN LAWS. I think when SOMETHING happens, you all are going to be caught off-gaurd. Some of us, are going into "it" with our eyes wide open. Are there some "radicals" out there? Of course, but at least they are aware, which is more then I can say for you. And YES, much of this was from the Bushes time in office. But, they too were/are part of a Secret Society, they just laid the ground work, Obama is the fertilizer to their plan(s). Something Wicked This Way Comes........................
CNN please be aware that your comments are most likely being hit by paid blogers pushing their anti militia agenda (check the IP's). Your coverage was far and what I think most on here don't know is that most militia groups are just like the one you've shown, some more secretive and well trained others more fragmented. The overwhelming majority of members of all the US militias are NOT racists in any shape or form. Anyone of any race over 18 can join, normally citizenship is required but i guess that's raciest right?
I suggest all who comment on here whom think they know who the militias are, ask your self a question ... have you ever met a militia person? Talked with them about what they are all about? Why do you feel you know everything about them if you have never talked with one before? I then suggest since you have never met a militia member go out and find your local militia and sit in on a public meeting, they're regular guys and will answer all your questions. Btw there are millions of militia members in the USA so you most likely see them every day and don't have a clue.
Fox is my news channel of choice but because I am open minded I also watch CNN. How can you not see that we are losing our country to Washington DC. We have even lost our freedom of speech. Look at Lou Dobbs, John Stossel. How come their opinions get them fired but not John Cafferty who is extremely biased. It is a fact it depends on how your opinion leans right or left and then you may keep your job at CNN. I have decided not to learn Spanish but Chinese and I am so happy I do not have any grandchildren to worry about in the future.
I can only pray at this point because you and the state run media are helping with the demise of the United States I used to love, and I know it is not just my opinion. My family in NY are Democrats and they have even started to see what is happening since the liberals have taken over this country. I have family in several states and we never agreed on politics but now we do. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak not that it even will matter to you.
Bravo Dr. Sanjay Gupta for your strong response to the mammogram taskforce!
Not patriots.
Don't you have fact checkers. Anyone who has a government job takes an oath to defend the constitution of their state, the United States or both. This applies to current Law Enforcement.
These are all a bunch of racist people that make no sense when they say there is going to be camps across America and that they won't follow the orders of the President of the United States.
I don't see how they are afraid of our guns being taken away. The deer population is always on the rise and will always need hunters, therfore will always have guns. I shot my buck of the year yesterday, I ain't worried one bit about my 270 Winchester being taken away
These people pick and choose their beliefs to fit into their schema. They will not follow a man, but will follow a document written by men.... There are a lot of ignorant bigots still running rampant in this country, and unfortunately most of them form committees to make sure they can still shoot stuff when they want to...
I feel that these patriotic groups are a little crazy but come on there just trying to protect the country and themselves from street gangs and crime syndicates. I hope these patriotic groups go after the gangs and syndicates because the government is too lazy to do it.
Obama DID indeed get the issues bequeathed from President Bush
That is not even disputed!!
How HE handles the situation that he has been given IS THE PROBLEM!!
No more war on terrorism – It is a war on terrorism. Call it what it is! And deal with it. He doesn't want to send trooops into Afghanistan – It's HOW he handles it that has people in an up roar!
He wants to close down Gitmo AND bring the criminals here – what say YOU? That's BS!!
People who have their eyes open see what is going on. ...... The rest CHOOSE and i mean CHOOSE to live in ignorance!! So be it! I didn't know of this Oath Keeper group but i knew it had to happen sometime .
I am Hispanic and I don't own a gun myself but I do like that I can go and get one if I felt I wanted to. I believe in these groups and support them. I dislike the bush admin. and the federal reserve. I am a democrat turned Libertarian.Oh, by the way, there are detention camps and they are military bases that can be made into them in an "emergency" and immigration detention centers are a form of practice for them, Rex 84. Oh and one more thing, why is it that you CNN, Fox, and MSNBC don't place Ron Paul's name with the rest of the potential list of 2012 presidential candidates. Put him in there against Obama, Hillary, Huckubee, Romney, Sarah Palin, who ever. He will win. Put him in that list.
"I don't even go out to the curb to get my mail without carrying a semi-automatic handgun." - what kind of unbalanced person could actually say such a thing publicly - and be allowed to carry any kind of firearm under any circumstances? These people, and their movements, are extremely dangerous, are psychologically unbalanced, and must be monitored closely to avoid them starting a fringe revolution.
Our great country has been hijacked by the banking elite and the "Military Industrial Complex" that Eisenhower warned us about. If the "militia", made up of our friends, family and neighbors, want to help to uphold the Constitution, particularily the part about "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", then why wouldn't we support them?
It is sad to be reminded of these people who look at their world through a lens of fear and perceive "the government" as their enemy. Seems like paranoia to me, but each one, I imagine, would insist that their "extreme, irrational distrust" is neither extreme nor irrational. So they reach out and spread the seeds of fear everywhere they go, seeking to gather others to their "cause" and feel validated. What a waste of energy.
The man you interviewed was deflecting big time. Answer a question with a question, then tried to play off their real reasoning behind this group by saying was Bush planning internment camp.
Their real agenda is to make sure a black president does not have a successful presidency. They hide behind the stimulus, Government spending, their guns are being taken away. Where were these people when Bush was President. No where!!! These people are products of the Bush/Cheney , GOP base.
The government needs to step in and start changing some laws to control these people. I liken them to being no better than the Extremist Muslim standing on a corner preaching hate for the US.
Your softball coverage of militia's is so disconcerting I find it difficult to believe you felt this coverage the right thing to do...or is it the "Right" thing to do? In these efforts you're encouraging these movements, and as much as you continue to say it isn't about race, I believe, (and I am white) that it is above all about race. Rachel Maddow had coverage last evening of a group that is selling shirts, etc. against Obama using Psalms 109.8...this passage reads "let his days be numbered, let another take his office," and goes on, "let his children be fatherless and his wife be widdowed." These are the same sort of people you are glorifying with your coverage, and, if God forbid, something happens to our President CNN and other news organizations, including Fox will bear some fault for not telling the real truth about those who are filled with hate. Some may be against bailouts, or government intervention, but many and most are against our first black president and are inciting more hatred whether it's using the possibility of having weapons taken away, camps being built, or other motives. The Psalms 109.8 group is part of this...selling even teddy bears with this message. As you glorify these militias with your coverage, you glorify hate. Obviously those at CNN have decided this is a message they want to put out there. You will increase the membership. You must be so proud.
For the sake of America, the Constitution must be upheld. President Obama HAS inherited problems from the Bush admin but he's continuing to take the country down a dangerous road and it really seems like he's not working for the nation's best interest. "By the people, for the people" is slowly eroding.
To Ben: it's important to make either clear distinction or differentiation between clear and present danger from heart attacks, in our obesity-infested societies; from some vague and ideological, but otherwise unsubstantiated fear from our own governments. After all, we all still believe in democracy and peace and a foundation of building better societies? This is not just an empty altruism or naivety, as someone else mentioned in his comment here. It is a best foundation for better future.
Hardly a dfay goes by that I don't receive an e-mail from one of these paranoid whackos... convinced that Obama is out to get them, take their guns, money, religion and property.
Over the years there have always been a few of these people, usually called "survivalists", "skinheads", "klansmen" or "Christian fundamentalists"... but thanks to a new crop of opportunistic "news people" like Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck who will do or say almost anything to make a buck, these whackos are multiplying like rabbits.
News stories over the past few years should clearly show us that a certain percentage of these people are extremely dangerous... Timothy McVeigh, murderers of abortion doctors, the guy that killed three cops in Pennsylvania, and on and on it goes.
To my way of thinking, fear profiteers like Beck, Limbaugh and Hannity love to tell us they have the right to free speech, but by deliberately spreading groundless fear, they might just as well be yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater.
They should be ashamed.
This morning Jim Acosta said he saw no evidence of racial overtones to what motivates militia. My question, which I am sure any minority would notice immediately, is that there are no people of color in these groups. Why? I believe it is because they regard minorities as part of the problem not part of the solution or positive future for the nation. The fact that Mr. Acosta and other non-minorities do not acknowledge this apparent inconsistency, is the reason, in my opinion, these type of groups continue to flourish in America. By the way, Kiran Ketry raised the issue of race and her question was quickly dismissed as not relevant. I would imagine that this male dominated phenomenon is somewhat troubling to independent-better educated and less indoctrinated women in American society.
I think taking an oath to uphold the constitution is a very patriotic thing and I voted for Obama! I love CNN and watch it daily but I can't believe that reporter actually said that there is no proof that martial law was ever a potential. What planet is this guy on!! Did not the House of Representatives in March of 2008 have an emergency closed session warning of martial law which was leaked and reported in Australia but not here in America? There have been public sessions which warned that we could have martial law. Are there not Executive Orders which make martial law possible with Congress not being able to do anything about it? This is no mystery when it is in plan site. But I’m sorry; I am not a reporter so I wouldn't know. And our founding fathers created the separation of powers to prevent the possibility of a President taking control; however, research executive orders by Bush Sr., Bush, Clinton and you will see a frightening trend. But what do I know I am not a reporter.
I am a male with four daughters and a wife who need routine screening starting at 40. The nurse (Ph.D.,RN) you just interviewed demonstrates corporate thinking and how our medical system is based on saving money for insurance companies and not saving lives. The companies will now say that they will allow screening between 40 and 50 if the physicians order it. However, if the patient has no history there will be no indication for screening. After the recommendations are accepted in a couple years and written in stone, they will then turn to the "accepted" recommendations and deny payments saving them money but increasing the breast cancer deaths. "Death" squads by insurance decisions. Time to fire all those on the commission that made this recommendation. You need to see how many of those on the commission are on the payroll or payout from insurance industry. Totally disgusting!
It is amazing how we as American can listen to such talk of treasons and condone it. The group forming all over America are a bunch or racists who will not ever respect a Black man being President of these United States. They can put it on our past president but they are racists. If they were so afraid of President Bush, why did they put him back in office for 4 more years. President Obama has not even served a year and the groups started forming as soon as he was elected. They can lie all they want but the bottom line is, they refuse to accept President Obama as their leader. And the sad part about it is, he is trying so hard to undo the crisis created under President Bush. These people are racists who will do anything to spread fear and angry among America's people. So please keep your eyes on them. They are trying to separate our country. How sad can that be? They don't love America. They are selfish.
My concern is that the Militia would spawn a nut that goes way beyond the hate that they preach, and harm our president. This is the nightmare that I worry about. President Obama is most conscientious president that we have had in the last 9 years, and unfortunately I voted for the guy before him twice. I now have nightmares about the two votes I gave G.W.Bush, the liar idiot, who never should have become president.
They exist as a deterrent, they take an oath to the constitution, while lobbyist push Presidents, Congressmen and Senators to weasel their way around the constitution and alter it to weaken it any chance they can. The patriot act is unconstitutional if the founding fathers could see it they would re-name it the Un-Patriot Act. When my friend went to sign up for the military a few years ago they asked him if would fight against the American people if he were commanded to, i have heard of this from others too. The military ask things like this for a reason, not just to ask. Maybe you should do a report on that. Based on that alone, there is a good argument for the Oath Keepers. You have to question CNN for making them to seem like nutcases for swearing to uphold the Constitution and defend it from threats from with in. There is a reason that part is in the constitutional oath as well, the founding fathers weren't talking about terrorist, they were talking about people in the government with agendas contrary to the well being of the American people.
nancy: I think this is another kkk organization. will this group have to do a terable thing for the government steps in and stops this. If we could only stay in the US and take care of it, rather than going to foreign countries meddleing in their buisiness we wouldn't be in the shape we are in. I could care less about foreign countries are doing.
My view of these troubling signs, south of my border, are very much in sync with my long-time beliefs- that any pre-emptive and confrontational inclination (even in and for the defensive purposes) leads to fear, anger and subliminal aggression; that could eventually lead to war (as recent history have thought us). Dark side of the existing human nature, flourish in the ambience of fear-induced propaganda.
What we are seeing emerge here was all started by the Tea Party. The likes Of Rush Limbaugh.,Sean Hannity and Glen beck have stirred these people into rebellion and what I would term an extremely dangerous Homegrown terrorist movement. I have seen the blogs of governments takeover by these people and then see them laughing that the military won't stop them because they control the military from within.
These people need to be stopped before we have ourselves another 3rd Reich on our hands.
This wingnut group says they are not racist, did you see any Blacks or Hispanics in their ranks? I didn't.
These people are nut bags, they have listened to people like the president of the NRA who is making a fortune from the gun manufactures telling everyone how the President is going to take their guns away which is a giant lie but you have all these idiots that believe him and run out and buy guns and in the end have no use for one except to use them to rob or kill someone, this is the same tactic that the NRA has been using for the past fifty years, there was a time when the NRA represented the hunters of the United States now they represent the gun manufactures and the extremist and the want to be soldiers but are to stupid to join the military and fight for the United States.
These "Oath Keepers" out to actually read the Constitution, or visit a law school class discussion Constitutional law.
In fact, all these reactionaries should start reading the Constitution.
Who do you think is going to protect you? Certainly not the US government. Look at 9/11. Terrorists hit the PENTAGON without a single shot fired in defense!!! Now you have the Fort Hood shooting, where someone BARELY trained in firearms shot and/or killed dozens before being taken down. The government actually won a legal case saying that they are NOT responsible for your personal security. When President Obama fills his administration with people with histories of anti-gun activism, what is the American public to think. Do the homework on this CNN.
It is ignorant to lump all of these groups together. When you are dealing with hundreds of groups, the motiviations and goals vary greatly from one to the next. Go to the SPLC website and research hate groups if you want to see what I mean. Unlike the media, however, I do not believe that militia groups in general belong in the same category as hate groups. Since when is it suspicious for a group of people to band together for their common defense? -L. E.
Don't dignify these people by suggesting they're "patriots." They reject the most deeply held of all American democratic vales and Constitutional principles: the peaceful transition of power in which the losing minority accepts the will of the winning majority, becoming the LOYAL opposition. wins. Note that word "loyal." WHO IS FUNDING these people, anyway? FOLLOW THE MONEY. That's what you should be doing.
Some White Americans never cease to amaze me. While you "cry law and order" on one hand, on the other you yourself boldly do that which encourages lawlessness. We now have a President who obviously wants to do the right thing by all Americans; and you are doing nothing but disrespecting that office. Makes one wonder if race is not the motivator. Where were you during the Bush administration?
This whole "Patriotism/Extremism" polarity is interesting. The questions about these militia groups assume they are either "patriots" or "extremists"–when in fact, patriotism all too often is simply one form of extremism. In a world as interconnected as ours, we need to re-evaluate our thinking on nationalism/patriotism and its implications for international relations.
Not patriots, not terrorists, just gullible nitwits.
one thing i have to say is just look at fema camps- type it in and tell me what our goverenment is doing with these? some are new all the info is here and yes we need these people to take an oath to make sure our government don't get to far out or control
If racism has nothing to do with their motivations, why did they remain silent during 8 years of civil liberty violations by the Bush Administration?
What is the race that makes up each and everyone of these militias including the Oath Keepers. If they are all white, what does that tell you.
The 2nd Amendment does not grant an absolute right to bear arms; it's based on the need for a well-organized militia, which would have been the equivalent of a standing peacetime army before the country put its resources into that. In other words, the 2nd amendment is so that the nation itself has a reserve force - not a bunch of guys running around the woods with guns who will, as far as I can tell, take orders from nobody.
About this Oath Keeper organization. They say they are non-violent, and don't look to override government. But is it just a coincidence, then, that they were founded on April 19th? Research this further.
To cover a story on Militia's one would have to cover the rational and irrational Militia movements out there that really do exist. which was not done in reporting this story. The Peoples reaction covered that diversity of thought where it comes to Militia's which CNN covered in part only trying to promote a certain perspective which lacks the fullness of thinking and thought that drive these Militia groups.
Ok folks lets put Militia's, Patriots, or Extremists in proper prospective.
1st do any of these groups recieve training in law enforcement, if not I'd hate to see what happen's with them roaming around armed in a natural disaster.
2nd what government authority do they answer to or are directed by, city, country, state police???
If they don't respond to any of the following it become a time bomb especially if they encounter local law enforcement during a natural disaster,
I myself would not enjoy encountering a group of armed men while travelling alone or with my family, this is made more horrific if said militia's precieve to enforce thier own laws.
3rd if they want to provide assistence to to the American people, why don't they register with the Army National Guard.
And by all accounts if the U.S. was invaded by a foreign power, these bloated militia member don't have the capacity to fend off a mechanized invading army.
So in the end militias/patroits/extremists are nothing more than armed/delusional/paranoid idiots armed with assault weapons,
yes the American Justice System leaves a lot to be desired.
Yes America is undergoing domestic and global change and for God's sake we need it, our reputation as world leaders in democracy was systematically destroyed by the former presidential administration.
The last thing we need are home grown terrorist who may attempt to assassinate government officials in the name of freedom.
I've been 3/4 the way around this world, been and lived in many countries for many years. I've had in-laws killed by military/police, I've had them killed by communist rebels. The reasons were the same, the population was disarmed, and both groups wanted what they had, FOOD, CLOTHING, anything. Yea, they have low reported gun related deaths, because no one will report them, the bodies rot right there until family members feel safe to retrive them. Also you have machete's hacking peole to death who cannot fight back, only the strong survive. GUNS MAKE EVERY EQUAL, AND GIVE THE MEEK A FIGHTING CHANCE TO SURVIVE. This is the real world we live in.
WACKOS – NO, are you a WACK-OFF? YOU BETCHA !!
When the first illegal Michigan Militia was started before 1995 something. I was talking to a Government operator and she said it was a long time ago in a nutshell the Militia Leadership was calling them and not being polite. I ask why they didn't index it (call them on it) again a long time ago and in a nutshell their expert told them not to. I know I would never belong to a group that does that.
If I was worried about the Government and Gun rights I wouldn't join a Militia. Their are better groups to join to voice your concerns about the Government. Anywho If I wanted to protect gun rights I would try to end or reduce gun violence. For example Mentoring at risk youth, start an afterschool program, fund anti-gang programs, and there are probably many was to end or reduce gun violence.
It's funny that some people are calling the militia members paranoid and view them as a threat... I'm sorry. Have I introduced you to my friend, Kettle? Paranoid people take CPR and first responder classes. Paranoid people take measures to defend themselves or others in the event that no one else can or will. Delusional people pretend the world is a safe place and that nothing bad will ever happen.
Paranoia is it! Have lived in a few countries on this earth. I found out that countries without this darn right of allowing WACKOS to carry guns have a relatively low rate of gun related deaths. It is that SIMPLE a thing to understand.
I love this country, but cannot understand the LIMBAUGHs and their extreme thinking nonsense.
God bless AMERICA!
Militias are what I would call a natural reaction to distrusting your government. The Bush /Cheney years and their Patriot Act has many citizens wary of what the government might attempt. Try reading it some time. Abuse of our privacy by the government, the inability to move about the country on mass transit without a computer taking note, these things have redefined Freedom. There is a lack of trust for a government that is unresponsive to those governed.
I would never join a militia. I can't own a gun I'm Mentally ILL (schizo affictive) Even Mentally ILL I can tell you if I wanted to keep my gun rights besides being a member of the NRA I would try to reduce gun violence. Maybe Mentoring, Afterschool programs, fund Anti-gang orgs. 90% of people with a major mentally illness are non-violent like me.
You may have noticed that Mr. Miracle is far from being a skinhead. And YES I do know, because I am also pictured in this piece. As far as racist, My wife of 30 years is BROWN southeast asian, my children and grandchildren are , as liberals would say, of mixed race. No, they are not, they are of the HUMAN RACE. The only mix is in your liberal minds. Many militia members are multi-cultral families, based on race or religion, but in the end we are all part of WE THE PEOPLE., and any one who would hassle my family, friends or neighbors would quickly find me coming down very hard on them, along with my militia brothers and sisters. DON'T TREAD ON ME !