MSNBC Features GOP Logo in Segment on Violence and the 'Radical Right'

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MSNBC featured the Republican Party's elephant logo in a segment on Wednesday's "MSNBC News Live" about the possible rise of right-wing hate groups. Anchor Contessa Brewer introduced the piece by asserting, "The White House is warning that a bad economy, combined with the election of the nation's first black President, could draw new extremist right-wing members, especially war veterans, to a dangerous cause." An onscreen graphic behind her featured a red and blue Republican elephant and fretted, "New Right-Wing Threat?" Even if one were to believe the report, how fair is it for MSNBC to link one of America's two major parties to such violence?

A second graphic for the remainder of the segment hyperbolically wondered, "Rise of the Radical Right?" Brewer interviewed Washington Times correspondent Eli Lake, who broke the story of the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report on Tuesday. After Lake pointed out that a footnote in the DHS analysis defines right-wing extremists as both hate groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, and also those concerned with state rights, Brewer inquired, "Are there any of these groups that have shown violent tendencies, trying to organize, overthrow the government or anything along those lines?" Lake chuckled and mused, "I mean, other than, I guess, you know, people in the Revolutionary War in 1776?"

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To be fair to Brewer, she did appear skeptical of the report at times. In one instance, she asked "how realistic" this supposed threat is. The host also queried as to whether the analysis was an effort to push "people who disagree with the administration, disagree with the stand on stimulus, trying to push them into something far more radical?"

Of course, she also seemed to buy into the controversial concept, put forth in the DHS report, that returning military veterans could possibly sign up for such right-wing hate organizations. Brewer claimed, "On the other hand, is there something to be said for, especially if they're concerned about returning war veterans, these guys have been through a lot of stress, many of them suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and then to come back, to feel some dissatisfaction with your government, as well as maybe coming home not to find a job." She then added, "You can see how that might lead to some concern that they are vulnerable to radicalization."

At this point Lake explained that the "FBI did do a report in 2008 which found a little over 200 returning war veterans were in some ways connected with some of these extremist groups." He noted, "But, that's 200 out of, you know, tens of thousands more than 100,000."

A transcript of the April 15 segment, which aired at 10:53am, follows:

MSNBC graphic: New Right-Wing Threat? [Republican elephant logo is onscreen]

CONTESSA BREWER: The White House is warning that a bad economy, combined with the election of the nation's first black President, could draw new extremist right-wing members, especially war veterans, to a dangerous cause. The Homeland Security report says in part, "the department is concerned that right-wing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to boost their violent capabilities." Eli Lake is a national security correspondent with the Washington Times. How realistic a threat is that?

MSNBC GRAPHIC: Rise of the Radical Right?

ELI LAKE: Well, it's, the report, which we broke in yesterday's paper, does not have any specific examples of any kind of plotting activity and provides no numbers in terms of recruitment. If you contrast that with a report from January on left-wing environmentalists, extremists and anarchists there were specific examples in that report which is somewhat lacking in this Department of Homeland Security report.

BREWER: And it's already, I gather, getting some reaction here. Republican congressman Lamar Smith, who's the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, responded "As far as I can tell, the only thing this report does do is attempt to stigmatize people who disagree with the President." I mean, is there- is there an attempt that you're being able to gather from your reporting here, Eli, about pushing people who disagree with the administration, disagree with the stand on stimulus, trying to push them into something far more radical?

LAKE: Well, a footnote in the nine page report from April 7 defines right wing extremists as both hate groups, which everybody would agree- like the Ku Klux Klan- are, you know, violent extremists, with people who are concerned about, maybe, issues what we call federalism which is prefer state and local government to the federal government or against the federal government or people who are dedicated on single or extreme on one particular cause, such as abortion or gun rights or something like that.

BREWER: All right. All right, well, let's take, for instance, federalists. Are there any of these groups that have shown violent tendencies, trying to organize, overthrow the government or anything along those lines?

LAKE: I mean, other than, I guess, you know, people in the Revolutionary War in 1776? I mean, no, I think that federalists for the most part is a mainstream conservative position. They would consider themselves to be patriotic Americans just like I'm sure, you know, many liberal Americans would. And I think they resent the idea they would be lumped in with, sort of, white identity militias who clearly are against the government and not patriotic.

BREWER: We heard that Rush Limbaugh was coming out against it, again, you know, trying to say you're painting conservatives as radicals. On the other hand, is there something to be said for, especially if they're concerned about returning war veterans, these guys have been through a lot of stress, many of them suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and then to come back, to feel some dissatisfaction with your government, as well as maybe coming home not to find a job. You can see how that might lead to some concern that they are vulnerable to radicalization.

LAKE: Well, the FBI did do a report in 2008 which found a little over 200 returning war veterans were in some ways connected with some of these extremist groups. But, that's 200 out of, you know, tens of thousands more than 100,000. So it's a very, very small number. And, as we know, earlier this week, the commander of the American Legion, one of the largest veteran organizations wrote a letter to Janet Napolitano, asking to sit with her, basically, saying American veterans, you know, are not the enemy. The terrorists are. I think that's a direct quote.

—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.


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Thanks, liberal puppet media sheep...

I am honestly expecting National Guard units being deployed to quell the TEA Parties, based on the fear being fomented by the MSM.

No, seriously.

Remember Kent State?   (Different era, different protest, but the same in its makeup.)

Just an observation...

Warning by DHS

Unlike the leftist liberals, these tea parties are

going to be peaceful.   Americans, Republican

and Democrat are furious with bailouts, the new

proposed budget and rising taxes.  The MSM

wants everyone to idolize their "Messiah", but

its not going to work.   Its not just Obama, its

Congress too.   We want their attention that

we're not going to take it anymore.   These

people can and will be voted out in 2010.

I'm going on record

"The White House is warning that a bad economy, combined with the election of the nation's first black President, could draw new extremist right-wing members, especially war veterans, to a dangerous cause."

 

I'm going on record to say that the first candidate in the next Presidential election who claims that he/she will "reach across the aisle" to Democrats will lose my vote instantaneously.

I'm tired of my side being Charlie Brown having the football yanked away.

KOSNBC 

KOSNBC 

The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.

Obama's most wanted

They prefer fear over anger...

WANTED

I am a Proud member

of the Radical Right.

Upholding our Constitution and willing to bite the dust for it!

All the folks in the United States not willing to fight for OUR Constitution should leave our country post haste.

GET OUT!

Leave OUR Country alone. Move to some other country catering more to your views but Don't Tread On Me

Or  on our Flag

 

Wrong Party

If they're going to attach a party symbol, well, they have the wrong one, at least as far as the Klan goes...

The Klan is a Democrat founded and maintained organization...

Heck, even Wiki admits that....

The truth is not in the MSM...it just isn't...

On the matter of Veterans:

How do you suppose it makes all of us Vets feel to be told that all the while we thought we were American Patriots, we were actually training to become domestic terrorists?

The white supremacy issue? 

I ain't white...I have a permanent suntan....I am a believer in American Supremacy....but Americans come in all shapes, sizes and colors.  

Federalist?  Not ME! I believe that the closer you are to something, the better understanding of its needs you have. Government should be exercised from the individual, with some power locally, some power at the state level and a minimum of power at the federal level.

What this all amounts to, for me:

Once again my people are marked, potentially for termination and extermination.  History does repeat itself.

But I have one little glimmer in this tide of darkness, a glimmer that can make me smile despite all that has happened over the last few decades , more intensely over the last few months and rising to culmination over the last few days, a little speck of hope against the Leftists.....

We are still here.  My people have always managed to survive.  True Americans, my brothers and sisters out there who are hurting, who feel slighted, whose service and work, whose beliefs and faiths, whose very existence is being outlawed....take heart!

We can live without the peasants...they cannot survive without us.  The sheep cannot coerce the wolves, not if we don't let them.

It might get bad, but never forget what events transpired to make YOU great as an American.  Never forget your Ancestors and the gifts they have blessed you with.  Never forget that this fight, today is not for us, but we fight now and tomorrow and the days that follow for our Descendants, and for the future generations of the world that they may live in a world that has the beacon of Lady Liberty shining eternally onward.

At the end of the day, survivors survive.  Its a basic Law of Nature; the Leftists cannot stop water from running downhill.  Entropy always increases.  

We will win in the end.

So, if they want to attach that symbol, the symbol of immense strength, the symbol which never forgets to THIS "terrorist"..so be it.

Its better than being a jacka$$!

"You can have Peace or you can have Freedom; just don't count on having both at the same time." - R.A.H

 "I'll take the harsh reality of liberty over the illusion of security...everytime!" -me<

Didn't Contessa just deny

Didn't Contessa just deny yesterday that MSNBC was liberal?

Brewski!

Contessa Brewer should just shut her hole!

Re Brewski

Why on Earth would parents name a child 'Contessa'?

Ya might be a radical right winger if..

  • You have read, and are determined to have your Government uphold the Constitution.

(feel free to add more)

 

I find it hilarious that they tried to tie the KKK to right wing extremism.

Ya might be a radical right winger if..

  • You served in the U.S. Armed Forces 

"You can have Peace or you can have Freedom; just don't count on having both at the same time." - R.A.H

 "I'll take the harsh reality of liberty over the illusion of security...everytime!" -me<

if...

If you'd rather succeed or fail on your own merits or lack thereof, rather than kiss the ring of big godfather government. 

 

"Thoroughly worldly people never understand even the world; they rely altogether on a few cynical maxims which are not true."

Chesterton, Orthodoxy 

is not the fine democratic rep from West Virginia

the only guy i know who is/was a member of the Klan?

Understand only one thing-the tax code needs to be replaced with a flat sales/consumption %. that way everyone pays. Even BHO appointed staff.

all ill-gotten gains are taxed when those generating spend the booty. we are not paying for those too lazy to at least attempt to find work.

all the rest is rhetoric. 

 

proud to be a  Christian right wing extremist!

Democrats are and have always been,anti American-socialist/Marxist/communist thinkers.

 

 

 

This is an outrage!

The RNC should be up in arms over this outrageous libel attempt by MSNBC and they should demand an on air apology on behalf of the hundreds of millions of Republicans who were just smeared by the partisan, lowly rated, amateur "news" organization MSNBC.

There should be alot of noise on all levels made about what MSNBC just did because it gravely diminishes them and puts their hyper partisanship on full display.

I hope that Joe Scarborough makes a big stink about it, as he should feel insulted by what his employers obviously think about him.

the rnc will get their limp

the rnc will get their limp wrists right on it

who's worst prez ever now?!!

If the Republican Party

If the Republican Party doesn't sue the pants off of MSNBC over this they don't deserve to be a political party.  Let me know when they file a lawsuit, somebody.

Obama:  "The Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers." -Ed Mahmoud

"New Right-Wing

"New Right-Wing threat"?

When and what was the old threat? The only threat I see is the one the left has against the Constitution. Code Pink-o's, GLAAD, anti-capitalists, abortionists... These freaks are the threats.

Let Your Voice Be Heard

And if that don't work , crash their email servers ha.

 today@nbcuni.com

Send your complaint there, then when they reply back with acknowledgement, forward it back to them again.

Do it 10 times.

 It's fun.

At Least They Put The Stars Right-Side Up...

What? You've never noticed before that the GOP symbol is usually depictied with upside-down stars, much like a pentagram? I would have thought the GOP would have figured that out by now.