Are the Militias the militant wing of the Republican Party?

[ck4829]

"Supposedly these militias are against the Federal government. That’s not true. They’re a bunch of liars.

The SPLC report notes that militia activity came to a virtual standstill after Bush got elected.

The federal government did not magically transform into a militia paradise when Bush got elected."

Comment from:

http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2009/08/18/arizona-sues-minuteman-group-leader-alleging-property-tax-scam/

Militias were never as concerned about Bush's attack on the 4th Amendment, torture, NSA wiretapping, etc. as they were with the simple act of electing a Democrat for President.

And then we've got right wing politicians and pundits feeding into their paranoia.

Why did the militias appear during a Democrat, all but completely disappear under a Republican, just to reappear under another Democrat?

[virgogal]

1. No ! eom

[aikoaiko]

2. good observations

You wrote:
Militias were never concerned about Bush's attack on the 4th Amendment, torture, NSA wiretapping, etc. as they were concerned with the simple act of electing a Democrat for President.

There were right wing libertarian types who did speak out, but by and large you are correct that many people in the center and right of center didn't speak out about this issues. I think that's due to their implied trust that these end runs around the constitution would be used against non-citizens (not them, that is) and maybe catch a terrorist or two.

But things like the so called assault weapons bans actually impacted their daily lives (they couldn't buy their favorite guns) and that got them going during Clinton and early on with Obama. Now they'll drape themselves in the flag and constitution about anything. Now they just want to see Obama fail.

[NJmaverick]

3. They are to the Republican party like the SS is to the Nazi party