Oath Keepers Nut Is Evidence of Extremism That Is Growing

When Bill O’Reilly looks moderate, while conducting an interview, it’s clear that the interviewee has to in all likelihood be an extremist nut. Enter Stewart Rhodes, who is president and founder of Oath Keepers. If this guy is symbolic of the rank and file membership of this organization then that speaks volumes about what this group stands for in this troubling period of our nation’s history. Here is an excerpt from Crooks and Liars from the interview O’Reilly conducted with Stewart.

O’REILLY: OK, so full members in the Oath Keepers have to have a military or police background. Or firefighters. Now, I’m gonna read you something from your website. “We will not obey unconstitutional and thus illegal and immoral orders, such as orders to disarm the American people or place them under martial law.”

Well, who’s gonna try to disarm people and place them under martial law? I mean, why would that even be something you would be discussing?

RHODES: Well, it happened as recently as Katrina. You probably have seen the videos there of the old lady being tackled in her kitchen, and disarmed of her revolver, and there was house-to-house searches for firearms. And you had the police chief declaring that no one would be allowed to have weapons, or he’d take all the guns. And he did.

So they disarmed Americans over some bad weather, as though the bad weather suspended the Second Amendment. So, that’s the most recent example.

Stewart refers to Hurricane Katrina as simply “bad weather” during this interview, and goes on to whine about guns being taken away to help ensure safety. Bad weather is eight inches of snow for which you have to brush your car off and scrape away some ice. Bad weather is not (estimates of) more than 1,800 people dying and putting New Orleans and a good chunk of Louisiana under water. This man is out of touch and scary.

Although even O’Reilly recognized this guy was an extremist, I did think that Bill took it easy on him with a subdued approach to the segment that would have been far different had he interviewed a left-wing extremist. As just about anyone knows, O’Reilly would have torn into a left-wing nut without hesitation, but instead approached the interview as if he was on anti-depressant medication.

Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/oath-keepers-chief-points-katrina-re

Rep. Steve King Of Iowa Pleased With His Vote Against Aid For Katrina Victims

This article from Think Progress highlights one of the more pitiful politicians in this country.

Rep. Steve King, who is from Iowa and is one of the far-right extremists in the Republican party, has come out with yet another appalling statement that spits in the face of the horrors of Hurricane Katrina and its many victims. While many politicians swell with pride related to the good things they can do to help their country and to help people in need overcome tragedies, this man takes the opposite viewpoint. Sadly, there are people voting for this disgraceful man who routinely makes outrageous statements and thumbs his nose and what he seems to view as lesser people or dumb people (as far too many people have called the victims of Hurricane Katrina) or morally corrupt people. This is how far too many in our society think of people who they see as beneath them. Some people feel like they can’t be on top unless they’re standing on the neck of someone who is under them. King was one of only 11 members of Congress to vote against the $52 billion aid package (one that was passed unanimously by the Senate).

Here is part of what King said to The Hill as he reveals his proudest moment as a lawmaker:

THE HILL: What vote would you like to redo?

KING: I don’t really go back and re-live that sort of thing. Some of the big votes that I’ve thought about, some of the jury’s still out. And at this point, maybe I’d answer that question another way, probably the singular vote that stands out that went against the grain, and it turns out to be the best vote that I cast, was my “no” vote to the $51.5 billion to [Hurricane] Katrina. That probably was my best vote. But as far as doing something different again, I don’t know.

Think Progress adds this nugget:

Media Matters Action Network’s Matt Finkelstein writes, “Katrina killed 1,464 in Louisiana alone and uprooted the lives of countless others all over the gulf region. Yet, King says this was his ‘best’ moment in Congress. Not fighting for ‘conservative principles’ like smaller government, lower taxes, or a strong national defense — no, he’s most proud of opposing relief for victims of a catastrophe.”

Nice of Rep. King to spit in the faces of these people who died and/or had their lives and everything they’ve worked for destroyed not once but twice. After spitting in their faces once, voting down this bill, he comes back and spits in their faces again by proclaiming how proud he is to have voted against this relief effort.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/22/king-katrina/