Napolitano Has A Lot of Explaining To Do
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is under fire for what critics see as a string of gaffes, with a small but vocal group of conservatives calling for her to step down.
The outrage continues to build over a report from her department that warned of the danger of right-wing "extremists," and singled out returning war veterans as susceptible to recruitment.
Napolitano expressed regret for the reference to veterans -- but she raised eyebrows again this week when she suggested that the Sept. 11 hijackers entered the United States through Canada, even though the 9/11 Commission determined they came to the United States from overseas.
"I don't know that the secretary understands the depth of the disruption that she's caused," Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, told FOX News on Thursday, referring to the report on extremist threats. "I think the appropriate thing to do is for her to step down and let's move on."
Conservatives made a stern call for her ouster Wednesday night on the House floor.
"Mr. President, fire that woman," said Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, complaining that Napolitano's comments on the controversial report were half-hearted. "To go on television and say your apology to be, 'I'm sorry you were offended by this report,' that's no apology."
Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., also said Napolitano's resignation is in order, and she should be brought before Congress for a hearing.
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House Minority Leader John Boehner briefly addressed the criticism over Napolitano on Thursday.
"I think Secretary Napolitano has an awful lot of explaining to do," he said.
4 comments:
But veterans CAN pose a risk. Not that they do, but they are capable. Timothy McVeigh was a US veteran.
What the right-wing media isn't showing is that these reports have been warning of left-wing extremists as well.
It doesn't say that all right-wingers are extremists, but that extremists on either side can pose a risk. Heck, many right-wingers have been calling for the overthrowing of President Obama...thats extreme isn't it? Its also right-wing. And sometimes veterans do pose a risk. It doesn't hurt to be wary of them, just as we are wary of left-wing greenpeace bombers.
The difference is that, from what I've read, those on the left that the report calls a threat are groups that have demonstrated that (as a group) they are willing to commit violent acts. The act of one man (McVeigh) from a very large group (veterans) is a statistical anomaly, not a statistical representation. The report DEFINES right wing extremists as veterans, those who are concerned about taxes and those who are concerned about illegal immigrants.
In other words, the report correctly identifies some left wing groups that have demonstrated a propensity toward violence. The report identifies MAINSTREAM CONSERVATIVES and VETERANS (whether conservative or not) as right wing extremists.
Michele Bachmann is starting to really make my leg get all tingly. Kind of like Jimmy's information sources do with Barry. Ms. Shore you rock!
This characterization is not only offensive to millions of Americans - but it also raises serious concerns about the political agenda of an agency with a mandate to protect America.
There is no factual basis to this report, no specific information that so-called 'right-wing terrorists' are currently planning any acts of violence. This report is just filled with rhetoric. It has no specific, factual basis for any of the conclusions they arrive at. It (the report) is totally un-American. It violates the Constitution of the United States, and it enables law-enforcement agencies to use this report as a pretext to investigate and harass individuals who have these kinds of beliefs -- and that's why it is so insidious.
I have written my reps as well as Pres. Obama to call for the resignation of Secretary Janet Napolitano.
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