Posted on 04/16/2009 1:22:47 PM PDT by jazusamo
A key House Republican Thursday called for a hearing to investigate a Department of Homeland Security report that highlights security risks posed by extremist groups and disgruntled veterans.
Rep. Peter King (N.Y.), the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, has asked for a hearing into the matter, one day after the committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said he was “dumbfounded” by how the agency could release such a report.
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, who has endured a barrage of congressional criticism over the report, on Thursday made the rounds of the morning news programs, appearing in five interviews to defend her agency’s monitoring of right-wing extremist organizations. The report also stated that threats could come from “military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities.”
Napolitano said lawmakers who had criticized the report — including House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), who called it “offensive and unacceptable” — had misconstrued the statements about veterans and were using it as political ammunition.
“He wants to make some political hay,” Napolitano said on NBC’s "Today Show" of Boehner’s comments. “This (report) is an assessment of things just to be wary of, not to infringe on constitutional rights, certainly not to malign our veterans.
“So I think what has happened is taking a few words. There has been a lot of spinning out there in Washington, D.C.-land, but all we’re trying to [say] is, look, there is situational awareness that needs to go on.”
King said the report could have a tumultuous effect on the veteran and military community.
“These men and women are fighting, putting their lives on the line,” said King on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe" on Thursday. “We said we'd never repeat Vietnam as far as how we treat returning veterans, and we're doing it now … [the report] would have to be demoralizing [for troops]. It would have to be demoralizing.”
In Thompson’s letter to Napolitano on Wednesday, he criticized the report, which was authored by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, for infringing on Americans' civil liberties.
“This report appears to raise significant issues involving the privacy and civil liberties of many Americans — including war veterans,” the letter read. “As I am certain you agree, freedom of association and freedom of speech are guaranteed to all Americans — whether a person's beliefs, whatever their political orientation, are ‘extremist’ or not.”
Napolitano hasn’t budged much from her initial defense of the report on Wednesday, calling the findings an “assessment” that was “not meant to be accusatory," and that the department was monitoring groups based on their risk level and not their ideology.
“The last thing we want to do at the Department of Homeland Security is infringe on anyone's constitutional or civil rights,” she said. “I think everybody needs to take a deep breath. There was — I think there was a lot of Washington spin going on yesterday about this report.
“But all it was saying is, look, there’s a constant and constantly changing threat environment in the United States. Our job is to protect against terrorism whether it comes from abroad or internally.”
King was left dissatisfied.
“On that, her answer was totally disingenuous,” he said.
Other findings released in the report include an assessment that President Obama’s election is being used as a recruitment tool by hate groups.
The report highlighted organizations that deny federal authority over state or local jurisdictions while also specifically mentioning groups motivated by single policy issues, such as “opposition to abortion or immigration.”
It also warns of the possibility that new gun control legislation could spark unrest, stating that law enforcement groups have been worried about the rise in weapons and ammunition purchases documented in the months since Obama won election.
That’s what my son said. Where’s the proof of that? Those there looked darned glad to be in his presence. I assumed they were happy that he was going to ask for more funding and pull them out as fast as possible. Are there that many who are that miserable in Iraq? All along I’ve been hearing quite the opposite.
Aw, her happiness is my main concern. (Ain’t I a little dickens?)
This administration is admitting that it is extreme left wing by going after so called extreme right wing groups.
There is a message the ruling socialists should take from the on-going reaction to this piece of crap ‘analysis’ from DHS: “Be afraid. Be very afraid.” They are creating the situation they apparently fear. Or will this get me on their newest list of domestic terrorists?
DHS and Janet got caught with their pants down-—
There is alot more to this story.
Sure hope Drudge or Rush or Hannity finds out the rest of the details.
Sec. Napolitano should resign, and the people responsible for this document should be fired.”””
IMO, charges should be filed against the whole lot of them for treason or whatever can stick.
Put them into the graybar hotel and throw away the key.
committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said he was “dumbfounded” by how the agency could release such a report.so this scumbag agrees with the report, he's just pizzed it was made public...
The report highlighted organizations that deny federal authority over state or local jurisdictions
ya mean organizations like the STATE OF TEXAS???
these people are vile servile scum...
I believe you’re right.
Check post 59, it looks like the Thomas Moore Law Center is going to investigate it which is good news.
Let me ask you this question - If this was what she purported it to be, just a friendly little heads up that was sent to (their partners in crime they think) police and sheriff’s departments to help them -
How in the world do the police can pick those angry war torn veterans and horrible prolife and anti immigration terrorists out of a crowd do you? I mean any one can tell the liberals in a crowd.
Their the ones that have that mean pinched look on their face that are letting their kids run wild while they have their noses in the air and are on the look out for cigarettes or someone littering or someone with stirofoam plates and plastic cups.
They are also the ones that have Obama stickers on the back of their gas guzzling SUVS and “I will fight to my death the right to keep abortions legal” and I think their fondness for abortion comes from their inability to control or love their children.
Have you ever met a happy care free Liberal? They are as phony as three dollar bills. I mean I have tried to listen to NPR but it is boring as hE double toothpicks.
I have often said that you could make a mint off these knuckle heads just go to Fill-in-the-blank Liberal haven near a bookstore and put up an Eco friendly Kiosk and spray a cow pie with green paint wrap it brown paper and call it organic lunch and they would love it.
Gotta make sure they are completely dry though - Hmm Maybe deer doo doo sell them as pinon nuts.
LOL!
Agreed and I’d bet if we gave a moonbat a handful of deer sign and told them it was pinon nuts they’d believe it and think they’re delicious.
Of all stupid statements by the obuma whitehouse, this is, by far, the most stupid of the lot. He has alientated near every veteran in America. He has stepped in the cow pie and the stink ain’t coming off.
And not only has obuma pissed off veterans, he’s infuriated the veteran police in big liberal cities whom he expects to protect his ghetto ass.
All he’s got left to thwart 29 million slightly upset veterans is a gang of really stupid hip-hop rappers who hold Glocks sideways or upside-down, bed-wetting college kids and fat welfare mommas.
Napolean wouldn’t have fought his way out of a Paris water closet with that army. At least Hitler was a corporal; obuma isn’t even corporeal
Good luck, obuma. Your phantom Sun-Tzu army is crumbling at your feet.
The left gets its way because it owns the media. Even Fox was 75% in the bag for Obambi during the election.
Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Janet Napolitano Over Homeland Security’s Rightwing Extremism Policy
She should be fired.
Kind of a “21st Century Reichstag Fire” is what they need, I guess.
“Janet Reno Napolitano needs to be watched by DHS. She should scare the hell out of every legal, law abiding American. Her actions are nothing short of treason”
You mean promoting the Communist Manifesto is treason? Nah, in her mind it’s just bottom-up governance without the bottom part...
There were at least 250,000 RWE congregating together with some time to kill.
So how many incidents of violence or vandalism (or even jaywalking or littering) occurred?
Hmm?
We laugh because it is funny and we laugh because it is true.
Exactly!
I read that there wasn’t a single incident and believe it because had there been the enemedia would have jumped all over it.
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