William Gheen, founder of anti-immigration group Americans for Legal Immigration PAC says people need to start thinking about violent insurrection against "Dictator Barack Obama". On right-wing Christianist Janet Mefferd's radio show, Gheen said [mp3 file]:
We're no longer referring to him as President Barack Obama. Our national organization has made the decision and made the announcement we now refer to him as Dictator Barack Obama. That's what he is. And basically at this point, if you're looking for a peaceful, political recourse there really isn't one that we can think of, and I'm really not sure what to tell people out there than I guess they need to make decisions soon to just accept whatever comes next or some type of extra-political activities that I can't even really talk about because they're all illegal and violent.
No peaceful recourse. Just accept whatever comes next, or engage in extra-political activities that are all illegal and violent. It seems pretty clear to me, but of course he insists that he's been misunderstood, and that he really meant something else. Here are a few excerpts from his clarification statement.
My comments on the radio show were merely meant to reflect what I see Americans who are paying close attention to these issues see facing them.
See, when he said he didn't know what else to tell people, he was just explaining what he thinks they were already telling themselves. Got it? As explained in his clarification, while he believes that "people in America are being forced into a decision between submission or more revolutionary means", he wants everybody to understand that it's "Dictator Barack Obama" who's forcing those Americans to contemplate violent insurrection, while Mr. Gheen insists that he has "disavow[ed] any form of violence on many occasions".
Any form of violence. The guy is, apparently, a total and complete pacifist. But then he also says "I've never started a physical fight, but I've finished a few in my time and I would never engage in violence against anyone for any reason other than to protect myself and my family from physical harm."
So he's against violence except when he justifies it by claiming that it was defensive. Presumably like when you encourage others to engage in violent insurrection against the government, and then insist that it's because you were forced into doing so by the democratically-elected Chief Executive that you refer to as "Dictator".
In further clarification, he explains that "if there is ever another violent revolution in America [the violent revolution that he says people need to engage in if they're not willing to [j]ust accept whatever comes next], I can have nothing to do with it." So while he may feel that violent insurrection is the only option other than just giving up, his plan is to remain "committed to the path of peace and nonviolence", let other people do the fighting, and just act as a sort of cheerleader.
But if Gheen is committed to a path of peace and nonviolence, he has some funny ways of showing it. Back during the 2010 election, there was a bit of a fuss about AliPAC’s endorsement of Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth, and racist language posted by commenters on the AliPAC website. This is what the Phoenix New Times had to say:
We called ALIPAC organizeer William Gheen and had to listen to a blast of profanity and his asking us to contact him by e-mail in the future so he could shove a hard copy of our questions “up [our] ass.†He threatened to “sue the shit out of†New Times for even asking about racist language on the Web site.
Maybe it’s just me, printing out emails and forcibly inserting them up somebody else’s rectum isn’t anywhere near “the path of peace and nonviolenceâ€.
In any case, it appears that he’ll be cheerleading for a team that he is sure will lose. Because, as he said in his clarification statement, “I do not believe that the forces that are destroying America can be vanquished with the force or [sic] arms. I believe this is a spiritual conflict. I believe that only through divine Providence will God save the United States of America.†Or maybe he was referring to “illegal and violent†spiritual warfare.
Is AliPAC encouraging the overthrow of the United States government through imprecatory prayer?
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Comments: 43
I only know if it by reputation, but I can imagine that Mr. Gheen's call to rise up and "stick it to The Man" would pale in comparison.
"This guy doesn't strike me as particularly clever or eloquent."
LOL, definitely not. His backpeddling on Alan Colmes' radio show was just sad.
"Of course he also is promoting a vaguely defined cause that is thoroughly dislikeable. No, I get it. It's 1.) Kill Obama. 2.) Kill all the undesirables."
This is, as near as I can tell, a fairly common sort of message being delivered, in one form or another, by various guests on Janet Mefferd's show. Last month, it was Randy Thomasson of Save California (from teh gayfolk) talking about the possibility of another civil war if more people don't start to "vote christianly".
They lie about that, too.
And are Mr. Gheen's comments more likely to reach more people the comments of Biden/Obama/Congressperson Waters/Congressperson Wilson among others that Tea Party is made up of terrorists, hostage takers, enemies of America, racists, etc.?
Because I think calling for violent insurrection against the government is more comment-worthy than the executive making decisions about how best to use limited resources and establishing enforcement priorities. I'm not aware that such internal policies regarding the use of prosecutorial discretion by executive agents requires any Congressional or judicial action. But if they do, I don't think calling for violent insurrection is the best way to go about getting such action.
"And are Mr. Gheen's comments more likely to reach more people the comments of Biden/Obama/Congressperson Waters/Congressperson Wilson among others that Tea Party is made up of terrorists, hostage takers, enemies of America, racists, etc.?"
Probably not. But I think they might be likely to reach more people who are more amenable to the idea of engaging in warfare (physical, spiritual or both) against the government of the United States.
The disparagement of whole millions of Americans by high office holders in the administration and Congress is unconscionable on a whole other level but is blissfully accepted and even encouraged by many on the left. So telling.
And in your search for the 'violent' consider how uncivil the union protesters were that trashed the Wisconsin legislature. Then there's this evidence of progressive left hatred and violence.
Faithful execution of the law doesn't mean the creation of a total police state, using all available resources to enforce every law as stringently as possible, with no allowance for prioritization or discretion by the executive.
"And in your search for the 'violent' consider how uncivil the union protesters were that trashed the Wisconsin legislature."
After you provide the evidence to back up that accusation, we might discuss the difference littering, or even vandalism, and violent insurrection.
"Then there's this evidence of progressive left hatred and violence. "
I didn't look at all of it, but I saw stuff that ranged from mildly insulting through to disturbing images advocating violence against particular individuals, but I didn't see anybody calling for the violent overthrow of the government. If such calls were made, I condemn them, and point out that they in no way make Mr. Gheen's call for violent insurrection any less inappropriate and disturbing.
Mr. Gheen is part of that. I've never heard him but will go look at your link will. I thought the info on this group was well written I can't imagine the fellow really being so irrisponsible. I'll check it out.
I want to hear some experts in the law talk about some of the things President Obama has done. Such as attempting to control the rules regarding illegal aliens (If he really is doing that)
When a President does some things wrong, who is responsible for approaching him? Is it usually a state that fights it as it was for the medical program. It seems as though there should be some in house combination that is charged with some kind of oversight.
In terms of oversight of the President and the Executive branch, the courts play a role, as does Congress (both in its capacity to create laws and its impeachment power), and perhaps most importantly, the American voting public.
Calls for violent insurrection indicate a desire to bypass those forms of oversight, and to just start killing anybody in the government who won't do what you tell them to do.
"Faithful execution of the law doesn't mean the creation of a total police state, using all available resources to enforce every law as stringently as possible, with no allowance for prioritization or discretion by the executive."
is the exact opposite of the rule of law. The executive branch is supposed to use all available resources to exactly enforce every law as written as "by the book" as possible (call that stringent if you will) with as LITTLE discretion shown by the executive as possible. To do otherwise is rule by man. Such is not America. We give our President discretion in foreign affairs but not in domestic ones.
BTW, is the willful act of leaving the state (to which you were elected to serve in the legislature) so that you can stop the legislative process from going forward an act of insurrection? If not why not? If it is, should it be punished as at the least it sets a horrible example of how governance is supposed to proceed? [The 1913 Webster def'n of insurrection is : A rising against civil or political authority, or the established government; open and active opposition to the execution of law in a city or state faction tries to wrest control from another ]
As for your question about legislators leaving a particular state, my answer is that unless they engaged in acts of violence while doing so, it's not really relevant to this discussion.
I'd also suggest that you might like to update your choice of dictionaries. I think the Oxford English Dictionary provides a much better definition of the word "insurrection":My advice to you, Ken, is the same as it is for Mr. Gheen. If you've got issues with any level of government in the United States, I suggest you find non-violent means of addressing them. I don't think either of you (or both of you together) would stand much of a chance if you were to attempt a violent insurrection against the Montclair Township Animal Control Dept., never mind the U.S. federal government.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/this-is-war-congressional-black-caucus-travels-us-cities-using-violent-rhetoric-declares-war-on-racist-tea-party-says-tea-party-wants-to-lynch-blacks-calls-for-bank-runs-civil-unrest-in-th/
I notice that, unlike Mr. Gheen, the CBC people could and did talk about the kinds of activities they encouraged people to get involved in, because none of them were "illegal and violent."
I think you might better have luck protesting in front on banks, in the districts of members of the Tea Party Caucus, etc. as they suggested, than you will engaging in armed revolution against the US government, Ken.
But maybe you're more interested in joining guys like Grady Warren in his "Teahad" against Muslims, "nigra race pimps", homosexuals, Hispanics, etc. In any case, I hope you don't escalate from violent rhetoric to actual violence.
I am not a big fanatic about illegal immigration, but I do not think it is good or fair, or egalitarian since Mexico has such strict laws on its own immigration policy - and is such a corrupt state. The whole question serves only as a wedge to undercut social issues in the US, as is offshoring, and H1 visas ... another case where the law serves corporations and the rich, and the media aids by clouding the issue.
I'm not sure that's true, Bruce. I think there are plenty of good, serious, non-weird stories about immigration (legal and illegal) and about immigration law reform out there, although it might take a little sifting through the kinds of stories you're talking about to find them.
This particular story, to my mind at least, isn't really about illegal immigration. It's about threats of violence, revolution, insurrection, civil war, etc. coming from people like Bill Gheen, Randy Thomasson, Glenn Beck, etc. And also about pointing out that, in addition to threats of physical violence and warfare, there are often calls for or mentions of religious or spiritual warfare in their messages as well.
Year to date, OBAMA rating has dropped, OBAMA has provided little next to ZERO leadership, I will be the first to admit such disappointment and disgust in his so called ' CHANGE ' campaign
OBAMA entire election campaign was based on one word ' CHANGE ' that so called change resulted in nothing more than the appointments of the entire CLINTON staffers.
Then if I might add, in this allege "economic" crisis they had zero problems giving themselves pay raises? Hello Did I miss something?
Do you realize that the Disabled, Seniors, Veterans who recieve a piddly 2% raise in Social Security DID NOT get that, this is being used by the OBAMA Administration as a so called re-election ploy?
Sickens me!
It's called RADICAL response to so called POOR leadership, I wouldn't be surprised if we do have a CIVIL unrest in United States of America, here and now United States of America is more like pro-communism!
Just think about it! It's rather obvious! Here are just a few examples. Our military is now merging and into one unit opposed to seperate divisions, or at least they are trying to for example Navy, Marines, Army, Airforce etc., they now mix/merge military members for example if the Navy is short nurses they beg Army and they get shuffled like a deck of playing cards, there are a lot of subtle hints what the United States Government is trying to do to the public.
We have the HIGHEST unemployment rate in decades, we have the HIGHEST foreclosures in decades, we have the HIGHEST job loss since great depression of 1930's the evidence is rather clear.
I'm not certain the so called insurrection you speak of is at all a SHOCKER given what has been done with this so called administration under OBAMA.
Leon Panetta as CIA HEAD are you kidding me? That's the dumbest choice ever made, that is just a minute example. I know you have written many articles about this and a lot more. America needs to wake up fast! We no longer are a so called WORLD LEADER!
Certainly we have lost a lot of WORLD WIDE RESPECT especially in the international community BUSH borrowed from CHINA, JAPAN even ask RUSSIA now that's a joke!
Threatening to violently overthrow the government isn't the answer. It's part of the problem.
I think you missed the point, I plan to vote PERRY 2012 his background is exemplary.
This so called " government " is riddled with fraud, abuse and massive misrepresentations, how did you MISS that? It's rather self evident!
But if he somehow managed to get himself elected as POTUS, I wouldn't advocate violent insurrection against the government.
I was waiting for Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, director, businessman, investor, to change the LAW so he could run for President of United States of America, haven't you heard what he tried to do yet?
He was UNSUCCESSFUL, as well as UNABLE to change the laws to benefit ONE MAN based on his acting abilities.
You know he did put on a good act when it came to Maria Owings Shriver his own wife!
Wil, you did a great job with the article. I just think you forgot given the current state that United States of America is in, massive loss of jobs, massive unemployment, massive lies political especially who has time to respect what once upon a time was?
We as Americans wasted so much time being Loyal, Devoted to United States of America we missed the underlying POLITICAL events that were obscured from the general public. The politicians wasted OUR TAX dollars on massive bail outs for what? Hope you notice in every single even of crisis the AMERICAN PEOPLE are expected to pay for bail outs, notwithstanding massive government FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE, just think about it, do your research and discover the facts, not fiction released to public.
The politicians waisted our tax dollars here's a clue . . . costofwar.com AND I have lots more where that came from as well.