DHS Ignored Civil Liberties Objections to Rush Out "Extremist" Report

...coinciding, coincidentally, with the national tea parties.

This is nasty stuff. Another entry in the What if Bush had done it? column. Painting all political opponents as extremists just to "win the media day."

And then shrieking when some political opponents overreact to the provocation, precisely as had always been the intent.

It's not fascism, but it does demonstrate a callow disregard for civility, fair play, and democracy.

Yes, democracy. Because at the heart of democracy is the idea that the state will not come after you simply because of your politics. Without this idea, there is no democracy; there is civil war. A people needs to be able to trust its government not to punish them for merely disagreeing in order for all to buy into democracy. No one is going to support a system which slits their own throats in an orderly, peaceful fashion.

This report goes right up to that line of suggesting, without saying, that "dangerous" political viewpoints will be subject to penalty.

Does Obama actually intend such a thing? No. But he sure seems nonchalant about suggesting it. And he seems to do so for the pettiest reasons imaginable -- to win a cycle in the media.

posted by Ace at 06:29 PM

| Access Comments