Hutaree

There's been a lot in the news lately about Hutaree, that Christian militia which was planning terrorist attacks in Michigan. We've heard how they were preparing to battle the "Antichrist," then decided to attack policemen. But what struck me is how they expected the rest of America to join them, after their horrendous attack at a policeman's funeral, in a general uprising against the government.

Doesn't that seem bizarre? Why would they expect a terrorist attack - even one by Christians - to be welcomed by the rest of us? How in the world could they think that America was ready to rise up against our lawful government, democratically elected by the people? Of course, these gun-nuts can't be too bright, but still,... something must have given them reason to believe this.

Maybe it's because of the violent ranting we've been hearing all year from Fox News and other Republican leaders. It's not just the tea-bagger loonies, though they've certainly enjoyed plenty of media attention, too. No, it's the leadership of the GOP itself, in some cases approving this extremist rhetoric, and in other cases joining right in themselves. No less than John Boehner, House Minority Leader, claimed that passing the health care reform bill would lead to "Armageddon." Well, Armageddon is exactly what these terrorists were preparing for.

We hear loose talk about "tyranny" and "totalitarian tactics" (i.e. majority vote of our elected representatives). We've got "birthers" claiming that an impostor has stolen the presidency, half the nation claiming that our first black president is either Hitler or Stalin, and a full quarter of Republicans thinking that he might be the "Antichrist."

Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) claims that we have an "anti-American" president, and that she wants Minnesotans "armed and dangerous... because we need to fight back," that "having a revolution every now and then is a good thing." Sarah Palin has moved on from her "death panels" canard to targeting Democrats with crosshairs and urging her supporters to "reload." And do I even need to mention Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh?

So is it any wonder that a heavily-armed Christian militia expected all of America to rise up in support of their terrorist attack? The language used these days by political opponents of the Democratic Party, and of President Obama in particular, goes beyond the pale. It's not just lying - though there's more than enough of that, too - but actual incitement to violence. And it's no coincidence that violence is exactly what we're starting to see.

Agree or disagree on political matters, is this the kind of nation we want? Instead of the "loyal opposition," do we really want armed insurrection? Do you really think your president is "anti-American," a racist who "hates white people," or - Jebus help me - the Antichrist? Do you really think that passing a conservative health care reform bill through the majority vote of our elected representatives - and this an issue on which Democrats have campaigned for decades - is "tyranny"?

OK, so you lost the election in 2008. Get over it! It's not an excuse for violence. Democrats were out of power for 12 years in Congress and eight years in the White House, while the right-wing nearly destroyed our country, but you never heard any intimation that Republicans were traitors or should be shot - and certainly not from Democratic leaders.

Shame on the GOP for whipping up hysteria for political purposes. Shame on Fox News for whipping up hysteria for financial gain. And shame on the gullible little cowards who are letting themselves be manipulated like this. We used to be a brave people. What has happened to us?

Edit: Coincidentally, TPM has just posted their "top ten flare-ups of anti-government violence -- or threats of violence -- in the Obama era." Note that the recent rash of brick-throwing and other vandalism doesn't make the cut.