The irony is that while these people claim they love America the most, they are the least American among us. The report isn't that long, less than 10 pages, it's worth a look (pdf).
Paralleling the current national climate, rightwing extremists during the 1990s exploited a variety of social issues and political themes to increase group visibilityand recruit new members. Prominent among these themes were the militia movement’s opposition to gun control efforts, criticism of free trade agreements (particularly those with Mexico), and highlighting perceived government infringement on civil liberties as well as white supremacists’ longstanding exploitation of social issues such as abortion, inter-racial crimes, and same-sex marriage. During the 1990s, these issues contributed to the growth in the number of domestic rightwing terrorist and extremist groups and an increase in violent acts targeting government facilities, law enforcement officers, banks, and infrastructure sectors.That paragraph, as Joe noted to me last night, is the most chilling. The report is being diplomatic. By "during the 1990s," they mean "the Oklahoma City bombing." It's saying that the things that led to the bombing look an awful lot like what the right-wing is saying and doing today. Republicans should be very careful where they, and their allies at FOX and among the hate groups of the religious right, tread. Because they started inciting violence during the campaign last fall, and they haven't let up. One of these days, one of their followers will get the message. And that's the day that the GOP, FOX, and the religious right will have an awful lot of explaining to do.
