Teapublicans love to say incendiary things about their political opponents. In just the past few weeks, Teapublican candidates and representatives have called President Obama a socialist, communist and fascist. A Teapublican Senator called President Obama the most divisive figure in politics. A Teapublican stated that gays should be rounded up, surrounded by an electric fence and killed. And the Teapublican Secretary of State in Arizona has stated that he wont allow the president on the state ballot unless the State of Hawaii will send documentation of his birth.
And thats not to mention the usual drone of really hateful rhetoric on conservative talk radio.
Yet whenever Teapublicans are accused of fomenting hate, they ridicule the accusers. They claim Democrats are manufacturing a straw dog for political purposes. They claim that their remarks do not stir up violence.
Unfortunately, the facts dont support them.
Just consider this: According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (the organization that tracks domestic hate groups), the number of radical “anti-government” militia groups has increased from 150 to 1,274 during the years of the Obama presidency. The SPLC also reports that there have been more homegrown domestic terrorism attacks by right-wing groups than by international terrorists during his presidency.
Of course, Teapublicans say that has nothing to do with their constant drumbeat of hatred aimed at the nations first president of African-American ancestory. Nooooo! Its only because of Obamas policies, they say.
The last time hate groups were so prominent was during the Clinton administration when the SLPC identified 858 such groups. So when a Democrat is in the White House, hate groups increase. When a Republican is in the White House, the number of hate groups is diminished. And when a black Democrat is in the White House, the number of hate groups explodes!
If you think thats simply a coincidence, you haven’t been listening.