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With the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing approaching, former President Bill Clinton on Thursday drew parallels between the antigovernment tone that preceded that devastating attack and the political tumult of today, saying government critics must be mindful that angry words can stir violent actions.
In advance of a symposium on Friday about the attack on the Oklahoma City federal building and its current relevance, Mr. Clinton, who was in his first term at the time of the bombing, warned that attempts to incite opposition by demonizing the government can provoke responses beyond what political figures intend.
"There can be real consequences when what you say animates people who do things you would never do," Mr. Clinton said in an interview, saying that Timothy McVeigh, who carried out the Oklahoma City bombing, and those who assisted him, "were profoundly alienated, disconnected people who bought into this militant antigovernment line."
The former president said the potential for stirring a violent response might be even greater now with the reach of the Internet and other common ways of communication that did not exist on April 19, 1995, when the building was struck.
"Because of the Internet, there is this vast echo chamber and our advocacy reaches into corners that never would have been possible before," said Mr. Clinton, who said political messages are now able to reach those who are both "serious and seriously disturbed."
Recalling Oklahoma City Bombing, Bill Clinton Sees Parallels With Today's Antigovernment Sentiment - cites rehetoric of Republicans like Bachmann, Gingrich
Article Source: The New York Times- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (10)
Mr. Clinton pointed to remarks like those made Thursday by Representative Michele Bachmann, the Minnesota Republican, who when speaking at a Tea Party rally in Washington characterized the Obama administration and Democratic Congress as “the gangster government.”
“They are not gangsters,” Mr. Clinton said. “They were elected. They are not doing anything they were not elected to do.”
[...]
Mr. Clinton said his intent was not to stifle debate or muzzle critics of the government but to encourage them to consider what repercussions could follow. He acknowledged that drawing the line between acceptable discourse and that which goes too far is difficult but that lawmakers and other officials should try.
“Have at it,” he said. “You can attack the politics. Criticize their policies. Don’t demonize them, and don’t say things that will encourage violent opposition.”
In the period before the Oklahoma City bombing, there was a growing antigovernment sentiment being expressed through a militia movement and anger at government officials, some of it in the wake of the assault on the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco, Tex., on April 19, 1993. Mr. Clinton recalls that he and his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, were characterized by Newt Gingrich, then the Republican Congressional leader, as the enemies of ordinary Americans.
- 6 votes
#1 - Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:42 AM EDTAnother thing to add to the mix is the irresponsible Right Wing media, which has only grown since FOX News started broadcasting in '96.
- 6 votes
“They are not gangsters,” Mr. Clinton said. “They were elected. They are not doing anything they were not elected to do.”
That's what I don't understand about the right-wing...they claim that a legally elected president and legally elected majority in Congress are somehow fraudulent, illegal, and not representing the majority of the country.....yet they were legally elected by the majority of the American voters.
Even the whole premise of the original tea party - taxation without representation - is not valid in the current incarnation of the tea party because they all had a vote, they are represented, the tea partiers just disagree with the majority of Americans....yet they try to somehow say that the few hundred tea partiers should be listened to more than the majorities that elected the president and Congress. Good grief!
- 3 votes
Valid points being made by Clinton. I'm afraid they will fall on the deaf ears of those responsible. Not only those responsible for encouraging such actions. But, also, those who could and should dis-courage such rhetoric. A few well placed words by our Congressional leaders could go a long way in possibly preventing a similar repeat of 3/19/95.
- 3 votes
#2 - Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:47 AM EDTIf, perish the thought, Republicans ever return to power, are they going to be anti-government? Will the right-wing continue to rail on about how we need to dismantle our own government? Will it still be open season on the politicians in office? Or will all those sentiments become treasonous, as if by magic?
The right-wing wants a return to total power, control of the three branches of government, in order to continue the plunder of our nation. Their greed and power lust are irrational, so irrational and extreme that they're willing to practice scorched earth tactics to regain the power they crave. The end - power to plunder at will - justifies the means, for that end is ultimately enticing and powerful.
If ever back in power, their projected fears of tyranny and totalitarianism will become realized as they continue to strip our liberties and Constitutional protections. Demand Obama un-do the extraordinary spying and detention powers taken by the right-wing under Bush, for those powers WILL be used against us. The right-wing will need to clamp down on the very anti-government sentiment they have fostered; they will need to protect their power to plunder in the face of citizen objection; they are, by nature, fascist, and will seek totalitarian power in theory and in practice simply because that's what fascists do, that's who fascists are.
Anti-government? No, the right-wing likes their government just fine, so long as they have absolute power over it, and over us. They might not need any stinkin' democracy. However, we do, we need it now more than ever.
- 3 votes
#3 - Fri Apr 16, 2010 7:34 AM EDTNewt Gingrich is one of many delusional personalities of the far right that peddles misinformed rhetoric to dittoheads...
I'm not surprised any more on how Bush, God's candidate, was able to get elected and stay in power...
- 3 votes
#4 - Fri Apr 16, 2010 10:51 PM EDTBill Clinton Sees Parallels With Today's Antigovernment Sentiment
He also warned that these protest could become violent, he was absolutely correct. Look at what's happening in Arizona with all the protesters, protesting against the new immigration law that was passed. If I was Bill Clinton, I would come out and tell the American people: "I warned you this would happened" Here's some videos on what's happening there.
http://www.floppingaces.net/2010/04/25/violent-pro-illegal-immgration-protest-in-arizona/
- 1 vote
#5 - Wed Apr 28, 2010 3:48 PM EDTAwww...Truth Teller - I'm disappointed in you. Why are you doing the bidding of a hate group (who are the same people accusing Lindsey Graham of being a homosexual...what a disgusting group).
Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) is circulating this video to the nation via national press release today. The video is also being sent to ALIPAC's 30,000 national supporters for comment and circulation, with encouragements for activists to send copies to state and federal lawmakers.
ALIPAC is also issuing an advisory to law enforcement agencies across America in anticipation of the May 1st illegal alien protests scheduled nationally by Congressman Luis
Gutierrez and the National Council of La Raza (The Race)."We just want to make sure that our police agencies in these towns and cities where similar groups of angry illegal alien supporters plan to gather on May 1, are fully and properly informed," said William Gheen of ALIPAC. "We are asking our supporters to make sure their local police are aware of the riots, assaults on police, assaults on Americans, and murderous slogans advocating armed rebellion documented in this video, as well as others coming out of Arizona."
Dobbs to AILPAC: "Dump the Hate"
What Happens When Pro-Immigration Marchers Talk Like Tea-Partiers
- 3 votes
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