| Right up to the point where the FBI and Homeland Security announced that Faisal Shahzad was the suspected Time Square attempted bomber the silence from Republicans was deafening. As long as it was thought that the suspect might be a middle aged bald white guy, well there was no talk about throwing him into the military system. Now that it is clear he is a naturalized citizen of Pakistani extraction, the usual suspects are coming out of the woodwork bleating that he should be treated differently than other citizens.
Here is what that inveterate jackassRep. Pete King of New York said:
"Did they Mirandize him? I know he's an American citizen but still,"
If you think that Republicans have any kind demented consistency on this issue, think again. When the nine members of the Hutaree militia were arrested for their plot to kill police officers in an attempt to bring down the U.S. government, did anyone hear Sen. McCain or Rep. King inciting they be put in the military commissions system? After all they were gearing up for acts of terrorism, they have in fact been charged with terrorism.
No, the Republicans were silent then as well. The fact is that since these were Caucasian right-wingers they were not used by the Republicans to stoke fear. They were all Mirandized and even though they might be able to provide some kind of intelligence about the activities of other anti-government militias no one suggested that they be transferred to military custody.
The Republicans have used fear as the motivating factor for their campaigns for the ever since 9/11. The fear of so-called "Islamofacism" has let them continue the race baiting of the Southern strategy. When the people plotting against the safety of our people are brown, well then it is a good thing to be wailing about denying rights of citizen. When they are more pale, well it is time to be silent.
It begins to seem that what many of us have thought about the Republican Party for years, namely that it is a racist organization, is more true than not. Even if you are a citizen like Jose Pedilla or Faisal Shahzad and your skin is not lily white, then your right's under the Constitution are up for grabs, and political point scoring. After all to them MIOFWP.
The floor is yours. |
