'The Politico' shows its true colors: Different shades of red

[marmar]

from ThinkProgress:



Politico’s Mike Allen claims that author of DHS report on right-wing extremism couldn’t be from ‘real America.’

On Tuesday, the Washington Times revealed a recent Department of Homeland Security assessment that warned about increased activity by “rightwing extremists.” Conservatives have responded with hyperventilation, claiming that the report meant the government was targeting them. On Hugh Hewitt’s radio show Tuesday night, Politico’s Mike Allen added fuel to the outrage fire, claiming that the report couldn’t have been written by someone from “the real America”:

ALLEN: I think it’s a big story — I don’t know, I think some bureaucrat who wrote this report like misstated in a way that doesn’t comport with your or my observations about the real America. I think it was somebody, who written inside the Beltway, who maybe has fantasies about what happens outside in the real America. But I think it was obviously overstated that I can only get so like excited about that.

Listen here: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/04/16/allen-dhs-real-america/


Allen’s “real America” rhetoric is ridiculous. In fact, it is reminiscent of far right talker Michael Savage’s claim yesterday that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano should be fired over the report and replaced with a “real American.” It’s doubtful that Allen is comfortable sounding so similar to Savage.

Transcript:

HEWITT: Let’s turn to the other major story, it has been on talk radio, it will be on the cable channels tonight and it will probably go on for some time, the Washington Times story, Mike Allen, about the extremism assessment. How big of a story is this?

ALLEN: I think it’s a big story — I don’t know, I think some bureaucrat who wrote this report like misstated in a way that doesn’t comport with your or my observations about the real America. I think it was somebody, who written inside the Beltway, who maybe has fantasies about what happens outside in the real America. But I think it was obviously overstated that I can only get so like excited about that.

HEWITT: What I really want to know is who wrote it. This to me is to me the most interesting. If it was some career serving, 25 year veteran of some obscure analytical branch, that would be one thing. But if its a new Obama appointee, Mike Allen. That really makes me grin because it’s so…

ALLEN: Well, I think that you’re right. I think it’s a good reporting target that we should find out and I think it’s something that they should cough up and if nothing else to present information to help you determine like whether this is worth getting too stoked about.

HEWITT: Any buzz on that yet, has that surfaced yet?

ALLEN: Oh no, of course. The Washington Times story was very widely circulated today and I think that they were right to pick upon this as an interesting story that was going to drive conversation. What actually means is, I think, is unknown and probably pretty doubtful.

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/04/16/allen-dhs-real-america/

[johnfunk]

1. ... and that's why real Americans call it "Drudgico.com", not Politico

'Nuff said.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Shalitico.

[Renew Deal]

2. I am familiar with Right wing extremists in "real america."

Tim McVeigh, people showing up at Palin rallies, and many many others.

[unpossibles]

4. for real. As someone who has lived in the "heartland" for over two decades

this report doesn't surprise me one bit!

[lyonn]

5. Didn't McVeigh go to Waco to protest the FBI?

You can't have people ranting on popular radio and tv about how this new administration is socialist, communist and trying to take our country down. It only takes a few loonies to have their trigger tripped and they go "off". They are out there without the help of RW radio, don't encourage their insanity.....

There is no doubt that the Secret Service, FBI, etc., are required to work overtime with the radicals given air time night and day, sheesh. Those tea partiers were freaking freaks. We can only hope it is therapeutic for them to rant, vent and do their thing. Therapy wouldn't even help I'm sure.

[Renew Deal]

7. If something bad happens, everyone is going to say "how did we let this happen?"

And there will be consternation for months and years over it. The behavior by the "right wing extremists" such as fox, Limbaugh, the republican party, and their zombie supporters, is exactly why they are labeled "right wing extremists."

[madmom]

6. My hubby is a member of a gun board. Believe me, they are there!