Michelle Malkin » Senators to Napolitano: Show us the data

Senators to Napolitano: Show us the data

By Michelle Malkin • April 17, 2009 12:58 PM

Senators Coburn, Brownback, DeMint, Burr, Murkowski, Inhofe, and Vitter sent the following letter to DHS Secretary Napolitano yesterday concerning the DHS conservative hit job:

April 16, 2009

The Honorable Janet Napolitano
Secretary
The Department of Homeland Security
310 7th street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20528-0150

VIA FASCMILLE

Dear Secretary Napolitano,

We write today concerning the release of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report titled “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment” prepared by the Extremism and Radicalization Branch, of the Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division.

While we agree that we must fight extremists who are both foreign and domestic we are troubled by some of the statements your department included as fact in the report titled above, without listing any statistical data to back up such claims.

First, your report states that “Returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to rightwing extremists…” without listing any data to support such a vile claim against our nation’s veterans.

Second, the report states that the millions of Americans who believe in the Second Amendment are a potential threat to our national security. Why? Do you have statistics to prove that law-abiding Americans who purchase a legal product are being recruited by so-called hate groups?

Thirdly, the report states that those that believe in issues such as pro-life legislation, limited government, and legal versus illegal immigration are potential terrorist threats. We can assure you that these beliefs are held by citizens of all races, party affiliation, male and female, and should not be listed as a factor in determining potential terror threats. A better word usage would be to describe them as practicing their First Amendment rights.

Also, you list those that bemoan the decline of U.S. stature and the loss of U.S. manufacturing capability to China and India as being potential rightwing extremists. We would suggest that the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs in the manufacturing industry to foreign countries are not potential terror threats, but rather honest Americans worried about feeding their families and earning a paycheck.

In closing, we support the mission of DHS in protecting our country from terror attacks and are proud of the many DHS employees who make this possible in conjunction with our state and local law enforcement. We ask that DHS not use this report as a basis to unfairly target millions of Americans because of their beliefs and the rights afforded to them in the Constitution. We also ask that you provide us with the data that support the unfair claims listed in the report titled above and to present us with the matrix system used in collecting and analyzing this data?

Finally, we look forward to your prompt reply and we offer our assistance to DHS in our shared effort to fight terrorism both home and abroad by using data that is accurate and independent of political persuasion.

Posted in: Homeland Security

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#680184

On April 17th, 2009 at 3:55 pm, John Deaux said:

On April 17th, 2009 at 2:43 pm, MarcoPolo said:

It is horrific to think that Americans can’t drive down the road in some states without being detained to have their papers checked.

Just get a Mexican driver’s license. It’s like a get out of jail free card.
#680188

On April 17th, 2009 at 4:00 pm, docflash said:

On April 17th, 2009 at 2:14 pm, lgm said:
“When MM gets riled up, she stays riled. Isn’t it time to move on”?

Michelle,lgm is right about moving on.It is time to get us a new troll.
#680194

On April 17th, 2009 at 4:07 pm, undresiege said:

Okay. So it’s vile to prudently point out that returning veterans could be TARGETS for violent rightwing extremism recruitment due to their skill set. And I guess it’s utterly crazy for the DHS to presume that people who are paranoid about their second amendment rights being taken away, may actually be willing to use those weapons to combat any real or PERCEIVED threat to those rights. Nobody is freakishly paranoid about big government taking over their lives or stealing their guns. The 1990s never occurred, huh?

Ohhhhkay. Senators are still playing politics and ignoring logic and MM is still being MM.

It’s going to be a long 8 years. ODS makes CDS look like a mild misunderstanding.

UndyS shakes his head ruefully, clicks submit and goes back to work.
#680214

On April 17th, 2009 at 4:35 pm, sbw999 said:

Absolutely excellent!!!! Thank you Senators.
#680224

On April 17th, 2009 at 5:09 pm, bmac727 said:

ObamaDHS/JN: Data? We don’t need no stinkin’ data. We just divine this stuff!
#680237

On April 17th, 2009 at 5:23 pm, old trooper said:

The timing on this is impeccable as Obama is traveling to go sit on Fidel’s lap & swap spit with real human rights violators
and folks that hate America as much as he apparently does.

If Obama gets another 4 years America is history. The next 3 will be damaging enough.
#680238

On April 17th, 2009 at 5:24 pm, Major O said:

Nobody is freakishly paranoid about big government taking over their lives or stealing their guns.

So were the American Revolutionaries “freakishly” worried (be nice to have a definition of that) about their rights when they spurned King George’s rule?

What constitutes “freakish paranoia” and having established that, what makes it any more of a concern, say, than the hundreds of students that PHYSICALLY intimidate and shout down speakers at college campii all over the nation?

Why is a non-violent but “freakish” worry of some a threat to the republic, but actual violence and speech of others, simply “dissent” not worthy of Federal concern?
#680240

On April 17th, 2009 at 5:27 pm, T-Bone said:

My college professor taught me that right wingers are dangerous extremists that have guns and must be kept down. Why would that report not be true?

It must be ODS that you guys are attacking this excellent report written by a great American Patriot. My Professor also taught me that if you are a Democrat, you are a real patriot.

I learned a lot from that Professor, like how to hold in a bong hit and make firebombs to use against people who try to brainwash me like Fox News.

And one time at band camp…….
#680262

On April 17th, 2009 at 5:45 pm, undresiege said:

So were the American Revolutionaries “freakishly” worried (be nice to have a definition of that) about their rights when they spurned King George’s rule?

Like flenser is want to do, you’re comparing apples and lettuce.

What constitutes “freakish paranoia” and having established that, what makes it any more of a concern, say, than the hundreds of students that PHYSICALLY intimidate and shout down speakers at college campii all over the nation?

If you have a fear that the government is going to take away your right to bear arms, and take you to “re-education camps” you’re a paranoid freak. People like Michelle Baughman and members of this blog have expressed these exact paranoid fears. If you’re in the woods with weapons preparing for some type of military action in regards to these unfounded fears, you’re an armed and dangerous paranoid freak. Let’s just keep some extra eyes on these freaks. History teaches us that we should.

the hundreds of students that PHYSICALLY intimidate and shout down speakers at college campii all over the nation?

Why is a non-violent but “freakish” worry of some a threat to the republic, but actual violence and speech of others, simply “dissent” not worthy of Federal concern?

The liberal freaks that are disturbing the conservative campus demostrations haven’t increased in remarkable numbers since the election. They “typically” don’t use or have guns and explosives.(If you have to go back to the early-mid seventies for a moral equivalence, spare me.). Although it is horribly repugnant to have wannabe hippies disrupting campus speakers, that’s more of a concern of local authorities. These college fools aren’t practicing or preparing acts of terrorism. Being phyically threatening is not an act of terror, and nobody is going to die. Local police and DAs need to do their job.

Speaking of dying:
Bombed abortion clinics,
Oklahoma City, Alanta Olympics, Mcveigh, Nichols, Rudolph, that’s what folks at the DHS are worried about. Remember the 90s? IT’S NOT THE ONLY THING THEY’RE WORRIED ABOUT.
#680272

On April 17th, 2009 at 5:56 pm, cheapseat said:

let’s see lgm, china is a permanent member of the esteemed u.n., yet it routinely conducts trials, and kills convicts in a matter of days. torture? well the saudi’s cut off people’s hands for theivery, beat suspects with sticks to obtain confessions. torture? russia, iran, the phillipines,and nearly every country in africa practice real torture, yet they are full fledged u.n. members. to me, torture leaves a mark. if it doesn’t leave a mark, it may be scary and it may make you uncomfortable, but it ain’t torture. people such as you would have us believe talking in a loud voice is torture as is spanking your child. hell we can’t even give them time out, since you want to close gitmo and make these terrorists our neighbors. grow up.
#680309

On April 17th, 2009 at 6:23 pm, Fuller said:

Thanks Senators, letter was nice – but wouldn’t a walk over to DHS and some fist banging on Janet’s desk been more effective?
#680326

On April 17th, 2009 at 6:37 pm, PhredE said:

Hey, hey – check this out –

Read it for yourself:

Link to Download at FreedomAlliance.org
(a 10pg .pdf file)

(apologies if someone else already beat me to the punch here…)
#680398

On April 17th, 2009 at 8:28 pm, Redog70 said:

With all the free space @ Gitmo after Osamas sewing circle Graduates, keep an eye out for military personel being given one last posting to Cuba!!

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20
#680413

On April 17th, 2009 at 8:54 pm, frontierguy said:

Oh my!! Waterboarding, forced to be naked for a long period of time, sleep deprivation and being covered with caterpillers….Torture? That was what I had to do to join my fraternity!!
#680447

On April 17th, 2009 at 10:13 pm, WarTip said:

The first thing that struck me here was the implication that the constitution “affords” or somehow “allows” us to have rights when it is strictly designed to prevent the government from impeding upon our God-Given rights that no man and no government may take away.

The second thing that struck me was the fact that there is no mention at all about State’s rights and the illegal centralization of a federal government controlling the states (as is so blatantly occurring with alarming frequency … even more so these days)and limiting the rights of the states.

The third thing was the lack of any call to account for the attack on anyone who believes in the Constitution as a whole as well as the Bill of Rights.

While I would like to believe that these politicians were trying to do the right thing, what they do not say here speaks volumes for the misconceptions of our bloated bureaucrats and the danger we do face from the enemy within.

Sorry, but I am not buying it as an argument. I will however, be watching the lawsuits with a great deal of hope and many prayers!
#680449

On April 17th, 2009 at 10:17 pm, Laree said:

This is too funny click on the J’accuse!!! when you get to the post. So are the comments I do so enjoy villainous company.

http://www.villainouscompany.com/vcblog/archives/2009/04/as_i_suspected.html
#680462

On April 17th, 2009 at 10:59 pm, Bruce said:

If DHS is really serious about terrorist threats – they should immediately disband the mental midgets called the Transportation Safety Administration. Instead of directing their attention (and profiling) to people who want to kill Americans, they instead terrorize little old ladies, infants in strollers, hard working Americans, and MEDAL OF HONOR recipients! (does the name Gen. Joe Foss ring a bell Janet?)

C’mon Nancy P. Let’s have a congressional investigation into how, this report leaked out.

I would ordinarily point my finger in the direction of Patrick Leahy, but this isn’t a case of leaking national security secrets, so it doesn’t fit his style.
#680466

On April 17th, 2009 at 11:02 pm, Bruce said:

Thanks Senators, letter was nice – but wouldn’t a walk over to DHS and some fist banging on Janet’s desk been more effective?

Come on, Fuller – that kind of behavior is reserved for members of the other side of the aisle – not gentlemanly conservatives. Shame on you, sir.
#680471

On April 17th, 2009 at 11:07 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

Mcveigh, Nichols, Rudolph,

None of them known be conservatives, none of them held Coffees for future Presidential candidates, none of them receiving tenure as college professors, none of them becoming editors or consultants to the MSM or being pardoned by a Republican President.

Being physically threatening is not an act of terror, and nobody is going to die.

I imagine I could give you a couple of thousands of examples there, BANK and ARMORED car robbery ring a bell?

If you have a fear that the government is going to take away your right to bear arms, and take you to “re-education camps” you’re a paranoid freak.

I imagine I could give you a couple of MILLION of examples. Vicky Weaver would be a good start. Go have coffee with William Ayres.

These college fools aren’t practicing or preparing acts of terrorism

Now you are just lying.

Being called a “paranoid freak” by an a$$hat is almost as good as being called an Right Wing Extremist.
#680490

On April 17th, 2009 at 11:41 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

On April 17th, 2009 at 8:54 pm, frontierguy said:

Oh my!! Waterboarding, forced to be naked for a long period of time, sleep deprivation and being covered with caterpillers….Torture? That was what I had to do to join my fraternity!!

Dude!!!!!!!

And dont forget the loud music that continuously blared in our ears (Number 9… Number 9… Number 9…)and the motorcycle that was started/gunned IN the room where we were blindfolded and “forced” to duckwalk in a single file line and then thrown into a freezing cold pool in December

————

Ummmm any other Navy guys have any stories to tell about how they earned their Shellback cards the old school way (not how these pansies do it these days?? (WHAAAAAA! My mommy’s calling MY congressman cuz U hit me with a firehose……)
#680499

On April 17th, 2009 at 11:54 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

For those of you who dont know what a Shellback is….

Video: (All the trash you see was probably stored for more than a week so that it would ripen, so a lot of people puked in the tunnel)

All pollywogs, even the Commanding Officer if he has not crossed before, must participate.

Our Commanding Officer ordered our Executive Officer (#1, #2 in command) to participate. He held my shirt in his teeth between my cheeks as we crawled the length of the ship

(So when libs complain about “torture” at Gitmo, the prisoners get off EASY and ABU Ghraib was NOTHING!!!)
#680502

On April 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am, RabbidSquirrel said:

OK, Ive got to stop watching the video… Im sitting here remembering and Im about to puke on my keyboard.
#680564

On April 18th, 2009 at 5:00 am, Mark Jaquith said:

First, your report states that “Returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to rightwing extremists…” without listing any data to support such a vile claim against our nation’s veterans.

Huh? It’s a vile claim to say that our veterans are well trained and experienced in combat?
#680600

On April 18th, 2009 at 8:32 am, old trooper said:

Now, in light of the DHS report, how many returning Veterans that may have PTSD are going to go to the VA for counseling, knowing that they will be put on a Terrorist Watch list, No Fly List, have their 2nd Amendment Rights suspended for Life,,etc.

Not to worry, it takes months to get an appointment because ACORN is better funded than the VA. The current ratio of Shooters to Non Shooters is about one in twenty. Teeth to Tail tells the tale.

Besides any 12 year old kid can learn how to build bombs from the internet.

The Va. Tech shooter never served in the military but displayed tendencies and no one did a thing about it.

The DHS Report is Bravo Sierra on a grand scale.
#680654

On April 18th, 2009 at 10:25 am, Politicalguano said:

Yet another “Janet” who is a powerful government official who sees law abiding Americans as threats and terrorists as “hard working Americans.” Sorry, that last quote was the increasingly senile Pelosi talking about illegal aliens. Lets face it, Napolitano is the real threat to American security – she is a paranoid liberal who controls armed officers who can arrest anyone except lawbreaking foreigners illegally here in the US. Lets start investigating her, reporting her every word and action, and filing lawsuits against her every time she breaks the law.
#680820

On April 18th, 2009 at 4:44 pm, sicsempertyrannis said:

Janet Napolitano reminds me of Janet Reno part deux…
#681269

On April 19th, 2009 at 7:08 pm, MacEamonn said:

On April 17th, 2009 at 1:14 pm, ackvil said:
Gee, I guess I am right-wing extremist since I own weapons, want to protect our borders, oppose illegal immigration, am pro-life, etc. I always thought these were core values.

I believe the actual intent of the memo was so we would all know it is the patriotic duty of every red-blooded “right-wing extremists” to immediately turn ourselves into the government.
#681304

On April 19th, 2009 at 8:02 pm, old trooper said:

MacEamonn, It is the Patriotic Duty of Americans to Resist. Those few of Us that did not vote for Socialism in November.
#681725

On April 20th, 2009 at 1:10 pm, Ignatius Reilly said:

Janet Napolitano…what a dyke! (But why belabor the obvious.)