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DHS Report on Target: Domestic Nuts on Rise

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 10, 2009 8:12 PM CDT

(Newser) – Today's shooting at the Holocaust museum, on the heels of the murder of an abortion provider, is bringing renewed attention to a Homeland Security report issued in April that warned of a rise in exactly these kinds of attacks, Politico reports. At the time, critics including Rush Limbaugh blasted the DHS report as an attack on conservatives, but now civil rights groups say it was right on target.

"Clearly the election of Obama, the current financial crisis, and the discussion of immigration reform—those things have certainly fueled the right-wing extremist movement," said a rep from the Anti-Defamation League. "We hope it’s not the tip of the iceberg.” DHS chief Janet Napolitano told Congress last month that the report has been withdrawn and is being re-vetted. She apologized to veterans for a section that singled them out as potential sources of trouble.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

Traffic coming from Virginia over the 14th Street Bridge is blocked off by police not far from the Holocaust Museum. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Harold O'Lyngger, 82, speaks to local and federal officials outside the Annapolis, Md., condominium believed to be the home of James Von Brunn. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

An Anne Arundel County (Md.) police officer speaks to a motorist Wednesday near the condo of James Von Brunn. (AP Photo/ Steve Ruark)

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Rush Limbaugh and John Boehner can go on until the end of time about how (the report) was an attack on conservatives, but in reality it was a perfectly sober assessment of what was going on out there. - Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center

Trying to exploit this awful tragedy to score political points—from the right or the left—is simply grotesque. - Michael Steel,
spokesman for John Boehner

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 11 comments

foodchain11

Jun 11, 2009 9:00 AM CDT

To Corona King--The reason Japan doesn't have this problem is that they have a cultural ethic about following the rules--have for centuries. We don't. Some of us think elections don't matter, rules don't matter, common courtesies don't matter. Hint, hint.

foodchain11

Jun 11, 2009 8:55 AM CDT

kokuaguy, way to say it!! Very short memories for a group who nearly destroyed our govn't out of anger. And they are still doing it!! Where is the majority leadership?? When you don't stand up to bullies, they just get braver. MIA leadership, STAND UP FOR US!!

Netstorm2k10

Jun 11, 2009 8:38 AM CDT

Seems a little convenient doesn't it? As soon as they start hawking dangers, a bunch happen all at once. Supplying their own proof?

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Holocaust Museum • Department of Homeland Security • Janet Napolitano • domestic terrorism • anti-abortion activists

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