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April 19th, 2010
07:00 AM ET

Who are the Oath Keepers?

(CNN) – Across the nation, there's a growing backlash against the government. Former President Bill Clinton told our Wolf Blitzer the current climate reminds him of the days leading up to the deadly bombing in Oklahoma City.

A lot of that anger is being directed at President Obama and we've found one group that says their allegiance is to the Constitution, not the president. Many are military veterans and police officers and they call themselves the Oath Keepers. Our Jim Acosta has the report.


Filed under: U.S.
soundoff (80 Responses)
  1. Juan

    @Rondi – VERY well said. Thanks to people who feel the same way as you...

    April 22, 2010 at 1:18 pm |
  2. km

    Sounds like "Confederacy 2010"

    April 21, 2010 at 4:57 pm |
  3. brian

    lol all of you liberals complaining about the Oath Keepers probably had ZERO problems with ACORN and the other liberal groups who did the same thing during Bush's presidency

    April 21, 2010 at 4:55 pm |
  4. LC

    In the name of freedom, people are becoming what we went to war against... the Taliban.

    Seriously people, read a history book!

    April 21, 2010 at 4:09 pm |
  5. chris kirshbaum

    hmmmm, wonder where these "patriots" were when george w.
    bush was shredding the constitution.
    these are more shills for the republican party (remember
    joe the plumber?), pretending to be outraged.
    pathetic.

    April 21, 2010 at 2:44 pm |
  6. Anymouse79

    As anyone who has served knows, the oath of enlistment, oath of commission, and most likely for police and other civilians, is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, not the president. Presidents come and go. The Constitution does not. Allegiance to an individual throughout history, at the founding of our country, and now, is often times misguided and leads to disaster. These folks have taken an oath to the Constitution and the principals outlined within it, and thereby the country. What is the threat in that? None.

    April 21, 2010 at 12:36 pm |
  7. David from MN

    I for one, as a civilian, am VERY happy that police officers and military personnel are promising not to:

    1 take our guns,
    2 warrentlessly search or
    3 detain me,
    4 put me under martial law,
    5 invade my state,
    6 blockade my city,
    7 put me in a detention camp,
    8 assist foreign troops in doing these things,
    9 take my supplies during an emergency, and
    10 take away my constitutionally guaranteed rights.

    (list taken from their website)

    April 21, 2010 at 12:09 pm |
  8. Scott K

    Wow you people who say these people only came out after Obama was elected. You are wrong they were around before Obama. Perhaps you all should do a bit of homework and know what you are talking about before you spread your lies and disinfo. We need to maintain the Constitution and bill of rights. This is important for all of our well being.

    April 21, 2010 at 11:37 am |
  9. Wow

    Jay-

    Hypocrites?

    where were you guys during the Bush era?

    Neil- boiling slowly? Bush's presidency established the most anti-constitutional precendents around today! Boiling SLOWLY? Come on, man. That's a convenient excuse.

    April 21, 2010 at 11:30 am |
  10. tcaudilllg

    There needs to be a crackdown. No one involved in public service should be allowed to be an Oath Keeper.

    April 21, 2010 at 11:30 am |
  11. James L.

    First time I ever heard of oathkeepers, but they sound like my kind of people. I believe in the Constitution and politicians are just care takers and hired employees. The president is not a god and when he and/or the people in Congress stray off, we need to take them to task. You oathkeepers keep on, keeping on. You got my vote.

    April 21, 2010 at 11:27 am |
  12. Russell, Msgt, USAF, Ret.

    All you guys calling the OathKeepers names need to read the Constitution yourselves. And before you do, Get a Dictionary printed before 1950. Use the definitions of the words as they were written, not some modern re-interpretation of them.

    Also look into this:
    Obama traveled to Pakistan in 1981 by his own admission.
    That country was on the US no travel list, so he could not have used a US Passport to go there.
    If he had a passport from another country, How is he a NATURAL BORN Citizen? Thus he is not a valid person to be President.
    Second:
    He applied for and received Student Foreign aid as a Indonesian to attend Occidental College. The US has never had dual citizenship with Indonesia. Again, Not a Natural Born Citizen.

    Get a clue, Obama is not rightfully in office.
    Thus the reason the OathKeepers exist, not Right wing, not Left wing, Constitutionalist.

    Note that the Supreme Court has FINALLY agreed to hear the charges.

    April 21, 2010 at 11:06 am |
  13. walter

    Just courious...were these groups active when Bush was in office?

    April 21, 2010 at 11:03 am |
  14. Rondi

    You may have an Oath Keeper living next door to you. He's probably older. He walks with a limp, but you don't know why. You see him at church on Sundays. He's mows his lawn just like you. He likes to BBQ and drink beer in his backyard. He has two flags in his front yard.......The American flag and the POW-MIA flag. He has been suspicious of ALL U.S. presidents since he heard Nixon say "we have no troops in Cambodia". You don't know where he came from or why he lives in your quiet neighborhood. He's not married. He must work out of town as he is gone for months at a time. You couldn't ask for a better neighbor......the time may come that you will ask for his help. And he will be there for you.

    April 21, 2010 at 9:22 am |
  15. Rob

    Okay everyone slow down here, are we too support a bunch of military indoctrinated who claim they can interpret the meaning of the constitution better than the president? A president who was a constitutional professor? The president is lawfully elected by a large majority in this country he represents the constitution any person going against that and claiming their interpretation of the law to be the "right" interpretation are committing an act of sedition plain and simple. I am tired of all these sour grapes, let the administration go on with making the changes that are right for ALL Americans not just the gun toting, ex military bullies who were hero's until they go against our lawfully elected officials. This is a rebellion of the worst kind these folks do not even know what they stand for other than the fact that the polls in 2008 did not bring their guy and idiot barbie the oval office!!

    April 21, 2010 at 9:22 am |
  16. Neil N. Robert

    "Where were the Oath Keepers when Bush was around?"

    Answer: Grumbling to each other quietly and boiling slowly.

    I've never sworn the Oath. For a medical reason, I'm not allowed to serve my country as either Law Enforcement or Military. My family however, has served for over 230 years.

    These are men and women in uniform. Anyone who has ever sworn the oath to defend the Constitution of these United States - and takes it seriously - knows that there's the possibility of losing job, status, friends, being jailed and/or even executed falsely for treason for working against their government, no matter how corrupt. So it takes time to build the case for action. President Obama makes it easier by his overt abuses and transparent agenda.

    April 21, 2010 at 7:58 am |
  17. Mark

    Oath Keepers = American Taliban

    April 21, 2010 at 7:33 am |
  18. Howard

    I think the current rise of these groups is an unintended result of the Republican parties desperation to kill the health care bill. They started spreading so many lies about the bill and the President that people began to believe them to be true. I have read so many false and inflamitory chain emails that if I were to believe them to be true (as many did) I to would be ready to take up arms. It is just not in us Americans to believe that someone would just outright lie to extend their political agenda. However the Republicans (I was a former Republican until this all came down) I feel were directly behind a propaganda war on the health bill and the President regardless of the facts. Sara and others, come on were you really stupid enough to believe any elected official in congress would write a law establishing "Death Panels" to decide who lived and died. You knew that was a lie,
    yet you went and got some people who actually believed you were telling the truth all jacked up and ready to over throw the government, which might would be in order if such were true, but it wasn't and you knew it. Same thing with the whole emphasis of a Socialist take over medicine, it isn't , calm down people it is about insurance, and if you don't think you are already paying for the uninsured you don't understand how a business works, hospitals don't "eat" losses they pass them on to you at the very time when you can afford it least.

    So calm down people the sky isn't falling it is just a political gimick of the Republican party who cares not about the nation, only their election results.

    April 21, 2010 at 7:30 am |
  19. Brom B

    When people who show a fundamental desire to embrace a concept to hold our Constitution above all else, it sickens me that others immediately make them out to be the bad guys. Given how the people have shown their complete lack of trust with both the Democratic and Republican parties, it amazes me that with the availability of information in this day and age, are blinded by stupidity. I have to wonder how many have commented on this story without even LOOKING at the Oath Keeper site. Perhaps we should just go along with the current President and keep the Patriot Act that was passed by both parties. Stop jumping to conclusions until you've got the facts. You'll stop looking like a bunch of morons.

    April 20, 2010 at 11:56 pm |
  20. Tony in St. Louis

    I don't know who these people are, ...but as a citizen of the U.S., I only would hope that the government knows. Especially since our country is still in a time of war.

    April 20, 2010 at 10:55 pm |
  21. Common Sense

    As a former citizen of OKC and someone who worked within a block of the Murrah Federal Building, please remember the Timothy McVeigh was a former soldier who believed he was doing the right thing. Love your neighbor as yourself.

    April 20, 2010 at 9:47 pm |
  22. Bill

    I see no conflict if both the president and the oath-keepers follow the constitution. But I do see a problem with blindly following any leader. This empowers leaders like Hitler and Mao.

    April 20, 2010 at 8:27 pm |
  23. John

    Oathkeepers are are just the modern US equivilent of the White Rose.

    April 20, 2010 at 7:26 pm |
  24. JR

    These and other like them prove Homeland Security correct in their evaluation of domestic threats, cons want to deny the accuracy of their predictions, but reality shows them right. And YES, I think they are now and will be a threat to America for years to come.

    April 20, 2010 at 7:23 pm |
  25. Sheinla

    You know, I would feel sorry for these pathetic people if they weren't so dangerous. They REALLY creep me out.

    April 20, 2010 at 6:37 pm |
  26. peterwulf

    Is it really so radical that men in the service swear an oath not to fire upon american citizens? Or the force americans into internment camps. And internment camps are not a conspiracy, they are out there. During WWII the government forced Japanese Americans into camps, and some of them were shot because they tried to escape. These american citizens were forced into camps. Now i know you will call me some sort of a conspiracy theorist, but i deal only in the realm of facts. Now rather then calling me someone who thinks aliens are going to invade. Simply take 10-15 minutes and google hr 645, rex 84, civilian inmate labor program, pdd 51, gun confiscation katrina.

    April 20, 2010 at 6:12 pm |
  27. Charrs

    These people are generally good people with good intentions. But the leaders of this group and the leaders of the radical groups such as the Huntaree are misleading these men and women and should be exposed! Obama is NOT the devil and will not destroy this country any more than George Bush did or Bill Clinton did. Unhealthy discourse like this is what will do it to us.

    April 20, 2010 at 5:55 pm |
  28. Ryan

    "Oathkeepers?" Please. Spare me your self-righteousness. The same people who rush to the valiant defense of the Constitution seem quite okay with amending it once their political party regains power. I think I'll call these "Oathkeepers" by a much older name for their kind: crybabies.

    April 20, 2010 at 4:05 pm |
  29. ccciera

    Just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't mean you know what they think, feel, or believe. I don't agree with the Oathkeepers or the Tea Party groups. I have a right to my beliefs, just like you have a right to yours. If people would stop trashing each other and yelling so loud they can't hear anyone else, maybe we'd all be surprised to find somewhere in the insanity is something that makes sense.
    Any time there is extreme fanaticism, it slams the doors shut on any kind of rational exchanges.

    April 20, 2010 at 3:58 pm |
  30. Mark H

    Ein Volk Ein Reich Ein Fuhrer! To paraphrase...

    April 20, 2010 at 3:52 pm |
  31. SoulardGuy

    Oath Keepers are only concerned with protecting the parts of the constitutiion that suit their personal interests. They are nothing more than another white supremacy group that goes around forcing their ultra conservative values on to everyone else. All actions taken by our government are fully within the bonds of the constitution.

    April 20, 2010 at 3:44 pm |
  32. Ritepath

    I would have to wonder why people are so offended by LEO's and Military vets (not active duty BTW) taking an oath not to round up / attack civilians because the federal government decided it's best. Are people here worried that Democrat majorities could be threatened if the government doesn't round up all these "racist" tea party members before the election? Maybe you're right, the LEO's should be used to soften up Baracks opponents this could put an end to the whining right and their fake tea party.

    April 20, 2010 at 3:24 pm |
  33. Arkat

    It is unfortunate for people like myself (well-educated, worldy, and intelligent) that there are so many mis-guided individuals out there (Oath Keepers, many so-called "Tea Party" members).

    Many of these people seem to have their hearts in the right place but are being mis-directed and not properly informed of such things like Constitutional Law.

    Instead much of their anger and frustration is being directed where it should not. "Militias" that plot to kill police officers not only are barking up the wrong tree, they also give those with the right ideas a bad name. Many of these same groups are also being mis-directed by people who, unfortunately, see evil where there is none. An example would be those who see the U.S. Government behind 9/11.

    These "crazy" ideas are sensationalized by forces like the American media which then paints all "Patriots" as wackos to the mainstream American public. Perhaps the American media isn't doing this on purpose but then again, who knows? What can't be debated is the perception of all "Patriots" seems to be skewed negatively when it is only a few of them which hold such ridiculous beliefs.

    The "real" danger which many of these "uneducated" groups really seem to miss is our Federal Govenment in it's desire to perpetuate itself is completely in bed with major corporations and banks because they have the money and money is what you need to keep getting re-elected.

    Cut off the money to politicians and many many problems concerning our government's ability to govern in our interests instead of its own goes away.

    April 20, 2010 at 3:16 pm |
  34. Doug

    President Kennedy always warned that a real armed rebellion in this country would come from the right, not the left. None of these fools can describe any liberty denied to them. It is simply a matter of them not accepting the results of the last two elections and thinking they don't have to do so. Their real fear is of anyone who looks different or believes differently than they do. I am deeply ashamed of the growing, profound ignorance of many of my fellow countrymen. It is true that wing-nuts have been around since the founding of the republic, but they've never before had so many ways to spread their hate. Sort of like when Dr. Goebbels discovered radio . . .

    April 20, 2010 at 3:15 pm |
  35. Jay

    It never ceases to amaze me how white people can be slandered, smeared, and belittled for taking an initiative, in this case for swearing to protect our most revered documents, but turn it around and announce that black people are doing the same thing and they're hailed for it. What protects our democracy is The Constitution, not any president. The president is only the temporary leader of our country. When a president reveals a desire to subvert it is when people like this are needed. Stop villifying the Oathkeepers, you hypocrites.

    April 20, 2010 at 3:11 pm |
  36. Rya Stantz

    Funny we didn't see these "Oath Keepers" until Obama took office. This country can go through as many wardrobe changes as it wants but what lies underneath has and will always be there as long as groups like this exist. A bunch of people scared to death about their position in the world and nothing to hang their hat on except their self-entitlement and "tradition" so they bark at anything they don't understand or feels threaten their tired backwards way of life. This argument is getting old...

    April 20, 2010 at 2:54 pm |
  37. Juan

    @ Rick, I am not an Oath Keeper, but agree with SOME of what they stand for, I am also, Latino and support the Tea Party, and oh yeah, I'm also a 13 year (7 deployment) veteran.

    April 20, 2010 at 2:46 pm |
  38. Grand Wazoo

    Am I really supposed to believe these "oath" people have a deep understanding of the Constitution and its intricate history? Really? Then wouldn't they know they are acting as traitors against the democratically elected President? What percentage are angry white males that only vote Republican? Please just be a scared racist in the comfort of your mobile home and stop being such a cry baby over losing an election.

    April 20, 2010 at 2:38 pm |
  39. Peter

    The Oathkeepers are anti-democracy. They are right wing extremists that can't stand being in the minority. Many are racially motivated, they can't stand having a president that isn't a rich, white guy, they are religious extremists that would prefer a theocracy, and others are just plan crazys who prefer to believe things about our elected President that just are not true, but fits their particular prejudices and feeds the hate that they have for those that are different than themselves or don't belive as they do.

    April 20, 2010 at 2:05 pm |
  40. Terry from West Texas

    Fascism and Communism are a part of history. There is no serious effort on the part of anyone anywhere to create a new socialist or communist state. The fact that these crochety old-timers continue to use those words simply means that none of them have read a book since Barry Goldwater was running for President.

    The terms that are pertinent to the modern world are theocracy, totalitarianism, technocracy, and corporatism. Those are the concepts that are driving our future. It is in one of those four worlds that we will live.

    For theocracy: see Iran. A nation of religious lunatics listening to an imaginary being who cannot be seen or heard by anyone but religious lunatics. The imaginary being tells them how to govern us.

    For totalitarianism: see right-wing militia nuts. They believe that no one has the right to disagree with them. They also believe that it is their right to hit us in the face with a rifle butt until we understand what they are telling us to do.

    Corporatism is the emerging belief that government should be of global corporations, by global corporations, and for global corporations. Many very wealthy people are corporatists who believe that corporations should not be regulated by any law. This is what they call the "free market." Modern American Conservative leaders are Corporatists walking around disguised as Barry Goldwater, still talking about anti-Communism when the last Communist country in the world is poor little Cuba.

    Technocracy is the belief that the world and the economy are too complex for the vast majority of the population to understand. Technocrats would govern us like a park ranger governs the park. They might or might not listen to our opinions about how we want to live. They are right that I do not and you do not understand how this world works.

    Democracy is based on the idea that ordinary people can understand the world, society, and government. That is no longer true, alas.

    April 20, 2010 at 2:01 pm |
  41. Rick

    This is little more than covert racism. How many of the "Oathkeepers" are black or latino? Hmmm... now that I ask the question, I wonder what percentage of the "Teabaggers" are black or latino? Hmmmmm....now that I ask the question, I wonder what percentage of Fox News viewers are black or latino? Hmmmmmmm......Now that I ask the question, I wonder how many blacks or latinos are in militias? Do you get the point people? This "Oathkeeper" nonsense is just another part of the angry white people movement ably misled by Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. What's sad is that this movement seems to be on the edge of violence.

    April 20, 2010 at 1:08 pm |
  42. Seen it before

    History is full of people like these; beware of those who think themselves morally or mentally superior to the both the government and the public, and so feel the ends justify the means in "saving" the country. From Brutis to Bush, to Hitler and to Marx, Zealots to Contras, to the Baath Party, to the Facist Party, Operation Dropkick, the Business Plot, Operation Gladio. Left and right, doesn't matter. God fearing or godless, doesn't matter. All that matters to these people, is that they want it their way, they don't want to be accountable, and they sure as hell are happy to pick up a gun to get what they want. I do fear greatly for the days ahead. I dearly, dearly hope I'm wrong.

    April 20, 2010 at 12:52 pm |
  43. Ezra

    CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity.

    April 20, 2010 at 12:47 pm |
  44. Ezra

    My comments are awaiting moderation. Please call the DNC and see if my post can be released or please email me and let me know this is a propaganda site and only those post promoting this site's agenda can be posted. I just want it in writing thats all.

    April 20, 2010 at 12:45 pm |
  45. Ezra

    Wow! It is stll Bush's fault. When will it ever be Obama's Presidency?
    Thank goodness for the Tea Party. It has put the progressive liberals on notice. It too has called out the liberals in republicans disguise. The mask has been removed and its ugly liberal face is showing.

    April 20, 2010 at 12:43 pm |
  46. mickey

    so when do they start rounding up the jews?

    i've seen this movie.

    April 20, 2010 at 12:42 pm |
  47. Greg, San Francisco, CA

    They are the same people who 6 years ago were screaming for the restoration of the Alien and Sedition acts against anyone who dared question the Bush Administration.

    April 20, 2010 at 11:42 am |
  48. Marcon

    Come for the LuLz, stay for the wharrrrgble?

    Seriously, why does everything have to be so conspiracy? This guy just decided he wanted to redefine history and CNN is giving him his 15 minutes of spotlight. Its a lose lose situation. Walk away

    April 20, 2010 at 11:39 am |
  49. Confussedd

    The government is taking to much power. Remember if you are on the left – new powers will be used by the next conservative that wins an election even if it is 10 years from now. If President Obama rewrites bankruptcy laws, changes social structure and redistributes wealth through social programs he sets a precedent and other Presidents will try it also.

    April 20, 2010 at 11:17 am |
  50. Confussedd

    President Clinton never said anything when Bush was hated, threatened and called a war loving Nazi and such. Not much has changed in attacking the President and government just who is doing it and what side they are on.

    April 20, 2010 at 11:14 am |
  51. Benjamin Dover

    Sparky, let me help you. HERE is the actual definition of communism, and I suggest you commit it to memory:

    "Communism is a social structure in which classes are abolished and property is commonly controlled, as well as a political philosophy and social movement that advocates and aims to create such a society."

    What you are commenting on is Fascism and you can thank former Pres. bush for it's genesis and spread.

    April 20, 2010 at 10:48 am |
  52. CzarcasticCynic

    You are *almost* correct on the definition of Communism...
    Communism –
    1.a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.
    2.(often initial capital letter) a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.

    Seeing as the Democrats have not outlawed the Republican party – nor are they holding all property in common – I don't see how your definition applies.

    Part one – *both* parties pretty much pushed through the original TARP bailout BEFORE Obama's took office – over the objection of 90% of the people who phoned,faxed and wrote in on the topic.

    Part Two – What was your solution to the collapse of the automotive industry? Heck – President Bush used some of the TARP funds to try to help the auto industry in his last days in office. Those two companies would have been DEAD, Bankrupt, and otherwise destroyed had they not been bailed out. And considering that the governement is actually looking at bids to wind down their ownership stake – somehow the fear mongering regarding them seems... excessive. And inthe mean time – there are thousands of employees still building and still employed.

    Here's a question for you – at what point does losing heavy industrial capacity become a National Security issue? GM has always produced a lot of stuff painted green – if you know what I mean...

    Sorry – I don't see this as a giant liberal conspiracy to take over the government. Honestly – after watching the hash they made out of the helathcare reform attempt – I don't think the liberals are ORGANIZED enough to have a conspiracy....

    I do see a giant government push to intrude in our personal lives in the name of security – but that has been happening for far longer than the liberals have been in control....

    April 20, 2010 at 10:40 am |
  53. El Kababa

    I am not afraid of the federal government. It seems to be the only institution that is trying to provide middle-class Americans with some economic security, decent wages, decent benefits, decent education, and opportunities for happiness.

    I am afraid of global corporations, who want to take all that away from us. We are labor and labor is a cost and costs are evil and must be minimized.

    I am afraid of paranoid militia nut-cases who imagine that they have a special pipeline to the spirits of the Founding Fathers. They imagine that they, not professors of law or political science, know what the Constitution means. They don't believe that anyone can honestly disagree with them. Many if not most of them are clinically paranoid personalities. They believe that the Constitution says that if I disagree with them, they can smash my face in with the butt of a rifle until I change my mind.

    I am afraid of my employer, who laid off 25% of my coworkers and increased the workload on the rest of us so that the 60 hour week is now normal.

    I am afraid of Conservatism, which is just economic and political oppression wearing a Barry Goldwater mask. Those folks, when in power, seek only greater power for themselves and greater wealth for the wealthy. They believe that laws apply only to the middle class ("the loser class") and the lower class ("the loafer class").

    Be afraid. Be very afraid.

    April 20, 2010 at 9:50 am |
  54. Sparky

    Let's educate the ignorant among you. The definition of Communism: A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.

    If someone can tell me how the following policies can be anything but communist in nature.

    1) Bailing out failing banks and controlling their policies and pay, 2) buying 2 of the countries largest auto companies and replacing their leadership or forcing their sale, 3) taking control of the health care system, dictating care, cutting service levels to "evenly distribute" access, 4) proposing a massive tax on energy to force behavior and reduce the quality of life for all americans, 5) proposing limits on free speech by pursuing the fairness doctrine to "level the playing field" and allow a perennial loser – liberal talk radio – to improve their market penetration (even though noone wants to listen to it). The examples go on and on.

    So go ahead and call the right paranoid all you want. But the politicians on the right have bent and compromised with the left due to continued demonization and lies. Handing away our financial future (in exchange for the dignity of those who receive) to create a class of people totally dependant on the government providing handouts with no hope or desire to every try harder. Not pulling their weight in society in the form of taxes, responsibility or effort. What ever happened to a hand up, not a hand out?

    These are unpopular statements. No one likes to hurt feelings. But we're beyond that now. There's no trophy for participating in life. Earn one.

    The arguments around handouts often center around corporate greed and rising costs. The truth of the matter is that many of the costs come from artificial limits on competition or oppressive regulation in the name of "fairness" placed on businesses by the GOVERNMENT. Get the government out of the way. That's what Reagan did to begin a period of economic and social success that ran for nearly 2 decades.

    I'm not for or against Oath Keepers. I don't have a problem with people who support the constitution of the United States. But the ridiculously blind support of a president's policies (notice I said his policies, not the office) that are incurring more debt in 1 year than the left's boogey man, George W Bush's did in 8 years is astounding. He's spending like a sailor on shore leave. And doing it with credit cards that are maxed out.

    And don't give me any of that garbage about inheriting the banking crisis. Ask Chris Dodd and Barney Frank who's to blame for the banking crisis. Then ask them about how they accumulated millions in wealth while earning $170k a year.

    April 20, 2010 at 9:28 am |
  55. AJG

    It will be interesting to see if we make it back to a Republican president next election because I am sure that most of the people who are scared now will go back to their ranches and continue to be just fine with unconstitutional breaches in the name of homeland security. I have never in my life seen my own rights more infringed upon than I did in the years of Bush and now that he is out of office all hell is breaking out. Bush actually broke laws and ACTUALLY interred people without a trial. Where were all the OATH KEEPERS then?????

    April 20, 2010 at 9:21 am |
  56. David

    If any active military person is involved with this group they should be dishonorably discharged and denied any VA benifits. The head of our military is the President and if they do not wish to follow orders remove them!!!! NOW

    April 20, 2010 at 8:55 am |
  57. Juancho

    And when the previous president expanded executive powers and ran roughshod over the constitution? These nimrods were all buying "W the President" stickers. Racist hypocrites. Someone is going to do something stupid and we will all have something to mourn. Where are conservative leaders? That's right. Fanning the flames of treason.

    April 20, 2010 at 8:46 am |
  58. Allan

    There have always been a few unscrupulous people willing to take advantage of the paranoia and mistrust other people have of government and authority figures... and unfortunately, the strategists in the Republican Party developed that technique into a fine art during the Clinton Administration.

    We suffered through about 8 years of "leaked" innuendo and false allegations against the Clintons, virtually none of which were ever substantiated, yet many people in the general public were so convinced by these accusations that they still believe them today despite more than adequate proof to the contrary.

    During the Bush Administration, fear was used to sell America into an ill-advised invasion of Iraq and used to discredit anyone who tried to point out the truth, by labeling them with the much dreaded "liberal" title.

    At this point, I would guess the mis-informed members of our voting population now reach nearly 40% with literally millions of people willing to accept the ideas that our duly elected President is some sort of Communist, Socialist or Nazi... was born in Kenya or somewhere else... was made President by some sort of Muslim "plot" conceived when he was a mere child... and that he plans to take away our guns... raise our taxes and give our country away to al Qaeda.

    Allowing these lies to persist is dangerous to America, not to mention the obvious danger to some of our leaders. The news media bears a tremendous amount of responsibility to dispel these myths or accept responsibility for the end results of NOT doing that.

    April 20, 2010 at 8:03 am |
  59. jazz

    ' I ___ sware alligence to the constitution....to preserve and protect against enemies FOREIGN and DOMESTIC......'

    – Military OATH of ENLISTMENT. I know the POTUS has to swear in similar and so does the joint chiefs.

    As per Government offices and local law enforement, Im sure they have similar.

    and anyone caught breaking that oath can be put to DEATH for TREASON..This UCMJ will support this, ESPECIALLY during time of war.(such as NOW and since Mr.Bush took office)

    ..So say the constitution. If you dont like it, CHANGE IT.

    I know the Government is trying to with this unconstitutional PATRIOT(AKA: sweep it under the rug you terrorist...) ACT...but it ist flying very well.

    I've served.I know what we are fighting for out there. It isnt necessarily freedom. I've already had my life attacked by the Government on the way out of the military and Im still here....still reporting on it. Anyone openly threatens my life..well.. they wont live to tell thier boss about it.

    -MC2 (retired)

    April 20, 2010 at 6:32 am |
  60. Smith in Oregon

    The two instances which reportedly triggered Tim McVeigh's decision to lash out at the federal government in an extremely violent action some 15 years ago in Oklahoma City were the following as he stated:

    1) The holocaust and massacre which caused the deaths of 82 men, women,children and two infant fetus's in Waco, Texas.

    2) Ruby Ridge where federal agents shot and killed the son and wife of Randy Weaver. Randy's son, Sam Weaver was shot in the back while returning to the mountain cabin, killed by a US Marshall after shooting Sam's dog and being fired at by Sam Weaver.

    Obviously no matter how over the top each of those two horrendous jack booted incidences evolved and turned-out, a lingering question regarding the massacre at Waco, Texas remains:

    It appears to be entirely against State Laws, Federal Laws and even the Geneva Convention to Tear Gas anyone that is in a locked enclosed area.

    It is inherently dangerous to Tear Gas children regardless if they are in a open area or not due to their immature pulmonary capacity.

    There is a inherently high probability of a medical emergency occurring with nearly all children tear gassed in a locked in enclosed area.

    Despite the absolute fact that many of the Waco Compound children that were tear gassed would have immediately needed emergency medical aid for their pulmonary problems, there were no fleet of Ambulances near the compound to do so. It clearly appears the federal agents fully expected all of the children in that compound would die.

    The Question Never Answered, Did US Attorney General Janet Reno break federal laws in ordering the tear gassing of men, women, children and at least two infants who were in a locked enclosed compound?

    April 20, 2010 at 1:16 am |
  61. Ken in Mt

    they are people who are scared to death about a political system that would allow a black man to be elected Persident. The are the John Birchers for the new millenium.

    April 19, 2010 at 10:21 pm |
  62. Sean

    I have a friend here at Fort Hood that's in the Oath Keepers. He joined a group of them here at the post that is to his claim, growing steadily.

    I really dont know what to make of them.

    April 19, 2010 at 5:29 pm |
  63. Fred Evil

    Childish losers in the last election, they are looking for a way to justify their anti-government feelings.

    April 19, 2010 at 5:28 pm |
  64. chuck

    This was a very interesting report, intentionally or coincidentally right at the point of the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. The imagery when the camera pans the book showing "the end of a republic" is unmistakably anti-Obama, but Stewart Rhodes insists "we are not against President Obama." Then he states "we are not a militia" then later proclaims "we are the military police." Every time the reporter asked a question requiring a definitive answer, Rhodes waffled, weaved, changed the semantic, or used some other evasive tactic. People should read the Mother Jones article about these individuals. I question whether we want all our returning veterans or present military members to be caught up in organizations like this.This is open anarchy and should be called what it is. That's why Mother Jones said the group was part of "the age of treason."

    April 19, 2010 at 5:16 pm |
  65. Ray Doherty

    Where were the Oath Keepers when George W. Bush was violating the fourth amendment by blatantly illegal wiretapping and denying habeas corpus to US citizens? The so-called Oath Keepers group appears very selective in determining which Constitutional rights are being violated. Interestingly, Obama has not violated any, unlike his predecessor.

    April 19, 2010 at 5:13 pm |
  66. Retired US ARMY

    While I took an oath to support and defend the Consitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, the oath keepers have corrupted that oath.

    April 19, 2010 at 4:43 pm |
  67. Real Soldier

    Traitorous, seditious scumbags who have no clue what an oath to the constitution means.

    they should all be kicked out of any military or para-military gov't organization they belong and tried on charges.

    Stop insulting real veterans by calling these scumbags Keepers.

    They are OATH BREAKERS!

    April 19, 2010 at 4:39 pm |
  68. chupam iverga

    Just another group of paranoid white men who spend too much time on the internet viewing web sites of the right wing equivalent of the madrassah;s in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

    April 19, 2010 at 4:29 pm |
  69. Darth Cheney

    That's just great – erect a straw man (detention centers), place the straw man over the President, and shoot at the straw man. What a bunch of paranoid lunatics. They come out of the woodwork every time a Democrat is elected as per the laws of the Constitution of the United States.

    April 19, 2010 at 4:15 pm |
  70. Matt Toma

    If the Tea Party isnt hypocritical enough for you, you can always join these guys.

    American Facism, 101.

    April 19, 2010 at 2:49 pm |
  71. Larry Karmel

    Where were these racists when George Bush was making a mockery of the Constitution?

    April 19, 2010 at 2:25 pm |
  72. JB

    Why don't they take an Oath to stop being idiots?

    April 19, 2010 at 2:18 pm |
  73. bvilleyellowdog

    One word : sedition. They should be court marshalled and dishonorably discharged.

    April 19, 2010 at 1:45 pm |
  74. gern

    if it were a white guy running the country, would it make a difference....Embrace change or be left behind..(no pun intended).

    April 19, 2010 at 1:39 pm |
  75. Benjamin Dover

    Why didn't these same WINGNUTS feel the need to be "Oath Keepers" when we had a WHITE Republican President, George Bush, who presided over illegal wire taps, roll back of FISA, passage and implementation of the illegal Patriot Act, suspension of Habeas Corpus, the illegal and unwarranted invasion of Iraq, etc? Ironic that now that we have a black President they are all up in arms. What is the percentage of white people in "Oath Keepers". They disgust me with their ignorance.

    April 19, 2010 at 1:11 pm |
  76. Pennie

    Remember the Alfred P. Murrah Building!!!!!! Don't let it happen again!

    April 19, 2010 at 12:30 pm |
  77. Paul B

    Considering most of these hypocrites calling themselves "Oath Keepers" are not keeping their oaths to protect their nation, nor do they even KNOW what the Constitution says (they get spoon-fed tea-bagging lie versions by Glenn Beck and the rest of the Fox propaganda machine), it seems to me our nation is LESS safe and secure with these terrorists-in-waiting in uniform. If they're unwilling to do the jobs they were brought in to do just because they don't like the results of an election, they should resign their commissions and move to some place like Australia, where their good Nazi buddy Rupert Murdoch is taking his ill-gotten riches to create his own version of a "reality distortion field".

    April 19, 2010 at 12:27 pm |
  78. John Herling

    The office of the President of the United States derives its just authority directly from the Constitution. The President, lawfully elected, has the consent of the people of the U.S. to wield his authority. Those who deny their loyalty to the president are denying their loyalty to the Constitution itself, their protestations notwithstanding. Any action they take against the government or the president will render them conspirators at best, traitors at worst.

    April 19, 2010 at 12:24 pm |
  79. Mitchell

    They do not seem to be politically correct or mindless sheep which means they are a definate threat to the current administration and its agenda.

    April 19, 2010 at 10:56 am |
  80. jmz

    Oath keepers are honorable men and women who realize that out country is headed down a dark path. They have sworn to defend the constitution against all thoes who would see it fall in the name of 'progress' and 'change' you think people would be proud of us and thoes willing to do that. But they hate it because they feel that the constitution is the only thing that stands btw them and their imaginary socialist utopia. They. Feel that success is a right not a gift of hard work and sacrifice. God bless fellow oathkeepers!!

    April 19, 2010 at 9:46 am |