Thursday, April 25, 2013

The Enemy Within

As the National Socialist German Workers' Party (aka Nazis) required an internal enemy, the Jews, whose citizenship posed a dire threat to the stability of the German state; a growing number of state and national GOP politicians see a similar threat to American democracy posed by  Muslim-American citizens. This insanity, once limited to racist, xenophobic politicians from poorly educated districts across America is swiftly infecting rank-and-file GOP members. By the time the German people recognized the fascist threat to their democracy it was too late to stop them. Let's hope that courage and common sense ends the xenophobic madness gripping Washington before our great democracy is lost.

[A] few [Tennessee ] Republican lawmakers in the state legislature were convinced that the new sinks in the bathrooms were actually secret Muslim foot baths, used by devout Muslims to clean their face, feet and hands before praying. But where normal America sees maintenance sinks, Tennessee America sees a Muslim [foot bath].  (Americablog.com)  
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) appeared on the FOX Business show Money Rocks to make the case for depriving the children of immigrants of their 14th Amendment rights. Gohmert summarized the lesson for viewers this way: "We're bringing them over here on tourist visas, some illegally, letting them be born here and saying, 'This is an American citizen. So come back in 20, 25 years when you're ready to blow us up.'"  (The dailybeast.com) 
Perhaps the most vile and disgusting display of Republican bigotry was WorldNetDaily contributor Erik Rush’s Tweet, which unequivocally stated: “Muslims are evil. Let’s kill them all.” (aattp.org)
 Sue Myrick (R-NC), John Shadegg (R-AZ), Paul Broun (R-GA) and Trent Franks (R-AZ) relying on the work of a WND-published book based an intern spy’s infiltration of the Council on American Islamic Relations, charging that CAIR itself is planting scary Muslim interns on national security committees.(http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com)
The survey of 600 likely Alabama Republican primary voters found a full 14 percent believe Obama to be Christian. But 45 percent said he is Muslim and another 41 percent said they are unsure.The same question presented to 686 likely Mississippi Republican primary voters found 12 percent believe Obama to be Christian. But 52 percent say he is Muslim and another 36 percent were uncertain. ( http://www.wnd.com/2012/03/look-how-many-in-gop-think-obama-is-muslim)
America's conservative elites have openly thrown in with the country's legions of discontented far right thugs. They have explicitly deputized them and empowered them to act as their enforcement arm on America's streets, sanctioning the physical harassment and intimidation of workers, liberals, and public officials who won't do their political or economic bidding. (Sarah Robinson, Fascist America: Are We There Yet?)