Do They Endorse Violence?

Who could vote against condemning a terrorist attack on U.S. soil?  Two U.S. Congressmen did.  One is coming to Idaho in three weeks.

Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on a resolution condemning the terror attack by suicide plane on the IRS employees in Austin, Texas and rejecting statements that would encourage or express sympathy for such actions.  This after the elevation of the terrorist to hero status by white supremacists and others on the radical fringe, as reported by Southern Poverty Law Center in their Hatewatch blog.

Stack bitterly railed against a wide variety of targets — big business, corporate executives, unions, the Catholic Church, the recent bailouts of various industries, and more — but he kept coming back to the alleged evils of American government in general and, more specifically, the Internal Revenue Service and tax law. That made him a hero in the eyes of many on the radical right — so-called tax protesters — who have long believed that federal taxes were illegal or simply voluntary. Although many tax protesters who call themselves “sovereign citizens” subscribe to a racist ideology, there was no indication that Stack entertained racist ideas.

The final vote on the resolution was 408 to 2, with Representatives Ron Paul of Texas and Don Young of Alaska the two opposed.

Congressman Paul often votes no on what he considers "unconstitutional legislation."  Just yesterday he voted against recognizing the importance of the Census.  But a congressman refusing to condemn an act of violence--in one's own state, even--could be seen as tacitly endorsing it.

With an explosion in the number of violent anti-government groups recently, it is especially troubling when that congressman has become the champion for many of those anti-government types and even more so, when supporters of that congressman sympathize with and have accused the government of prior knowledge of that attack.

That congressman, whose supporters have infiltrated and are attempting a coup of the Idaho GOP, is scheduled to make an appearance in Idaho, March 27.  Hosted by Idahoans for Liberty, Conservative Student Coalition, Idaho Rights Foundation, Idaho College Republicans, Idaho Freedom Foundation and others, Ron Paul will speak at the Morrison Center in Boise that night.

Idaho Republicans should distance themselves from the Ron Paul, radical fringe, and the groups who give them cover, or Idaho's version of Joe Stack, or the latest, John Patrick Bedell, will not be an aberration.  Given the climate lately, that version may already be set in motion.

Comments

[Bubblehead]

My guess is that Republicans won't have any problem denouncing Bedell, since he was a Truther and a registered Democrat.

[MountainGoat]

Bedell was extremely anti-government--aligned more with the tea party philosophy. Listen to some of his ranting here:

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/pentagon_shooter_praised_private_property_rights_d.php

[Bubblehead]

Looks to me like he was more anti-BFEE. Sorry, the Truther movement really is a creation of the Left; 27% of Obama voters hold Truther sympathies, and only 2% of McCain voters: http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/surveys/2009_Archives/PPP_Release_National_9231210.pdf

[MountainGoat]

Thanks for the condescension, Bubblehead, but it's misplaced. If you'll notice I didn't dispute the origins of the truthers, just pointed out that Bedell's views -- railing against communism & socialism, the monetary system, even public education -- lined up pretty nicely with the tea party, many of whom follow Ron Paul religiously. And who btw, like to claim membership from all political parties/persuasions.

And good lord, had to look up what the hell BFEE stood for... cruise conspiracy theorist sites much?

[Bubblehead]

All the time... I can't help it. The September 11 forum at Democratic Underground it the best. All these people, completely unaware of how the world really works, engaged in coming up with the most elaborate conspiracy theories they can -- and really believing them -- completely fascinates me.