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The Left Won't Let This Shooting Go to Waste

By Matthew Vadum on 6.10.09 @ 5:56PM

An alleged extremist named James Wenneker von Brunn shot a security guard at the United States Holocaust Museum here in Washington, D.C. The shooter, who was himself shot by police, is reportedly in critical condition and, sadly, the security guard he shot has died.

This shooting is, of course, a terrible crime committed on sacred ground that all reasonable people should condemn.

But the left-wingers in the blogosphere and the commentariat are already claiming that because the shooter was an alleged right-wing extremist, specifically a racist neo-Nazi, Janet Napolitano's Department of Homeland Security was right to identify conservatives, libertarians, and returning veterans as potential terrorists in the controversial (and recently withdrawn) directive to law enforcement officials across the country.

This is the worst kind of smear but it's par for the course for the left.

BarbinMD at the loathsome Daily Kos website writes

With the second rightwing political shooting in as many weeks, will the conservative media apologize for their "outrage" at the Department of Homeland Security report on "rightwing extremism"?

Predictably David Neiwert of Crooks and Liars gloats, "Anyway, it's not like we didn't warn that this was going to happen."

Similarly, Andrea Nill at the Wonk Room at Think Progress writes, "Brunn's hateful rhetoric followed by today's violent outburst chillingly echoes a controversial warning issued by the Department of Homeland Security concerning a rise in 'rightwing extremist activity.'"

Michelle Malkin has rounded up some other reactions from the loony left.

The reprobates at the left-wing smear site Media Matters for America must be jumping for joy at this seemingly heaven-sent opportunity to advance the progressive cause. By sheer coincidence, at the website of the journalistic equivalent of a roving, extremely well-funded death squad, left-wing hate purveyor Eric Boehlert put up a post last night called "O'Reilly and Fox News will have more right-wing vigilantism to explain."

No doubt Boehlert's going to get a raise from the Media Matters boss and founder serial liar David Brock. Two months ago Media Matters mocked conservatives when they raised legitimate concerns about the report.

By comparison, TPM Muckraker's post is mild and factual. Its authors don't seem to be trying to capitalize on today's events.

None of this changes the fact that Napolitano's politically motivated directive was wrong then and remains wrong now. As I wrote in an article called "Thoughtcrime Redux," it was a malicious un-American smear calculated to ridicule and intimidate opponents of the left's policy goals. It goes without saying that police need to be on guard against right-wing extremists, left-wing extremists, and anyone planning to carry out violent attacks. But police should not be on guard against or investigating individuals and groups solely because they don't happen to agree with the Obama administration or the Democratic majority in Congress.

Just a few minutes before the shooting occurred I happened to be at an ACLU-sponsored meeting about reconsidering the Patriot Act and a presenter, who identified himself as a former FBI agent, denounced the DHS report for being "overbroad." He's right.

Meanwhile, expect the liberals' hate fest to continue and probably intensify. The leftists may even say today's events prove that stronger hate-crimes legislation is needed. Perhaps the attack today will serve as a new rationale for other parts of the left's agenda too.

I would not be surprised to hear a strongly worded comment from the highest levels of government: Never let a good shooting go to waste.

(crossposted at Capital Research Center)

Updated: Shame on me for missing this idiotic mini-rant from Andrew Sullivan, this garbage from Gawker, and this particularly shameful post from the highly overrated Matthew Yglesias of Think Progress whose pontifications are funded by the George Soros-led Democracy Alliance. (hat tip to Joseph Lawler)

View all comments (47) | Leave a comment

Tim| 6.10.09 @ 6:08PM

The right wing is dangerous: I've often worried that Ben Stein is one bad hotel room from a shooting spree.

Tim| 6.10.09 @ 6:18PM

Not just left wing blogs, unforetunately:

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/

Pete| 6.10.09 @ 6:19PM

Obama clearly doesn't care much for Jews either based on his policies (at least externally communicated ones) in that region. Can someone smarter than I am explain why he still gets the majority of the Jewish vote or appears to have their support? I am serious here...this is a blindspot for me that I simply do not understand.

Crusader| 6.10.09 @ 6:32PM

The usurper needed something to bolster his "cred" with the Jews after that speech he gave in Cairo last week. What better way than for a kook right winger (*wink, wink*) to go shoot up the Holocaust Museum. God bless it you can't make this stuff up.

Like I said after the abortionist was late-term aborted...base is slipping so an abortionist gets whacked and then the Holocaust Museum gets shot up. Man, could they make it any more obvious?

P.S. - Why did it take ol' von Brun EIGHTY-NINE frigging years to get angry enough to shoot something up?????

Cory| 6.10.09 @ 6:36PM

Matthew-

Have you seen this?...
http://tinyurl.com/ncrjju

Missy| 6.10.09 @ 7:09PM

But I thought it was a good thing to pal around with terrorists--Obama did. And Ayers really was a (left-wing) terrorist.

Red Phillips| 6.10.09 @ 7:11PM

Tim, don't confuse being hawkish for war post 9/11 with conservatism. Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs is hardly a conservative. He defended the ORIGINAL DHS report. He was skeptical of the TEA Parties because he said the had been overtaken by extreme elements. He was very hostile to Ron Paul and Ron Paul supporters. Ect. This is par for the course for him. Typical of many neocons, he can not stand and attempts to demonize anyone to his right.

Matthew Vadum| 6.10.09 @ 7:39PM

No, I hadn't, Cory. Thanks very much.

Crusader| 6.10.09 @ 7:51PM

Right wing kook, from MARYLAND????? Will wonders never cease.

Angel| 6.10.09 @ 9:44PM

You mean now I have to beg the Left's forgiveness for the crazy actions of an 89 year old Skin-Head?

I didn't think the Left even liked Jews these days.

Things are becoming curiouser and curiouser, Alice.

win| 6.10.09 @ 10:49PM

The left smears the Jewish and Israel more then conservatives ever have. If anything conservatives are over supportive of some of Israel policies.

The definition of "right" and "conservative" they have is what is unworkable, its basically means anything that we can make look or sound bad, unless the left is doing it at the moment.

I am so over believing in Democrats to help anything in this country.

WhatTheHuh| 6.11.09 @ 12:01AM

more than anything, and as an artist, i resent this guy being referred to even loosely as an artist!! his artwork sums it up perfectly, political views notwithstanding... he was a complete wannabe with zero self-esteem or dignity, and whose lack of creativity was rivaled only by his lack of common sense. an angry, pathetic get, who will forever be rememberd as the racist, loser fuck that he is. hopefully he doesnt have much time left on his meter...

PartisanSmartisan| 6.11.09 @ 1:05AM

I agree that it's disingenuous of anyone to capitalize on something as terrible as this senseless murder...or even to utter an "I told you so." This isn't about the right and the left, it's about the man who lost his life. While it's human instinct to look at circumstantial evidence or behavior patterns that might have led the shooter to this heinous act, in the end, it's just speculation. It's also absurd to try to legislate "hate speech." The only way to eradicate hate speech is by more speech.

Missy| 6.11.09 @ 1:31AM

Cool. I like the way you think, Partisan.

Rick| 6.11.09 @ 2:05AM

To Crusader: So you support murder of the abortionist? And think von Brunn waited 89 years too long to start shooting at innocents at a museum? I pity you.

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Missy| 6.11.09 @ 2:57AM

Rick, Crusader's humor may be dry but he's no hater. And, no, he doesn't support the killing of any human being, including the 60,000 lives Tiller savagely destroyed.

The murder of Dr. Tiller was wrong, but Tiller was no martyr, either.

Crusader| 6.11.09 @ 7:47AM

Rick, no moron. Go back and read it again. This time try reading it with your victim, PC-radar on.

As far as the abortionist goes, live by the sword and all that.

Crusader| 6.11.09 @ 7:48AM

Sorry, that should have said WITHOUT your victim, PC-radar on.

Interloper| 6.11.09 @ 8:02AM

Frankly, I would not be surprised to learn von Brunn is a reader and commentator at the American Spectator. A sizable share of the regulars on Right Wing sites are anti-Semites and racists.

As for the DHS report, it is spot on for the Pittsburgh cop killer, Dr. Tiller's assassin and von Brunn. Hardly a coincidence.

JamesJ| 6.11.09 @ 8:08AM

Did Dave Mathews get a job? Or did his mother finally kick him out of the basement?

Basil Plumley| 6.11.09 @ 9:00AM

Well, well, well

Interloper is out on parole. Thank you for such riveting commentary. Perhaps, you could also fit that Moslem convert shooter into that broad brush.

Reagan said it best when he eschewed the Left-Right political spectrum. Reagan saw things vertically. Those who promoted greater Freedom were good (higher on the vertical spectrum)while those who took away Freedom were bad (lower on the vertical spectrum).
Of course, when you look at people and events in that context, you notice the kindred spirits/strange bedfellows.
The caveat for Reagan was too much Freedom without the corresponding responsibility was a bad thing; it was Anarchy.

Based on Reagan's vertical spectrum, Interloper and his ilk would have more in common with the bad actors he (Interloper) decries.

Pete| 6.11.09 @ 9:02AM

Go find you nearest real Jew and ask him what he thinks of the messiah coming down on the side of Palestine...

Thomas| 6.11.09 @ 9:33AM

Let's see. A radical anti-abortionist murders the leading late term abortionist in the US and is immediately branded a conservative terrorist. An 89 yera old radical anti-semite shoots up the Holocaust Memorial. killing a guard, and is immediately branded a conservative terrorist. A Muslim shoots up a Jewish daycare center, another shoots up a synagogue, another drives his car through a group of people on the street and still another drives his suv through a group of students on a college campus. Yet all of these people are simply disturbed individuals, not Muslim terrorists. PETA spends years physically attacking people on the street, destroying property and injuring people and they are simply labeled an animal rights group.

Do you see a pattern here? Groups protected by the liberals and the media can be responsible for the deaths of many more people in a single incident and are simply mentally unstable. Yet, a person who can somehow be identified with beliefs that are at odds with liberal ideas commits a murder, that person is a conservative terrorist. Simply put, the media and the left have their own agendas and they will do anything to advance them.

The problem with the DHS report was not that it was incorrect when it warned of an increase in violent activities by extreme rightwing radical groups and persons. It was incorrect and extremely over-broad in including such groups as the American Legion, military veterans and Ron Paul supporters in with the Aryan Nation and other violent fringe groups.

One last thought. How could the Holocaust shoot have possibly occurred? Private possession of firearms is strictly banned in D.C. It should be one of the safest cities in the country.

NavyBrat| 6.11.09 @ 9:34AM

Really, Interloper? Obviously you are a post & run coward who's not a regular on this site. All of the anti Semitic bile I've read on this site comes from left wing a$$hats. They post their voluminous, rambling prattle clothed under the shoddy veil of supposed intellectualism.

Let's not forget, as liberal victims of revisionist history have, that the Nazis were the National SOCIALIST Worker's Party. They bought into the honey that a smooth talker dripped into their ears about how he would end their economic suffering at the hands of those who enforced the Treaty of Versailles. This guy gave good speeches, & people BELIEVED in him. Never, in a million years, if one had told them what their country would become, would they have thought it possible. Yet the Nazis came to be & made their mark of evil on the world.

Fast forward to America today. We have a man of the same charisma & enigmatic past (well, enigmatic for those who don't care to look). He has been portrayed as the knight in shining armor that can save our country from whatever ails it, all we need to do is just give him more power. He'll make everything OK. This is the same honeyed potion that Hitler poured down the ears of normal, everyday Germans, who eventually shuddered at what their nation became. This is not paranoia. This is almost lock step, a historical parallel. And men like this will stop at nothing to seal & keep their power & turn the populace against the enemy du jour by controlling media, outlawing free speech, & by contrived acts of terror.

Let's not forget that Hitler burned the Reichstag & blamed the Jews. What's in THIS guy's pocket? Who knows? I don't think it would be anything as overt & evil as an act such as the burning of the Reichstag. Maybe incidents like this, all linked together by a complicit media, along with a blanket generalization of a report that lumps almost EVERYONE who believes differently than the current government in power, can be a catalyst. The catalyst that this "President" (I'm beginning to think Caesar is more appropriate) needs to solidify, in the minds of the dumbed down public, who the "true enemy" of "progress" is. Look for free speech to begin to be threatened here VERY soon. We will see, won't we?

"It is the absolute right of the state to supervise the formation of public opinion."...Joseph Goebbels

Since we basically have a state run media these days, tell me what's different about then & now?

NavyBrat| 6.11.09 @ 9:39AM

While I don't call myself a "real Jew" (don't keep Kosher, don't go to synagogue), it pisses me off to no end to know that so many of my fellow Jews bought this charlatan's line of BS without hesitation. They will only see the error of their ways after there is a mushroom cloud over Tel Aviv. They are amongst some of the most useful idiots in all of Caesar Obama's legions. Hopefully, they'll wise up soon, but I'm not holding my breath.

Heather| 6.11.09 @ 9:45AM

Why are you refering to this man as a right wing extremist? He had a website were he said he hated Bush, hates O'Reilly and opposed the Iraq war.

He sounds more like a liberal.

Voice of Reason| 6.11.09 @ 10:01AM

Left-wingers will stop "capitalizing" on this kind of violence when right-wing extremists and religious fundamentalists stop shooting innocent people. There is a decided asymetry these days in terms of which side of the political spectrum is willing to commit heinous acts of violence. Historically, this has been different at times (see, 1970s, Symbionese Liberation Army, etc.). But the crazy pendulum has swung. Take a look at your own house.

NavyBrat| 6.11.09 @ 10:18AM

Voice of Reason. While I would agree that there is a season for every brand of whackjob under the sun, it's painfully obvious, from the examples above of this putz's website, that he hated EVERYONE. O'Reilly, Bush, the Fed (not that I like that bunch too much either, but I don't think its some "Jewish cabal"), the list is endless. This hate was brewing in him for AGES. Hell, his wife divorced him over this nonsense in the 70's. I think that it's disingenuous to link his actions with the words of conservative commentators the way that the state run media is doing. I've listened to these people & writers for quite some time, & have NEVER heard ANYTHING even REMOTELY resembling anti Semitism. In fact, the conservatives that I read & listen to can rightly claim that they have supported Israel & carried the outcry against anti Semitism more than any LIBERAL I've heard. And that's G*d's honest truth.

Crusader| 6.11.09 @ 10:19AM

Von Brunn was a Nazi. Nazis are left wing kooks.

Voice was the muslim scum who shot the Soldiers a "right wing religious fundamentalist?" Oh I forgot he is part of the only "religion" you libtards seem to love, islam. Also is Rev Wright a part of the right wing kook fringe? Over the weekend he said "them Jews" are keeping him away from the usurper.

Anyway I say the next "target" will be one of the following:

A) an NAACP HQ or office
B) A gay or GLBT office
C) A mosque

I'm sorry I'm trying to think of what us right wing kooks hate so much but I missed the last meeting so we'll leave it at those choices. My (worthless fiat) money is on A.

NavyBrat| 6.11.09 @ 10:22AM

Oh, & Voice of Reason, you forgot to mention the jailhouse Muslim who killed a soldier. Why no mention of THIS particular whackjob as an example of homegrown Islamic terrorist freaks? Not like they didn't arrest a bunch of the same type of idiots for attempting to shoot up Jewish community centers in New York & also attempting to get Stinger missiles to shoot down a military plane. He's no different than any other "lone wolf" type of psycho.

Pete| 6.11.09 @ 10:40AM

NavyBrat,

Thanks for the clarification on my Jewish question - I guess I figured that nationalistic sentiment for the homeland would trump domestic political leanings...seems I figured wrong, though I have to think more and more Jews are seeing the light lately.

Pete| 6.11.09 @ 10:52AM

something new on same topic...

Israel's Channel One TV reported that Netanyahu was told Tuesday by an "American official" in Jerusalem that, "We are going to change the world. Please, don't interfere." The report said Netanyahu's aides interpreted this as a "threat."

NavyBrat| 6.11.09 @ 11:04AM

Pete. Here's a good article from the American Thinker from March 13th of this year. It does a good job of explaining the dynamic of American Jews, Jews in Israel, & the evangelical community. It's one of the best description of this dynamic than anything I've read in quite some time. Let me know what you think.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/unrequited_love_evangelicals_a.html

NavyBrat| 6.11.09 @ 11:09AM

As far as little Caesar "threatening" Bibi. I'm sure Bibi could care less about how this neophyte boob & closet anti Semite is going to "change the world." In fact, Bibi's probably going to "change the world" all on his own. By nuking Iran back to the stone age if they continue their shenanigans. Then we can look forward to Caesar to direct one of his Consuls to go to the UN, & with the rest of the commies & anti Semites there, condemn Israel for acting in the interests of their own national security. Those normal folks (like us) will know the truth. That Bibi & Israel did the world a favor by glassing that country.

Pete| 6.11.09 @ 11:18AM

NavyBrat,

Thanks for the link...the quote below says it all. In my mind, Jews were a more serious religious bunch in general, not as prone to having an uber-liberal sub-set such as is festering in the Catholic church.

""irreligious Jews" comprise a significant percentage of the highly educated elites who are susceptible to new age religions and cultic movements. Irreligious Jews flock to quasi-religious movements, both political and social, because they "lack an anchorage in (the) conventional faith" of Judeo-Christian traditions. In other words, they are spiritually starved.

As Pogo, the cartoon character (and nonsectarian possum), famously said, "We have met the enemy and he is us." Without biblical standards, progressive American Jews have devolved into a self-destructive bar scene from Star Wars, a Mos Eisley Cantina of mainstream liberals, academic Marxists, and political and media elites snarling their way toward annihilation."

Pete| 6.11.09 @ 11:23AM

The raw arrogance of this horse's ass is staggering. I thought the US was no longer "dictating" to the rest of the world? We will all be indebted to Israel if and when they do what they have to do. Wonder if the UN statements/resolutions afterwards will be any stronger than those on N. Korea?

astromom| 6.11.09 @ 11:41AM

This is silly! He hated Obama, he hated that he picked Rahm Emmanuel (Jewish). He hated the Bush Administration, he felt that they allowed the christians (another group he hated), the Jews and blacks (Colin Powell, Condie Rice). He hated Reagan. He hated anyone that didn't fit into his warped world and that included alot of people.
He was anti-govt and that meant he hated both sides. He was neither Liberal or Conservative. The party he was from was the "party of Hate."

Oldefarte| 6.11.09 @ 11:46AM

Matthew's comments are timely. I cringed when the news flashed concerning this insane kook-nutjob shooting in DC [and the MSM's worded description of him as a RIGHT-WING SUPREMACIST]. I'm suprised Obama hasn't revisited his THEY CLING TO THEIR RELIGION AND GUNS manifesto [or Wright to start preaching from his GD, AMERICA bible again]. If anything, with this killer's mentality aparently concering his hatred of Jews/Israelies [and his attack location at the museum], he SHOULD BE tied to the anti-semitic movement that currently exists in Europe [and has always existed since WWII] and the Middle East, mainly due to their large Muslim populations. Let see, we now have a president who has made a recent trip to the Middle East and apologized profusily for America's sins against Muslims, and now some moronic nutjob tries to wipe out Jewish sympathizers in their museum----maybe there's a connection there somewhere? This is NOT a KKK moment, folks; but it damn sure may be an AL-QUIDA/MUSLIM TERRORISTS moment!!!!

Angel| 6.11.09 @ 1:40PM

Interloper/Jeremiah--you're back, bigot. The skin-head was one of you; you're the Fascist Liberals, after all.

Patriot| 6.11.09 @ 2:44PM

The shooter, James von Brunn, is a registered DEMOCRAT in Maryland! Just another Liberal extremist full of hate. Kind of ruins the Left's stupid smear-job attempts.

Charles McNease| 6.11.09 @ 7:51PM

It was mostly american troops who ended the holocaust. I don't remember the jews ever thanking the troops for saving them. Why should the american taxpayers fund this Museum in the beginning?

PJ| 6.11.09 @ 8:38PM

This 88 year old man of German blood--obviously harboring hateful and deranged emotions from the WWII era--KILLED A BLACK MAN, not a Jew. Always extremists. Take it for what it is and leave the politics out of it. Normal people don't spend their whole lives hating and then killing innocent people.

Pauley| 6.11.09 @ 10:05PM

McNease, haters like you aren't welcome here. Bigot.

Miriam| 6.24.09 @ 1:34AM

DAVID LETTERMAN'S HATE, ETC. !

David Letterman's hate is as old as some ancient Hebrew prophets.
Speaking of anti-Semitism, it's Jerry Falwell and other fundy leaders who've gleefully predicted that in the future EVERY nation will be against Israel (an international first?) and that TWO-THIRDS of all Jews will be killed, right?
Wrong! It's the ancient Hebrew prophet Zechariah who predicted all this in the 13th and 14th chapters of his book! The last prophet, Malachi, explains the reason for this future Holocaust that'll outdo even Hitler's by stating that "Judah hath dealt treacherously" and "the Lord will cut off the man that doeth this" and asks "Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother?"
Haven't evangelicals generally been the best friends of Israel and persons perceived to be Jewish? Then please explain the recent filthy, hate-filled, back-stabbing tirades by David Letterman (and Sandra Bernhard and Kathy Griffin) against a leading evangelical named Sarah Palin, and explain why most Jewish leaders have seemingly condoned Palin's continuing "crucifixion"!
While David, Sandra, and Kathy are tragically turning comedy into tragedy, they are also helping to speed up and fulfill the Final Holocaust a la Zechariah and Malachi, thus helping to make the Bible even more believable!
(For even more stunning information, visit MSN and type in "Separation of Raunch and State" and "Bible Verses Obama Avoids.")