American Morning
Avlon: Hate is cheap political tool
Editor’s note: John P. Avlon is a senior political columnist for The Daily Beast and author of the new book "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America." Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/07/13/john.avlon.art.jpg caption="CNN Independent analyst John Avlon says an escalation of angry rhetoric and actions this week are the results of hate in the service of hyper-partisanship."]
By John Avlon, Special to CNN
In the wake of the health care vote, we’ve seen an escalation of angry rhetoric and actions, fueling this week’s wingnuts to ugly new heights of incitement.
At least ten members of the House of Representatives received death threats this week while Republican House Leader Eric Cantor reported that bullets had been fired at his district offices in Virginia. Four local Democratic Party offices and district congressional offices had their windows broken with bricks.
All this follows the online exhortations of militia leader Mike Vanderboegh, who wrote on his blog this past Friday: “If we break the windows of hundreds, thousands, of Democrat party headquarters across this country, we might just wake up enough of them to make defending ourselves at the muzzle of a rifle unnecessary.”
I interviewed Vanderboegh at length late last year for my book "Wingnuts." He is a self-described “former leftist” and SDS member who became a Second Amendment activist and leader in the militia movement during the 1990s. Last year, he co-founded a loosely-affiliated Hatriot group known as the Three Percenters.
Over the past year, he has detailed his unhinged opposition to the Obama administration: “You should understand that we are rapidly coming to a point in this country when half of the people are going to become convinced of the illegitimacy of this administration and its designs upon our liberty. Need I remind you that this side is the one with most of the firearms?”
This week he’s been hitting the radio show circuit to promote his message. This isn’t just wingnut stuff, it’s indicative of a new breed of Hatriot militias – those who believe its patriotic to fear the government and hate the president. It’s the politics of incitement.
At a time when Sarah Palin posted a Facebook page with gun-scope cross-hairs on the districts of Democratic representatives she is seeking to unseat this fall, the unhinged could be getting further encouragement from the former GOP VP nominee. In light of the death threats, decency and a modicum of good judgment should inspire Palin to take that map down immediately.
On the left, radio host Mike Malloy is at the ugly rhetoric again, this time targeting conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife Ginni. Mrs. Thomas formed a group with sympathies for the Tea Party protesters, remarking “I did not give up my First Amendment rights when my husband became a justice of the Supreme Court.”
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Malloy exercised his first amendment rights by launching an ugly attack on Justice Thomas, calling him a “House Negro” and in transcripts raising the question of whether the Thomas’ interracial marriage ("She’s a very, very, very, very, very white Omaha, Nebraska woman married to a very, very, very, very black South Georgia man") would cause a problem for the Tea Party protesters he reflexively calls racist. This is an example of race-baiting from the left, wrapped in the arrogance of assumed ideological superiority.
Hate is a cheap and easy recruiting tool in politics – and in talk radio. But we are starting to see the results of hate in the service of hyper-partisanship. The extremes encourage and incite each other. We shouldn’t have to wait for further escalation to recognize the danger of this dynamic on our domestic politics.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Avlon.
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Palin should have her picture printed with a target on it, see how she likes it. Gun nuts don't want to fight others who have guns, they just want to intimidate people with their own guns.
When do people like nicholas paschalis come back to issue there apology to Eric Cantor? What was you said Nicholas? Oh yes, I remember now, "Cantor your dishonest and a HYPOCRITE!!!" Hello Nicholas? Where's the apology?
I read how you are decrying hate and its accompaning retoric, but you also fan the flames with your retoric of wingnut, hatriot groups and etc. How about reporting the facts without the glamorization of either supposed or actual violence. But, nope let us, everyone, fan the flames, get some more people riled up, maybe someone can get killed, all in the name of corporate/news profits. The media has been doing this for so long and now are astonished at the level of hate and the hard separation evident in this Nation? The American people can no longer trust the Media and must get their information elsewhere, well elsewhere isn't controlled. Welcome to the beginning of the Balkanization of America.
Both sides are guilty left wingers set off bombs to defy the vietnam war. There is no threat here. Besides does anyone remember during the election of democrats breaking their own windows for political gain. probably half were real half fake. and real or not the dems are loving it because now they can play the blame game.
It has been reports by the police that the bullet that shattered Eric Cantor's window was a stray bullet that landed within a couple of feet of the outside. This was not intentional violence. Pay attention.
There's always going to be some measure of rancor expressed by the extremes in times like these. People are angry at the misguided actions of our so-called congress, especially when they focus so intently upon entitlements rather than the real issue of getting people back to work. Without a stable economy to support it, universal healthcare is doomed to fail, just like all the other government-run fiascos that are currently in freefall. Petty property damage to political offices or campaign symbology should be the least of our worries. We have a crumbling infrastructure nationwide, and our efforts should be focused upon it and the jobs that it could create. NAFTA, globalization, and war have taken their toll upon our economy, and it's time for us to turn inwards for a while, before a red flag with cute little yellow stars waves atop our capitol building.
Thor mentioned Thomas Jefferson rolling over in his grave.
Yes, I believe Thomas Jefferson would be very unhappy with the state of affairs today, but probably not for what you might think.
Thomas Jefferson was a self-proclaimed Deist who championed the separation of church and state during the composition of our Constitution. He was also a staunch believer in electing representatives who were respected members of their communities who would serve a few years in congress, then return home to pick back up their trade or profession.
I think Jefferson would be appalled at the presence of career politicians and the power that big business and organized religion lobbyists hold over said politicians.
It's only going to get worse. The government has wasted over a year on health care when they should have been adressing the economy. You cannot dispossess millions of people, throw them out of work, out of their homes and onto the streets, while a small handful rake in huge salaries and bonuses, without eventually causing major societal upheavals. These people are angry and desperate, and the wonder is that there hasn't been more violence before now. Be warned, Washington/Wall Street: REFORM in 2010 or REVOLUTION in 2012!!
Hey Billy. I suggest you lookup crosshairs and reload and what these words are synonymous with..CAN YOU SAY RIFLE!
The fewer wingnuts we have the better. I do have to say that Sarah Palin is totally irresponsible for her posting of a map including crosshairs to identify which democrats to target. She asks people to "reload." What the hell is that!!. America needs statesmen not lunatics to steer America. McCain to defend her tactics and to have her by his side at a recent rally suggests to me that the republicans are digging an even bigger hole for themselves. Keep on digging!
One last thing, it is important to point out that the Virginia State police investigated the "bulletgate" incident at Rep Cantors office. They concluded that it was a "stray bullet as part of random gunfire" Apparently the bullet didn't even penetrate the blinds. But of course Rep Cantor couldn't wait for the police to finish their investigation. Instead he goes on TV and says that his office was shot at. I new when he said this he was trying to turn the tables on democratic supporters. Cantor your dishonest and a HYPOCRITE!!!
I hear all the time that Rep Cantor's window was shot at, but I have not heard one commentator relate the police assessment. It was a stray bullet fired in the air from about a mile away. Can this be put in perspective? It is just like the ACORN mess, lies by the right to destroy
an organization. Lies by the right to start a war. It's sickening. CNN is
turning into FOX News Lite.
i was always taught that you can agree that your disagree and for something that your agree on and work with that but. i have never seen nor read when the republicans of congress in the history of american showed so much hate, i think at this point is doesnt have anything to do with healthcare i think it has everything to do with the race of our president, flat out if they arent carefully they will step in a landmind and get a foot blow off
How to create security – A former President offers us a solution and a real American Dream:
In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.
Among these are:
The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
The right to a good education.
All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.
For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world.
The more the republicans behave like boors the higher the chance that they will lose in October. Cross-hairs, broken windows, bricks, hatred, incitement to violence, and all other trick from the Republican playbook will not stop progress and meaningful change.
Someone said it right yesterday here in the comments section: if I have to pay for your wars, you will have to pay for my health care.
So Republicans, pay up and say something meaningful. Otherwise you will just remain the party of No, and bad leadership has serious electoral consequences.
Anastasya said in a message posted a while ago says "we all know who has hijacked he government" in calling for Obama's impeachment. Well Anastasya, please enlighten me because I do NOT know who you are referring to. Say it out loud, girl - who are "they'?
Dianne asked why CNN was harping on threats to the democrats and barely mentioning the threats to the GOP. After Eric Cantor's supposed threat turned out to be a farce, it would be embarrassing to continue as CNN gave him the air time to spew his inaccuracy only to have it promptly debunked by law enforcement.
Scientology uses a technique against it's detractors called "dead agenting". Basically – if you speak out against scientology – they attack you with lies and rumors intended to discredit you and shut you up. Democrats and the liberal media are "dead agenting" the tea party movement to discredit and silence it. Plenty of front page stories of supposed violence and racial slurs, but only a few outlets carry the stories that the racial insults never happened and the "violence" never happened or was random and bipartisan.
What kind of threats did Rebuplicans get? Did they get threatened with opposition in a democratic election? Did their constituents threaten to learn how to read and stop knuckle-dragging?
im sorry but cnn is guilty they wipped up the teabaggers , they couldent keep them of the front page , cnn portrayed the teabaggers and the lunitic right as mainstream . the ignored the truth and lied about polls . no im sorry mike some of the mainstream media fox news most guilty insiteing these wingnuts to violence . bill oreilys the most successful tiller the baby killer oriely insited dr tillers death . so mike dont come crying about violence now , if they so to the wind they will reep the worlwind as the proverb says .i herd and saw on tv republican congressman delibritly insiteing the tea baggers , saying well hunt those democrtas down were ever they are . no the rethugs will have to answer for this . their problem the rethugd is this ,WHEN FOX NEWS BEGAN THE GOP THOUGHT FOX WORKED FOR THE GOP , NOW THEY HAVE COME TO RELALISE THE REPUBLICANS WORK FOR FOX NEWS , THE WINGNUTS .
I left the USA for NZ because the "right" no longer believes in civil discourse to settle debate. It is now threating the American people with a wave of hate and violence that send the wrong message to other democracies around the world seeking to move from hateful rhetoric to the polling booth as the method of solving problems.
It is not an accident that hundreds of thousands of Americans have given up and moved to Australia, Canada, Europe, and the New Zealand for hope, freedom, opportunity, and prosperity.
The USA is going down for good.
Those of you who keep saying this President is destroying the Constitution, could you please enlighten me about exactly what part of the Constitution has been destroyed? I hear that a lot, and I have been paying attention to what the President has done and I don't see where there has been destruction. Also those who keep insisting your rights are being taken away, could you tell me which rights? I've heard you say he's taking away your guns, but who among you had guns before he was elected, and have had them removed? I've heard you say he is raising your taxes, but I am a bookkeeper, and what I have seen is a tax cut for the vast majority of working people. So, can you tell me anything about any of these issues that actually makes sense?
All of the current incivility is because the right wing cannot accept that they were fairly and soundly defeated in the last two elections, '06 and '08. Had the left reacted this way to the stolen presidential election of 2000, maybe we wouldn't be in this fix now. Maybe the left should have been more forceful. I know that some of my family members who voted Republican in 2000, 2004 and 2008 have admitted to me that although the Bushies screwed up the country, they did not want people to constantly remind them of it.
You see, when people mess up badly, such as cast their ballot for someone that is obviously inept and unqualified (Republicans), then when the rest of us criticize their bozo candidate for incompetence then they get defensive and hostile. Nobody likes to constantly be reminded of their stupidity. Its like when my family criticizes my wife I tend to get defensive and take it personally, even tho I might secretly agree with them. Regardless, if someone I chose is flawed then that makes me flawed. Its just human nature. Most people are usually going to defend their choices, yet it takes a really big person to accept their mistake and admit it.
Time is the best healer. The supreme example is Richard Nixon. Nobody nowadays admits to voting for Nixon because his was such a failed and disgraced presidency. But right after his resignation there were lots of indignant supporters who wanted to 'get even'. As time went on and history exposed him for what he was, even his most ardent supporters just vanished into obscurity. I dunno, maybe that's what today's problems are all about. Maybe that's what Clinton's impeachment for a hummer was all about.
Why doesn't CNN report the fact that the Richmond Police have stated that a bullet was not fired through Cantor's window? A stray bullet was fired in the air, came down and hit the floor BELOW where Cantor's office even is. The guy is an absolute liar, and a complete piece of trash for lying about something like this and trying to make political hay out of it.
"those who believe its patriotic to fear the government and hate the president. "
Of course there was no shortage of this during Bush's presidency....
I'm glad to see someone identifying the dangerous extremists at either end, and getting decent exposure doing it. Keep up the good work, John Avlon! Independents/Centrists salute you.
Wasn't (isn't) there a lot of hate manifested towards former President Bush? There was a kind of jovial celebration by the left when a "journalist" Iraqi threw his shoes at Bush (with a giddy slo mo replayed over and over). Hate towards Bush was the juice that got President Obama elected. People couldn't objectively describe anything that Bush did outside of the caricature that was developed by the "mainstream" media. Now the tide turns, and the media can't quite accept any objection to policy that President Obama embraces as other than mean spirited, racist or ignorant. The Democrats that occupy the House, Senate and White House are certainly smarter than the public, who oppose their agendas. They will have to learn to love their policies (i.e. they are not smart enough to see the correct point of view).
Violence should be condemned. Smart debate should be encouraged.
The tiny piff from the left is a peashooter compared to the serious flirtation with fascism that the right is exercising. This is not funny. Palin, the populist quasi-Bircher, and Vanderboegh (he a classic flip flop from far left to far right...see: Eric Hoffer; see: I Led Three Lives...they go from one extreme to the other...the whiff of power is what counts) are part of the 'polite' (if you could call it that) public face and the more brutal private face of the rationalization of hate in the name of nationalism. Crosshairs...excuse me, that's not accidental. And certainly not benign. Palin is no fool, even if she is not scientifically, geographically and geopolitically literate. She smells power, and it has seduced her. Vanderboegh is the brown shirt of American politics. He'll do the wet work for you, happily. We're looking at a very serious trend in this country, and it isn't pretty. Not since the Smedley Butler episode in the early 30's have we smelled the virtual burning tires in the streets.
Mike Vanderboegh, Sarah Palin, and anyone who supports them should be utterly ashamed of themselves. They put up a big fit and make it all sound so big, but they're really just a bunch of loud-mouth punks who aren't helping anything at all, and are purposely dividing our country.
I think the media (ignoring FOX fake news) must stop covering these groups. Yes, record...and document, but stop given these nuts coverage. The FBI and CIA needs to get involved and start making a case. Members of congress who violate their pledged needs to be impeached and prosecuted for crimes. The GOP have decided they don't want to participate in the process, so they block everything – like a child. GOP needs real leadership versus desperate acts of violence, shouting and anger....
Defending or offering excuses for those on the Right who are inciting violence is disgraceful. But blaming Democrats for the attacks against them, as Eric Kantor has, is amazingly irrational. Its like blaming the speedometer on your car for the ticket that you just got.
What propaganda. In my life I never saw as much hatred as I did for President Bush harnessed by CNN and the press to bring into office this crowd. I'm disgusted. And the high horse preachings of the press is laughable.
what threats to republicans?
the fabricated Cantor story about
a gunshot at his office?
CNN reports facts, not fairy tales!
All this is just more spin to deflect discussion of the issues.
There is no evidence supporting anyone spitting. The police on scene did not react to any such provocation.
It was a failed attempt to create controversy where there is none.
Steve Dreihaus's office had a rock thrown through it? Thirty floors up?
The Reds need that kid.
What about the Black Panthers with baseball bats at voting locations?
To be sure, the world is full of loons. With three hundred million people, what do you expect?
The effort put forth in driving this message is more evidence of the spin in support of the Democrat Party.
Food for thought. Of all the presidents and presidential candidates killed or attempted to be killed, how many were acts of conservatives?
Try zero.
Dissent was patriotic until Omaba was elected. Now dissent is racist. Next we'll see the Hugo Chavez method of silencing dissent: everybody who disgarees with him ends up dead or in jail.
Yea its really getting ugly. This has been building for some time, at least as far back as the early 90's if not longer. I think this may be worse underneath than we think, something more sectarian. If America thinks its too civilized to have Iran style unreast, then it better start thinking bipartizanship this decade and no later. Seriously the political retoric these days are as discusting as the tribal politics of Africa and the Middle East.
The Tea Partiers are a far, far right-wing movement, which was founded by wealthy donors...It not grass roots movement. It is financed and coordinated by known former government officials. Tea Party rhetoric is meant to be shrill and unreasonable, which shows that they offer nothing positive ~ only loud and vulgar rants, threats, and intimidation tactics. If TP's were truly angry at
"big" government, they would have demanded Pres. Bush's impeachment when he started two wars with costs over a trillion dollars, expanded survaillance over our phone & e-mail communications, banking, and ruined our economy. The hate talk
is not about "Big" government, the Tea Partiers actions prove that.
It is a sham to disrupt government and gain publicity. They seem to have huge ego's that need publicity and constant feeding of their anger by politicans who cater to their whims like Sarah Palin. Americans of all creeds and parties need to reject Tea Partiers ugly methods and denounce their hatred. They are dangerous and tempt those who are unstable to commit acts of violence.
Diane St. Louis:
Why has CNN been harping on the threats to the democrats this week and hardly no mention of the fact that the republicans had threats, also?
=======================================================
Because the threats have overwhelmingly come from the wack-job, teabagger right.
I am opposed to the presiden'ts policies because I believe that they are wrong, as well as bad for this country. That doesn't make me a hater, and to call people like me, or anyone who opposes the president, a racist simply because we disagree, is stupid.
I believe in following the law. I also believe that no one is above the law, and the Congress and the president have passed health care in violation of the Constitution (9th and 10th Amendments.)
If there are people breaking the law because they are threatening Congress, they need to be prosecuted. Congress, and the president, however, do need to be held accountable for what they are doing, and what they are doing right now is in contradiction to what most Americans want, as well as what the Constitution allows.
Tolerance has nothing to do with agreeing with other people. Tolerance is about respecting the opinions of others even when you disagree. If you are truly tolerant, then you respect the right of others to have an opinion that doesn't agree with yours.
By this definition alone, the president, and Congress, are the biggest haters of all.
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,
What threats to the Repubs? I haven't heard any but only Eric Cantor's lies about his campaign headquarters were shot at.
That was proven to be NOT true.
Diane, you know that 95% of the incitement comes from wiggies on the right. Sure there are a few lefties out there flailing away but one has to be somewhat nearsighted not to see where the hate is coming from....the losers. Are you one of them?
I find it hard to believe someone shot into the window of this republican. I believe is lying to try and make it seem like the democrats are not to say anything about death threats. If he did not report it, it goes to show just how off the hinge republicans are. That is why we have laws to protect us. So sad, but life still goes on and it does not matter how firearms they have, I have a God who will judge righteously. They should be a shame of themselves. That goes to show you, anyone can say they are an "American." Last time I check, we all are Americans and we love this country just like those people who are saying these hateful things.
Just a simple thought the last time windows were smashed in this fashion a certain German Dictator took an entire world into war. . Get a clue people the far right will not be satisfied until the wealthy party of NO has totalitarian control of all the money in this country.....does this sound familiar to anyone at all?
SteveUpNorth-
Unfortunately, idiocy is not confined to a few right wing extremists. I suppose you also missed the death threats against Mormons following Proposition 8, the pro-life man from Michigan who was shot to death, and the fact that PETA routinely supports violence.
Conservatives are not posting the names and addresses of those that support controversial petition drives. Left-wing groups are.
An increase in civility would be welcomed by the vast majority of Americans from both the left and the right. Acknowledging that there are nuts on both sides of the debate would be a good place to start.
.
I am against the violence, but did we all forget about the AIG names released and the protests? Also did you forget about the protests with Bush hanging in ephagy and bullet hole in his picture etc.
No side is not guilty of hate and the hypocrisy has to stop on both sides.
It won't be long before the Tea party thugs start wearing uniforms with arm bands and develop a snappy salute.
I think the REBUB-RIGHT-CONSERV problem is the FOX,RUSH,BECK,HANNITY talking point language . They use words like true American , founding fathers ,our country . To them and their followers that makes anyone that does not think like them , look like them them chant their mantras not a true American, I see people here using words like " Obama and arrest all of the other criminals who have hijacked our government. Your problems did not start the day a BLACK man became YOUR PRESIDENT. Your problem started the day you looked to the TV on who to blame for you lot is life. Between RUSH<BECK <HANNITY they make 80 Million a year off you . Only in a America can a white man call a black man the SUN of Satin and get paid 80 million a YEAR , Boy what a proud day for AMERICA. We're in this together and I prefer to stand by my GOVERNMENT ,yes question it , disagree, VOTE FOR WHAT I BELIEVE . Keep your hate at home don't turn America back to the days of KKK ,