VIDEO: FBI raids counties tied to Michigan militia group

By GottaLaff

Remember that Department of Homeland Security report that warned us about extremists?

So do I:

The violent right, however, is a particularly difficult problem for law enforcement. Since the early 1990s, the movement's theorists have promulgated the concept of the "unorganized resistance" conducted by "lone wolves." It's a tactic meant to prevent believers from joining organizations that undercover law enforcement agents might infiltrate. Adherents are urged to keep to themselves, to use the Internet to inform themselves and to avoid rallies where they might be photographed. They're also urged to act on their own.

At the same time, American extremists have the benefit of our lax gun laws. In most countries, would-be terrorists need to join groups in order to secure arms. Here, they can buy them by the carload at a nearby gun store. The NRA is the lone wolves' best friend.

All my previous posts on the report can be found here.

With that in mind, check out the not-Muslim, not-foreigners who are being raided:

The FBI conducted raids Saturday night in Washtenaw County and Lenawee County in an investigation involving members of Hutaree, a Christian-oriented militia group based in Lenawee County, AnnArbor.com has learned.

Other areas have been raided, too, but it is not clear if they are related. The Department of Homeland Security and the Joint Terrorism Task Force are all involved in the raids, and several arrests have been made.



Not a very comforting report, is it?

Once again, we are reminded of the 1990s, Waco, and Tim McVeigh. The climate is unsettling, and the language used by Tea Baggers, Republicans, and even our own Congress members is not helping. Nor are the attacks, both physical and verbal.

We need to hang on to reason and conversation. A lot of citizens are feeling very threatened, whether it's their fear of becoming a white minority, or genuine concerns about financial burdens, taxes, health care, the list goes on.

Whatever the issues are, violence is not the answer. The media and our government officials need to step forward and take the lead in strong denunciation of the irrational actions and words that have become all too prevalent of late.

Commenter: " I do not feel sorry for a family who loved a murderer"

By GottaLaff

From one of our Commenters, a self-proclaimed "Christian".

Obama said, "However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence." --If Obama only cared that much about the countless babies who died at the hands of that abortionist

A family member said, "Today we mourn the loss of our husband, father and grandfather. Today's event is an unspeakable tragedy for all of us and for George's friends and patients. This is particularly heart wrenching because George was shot down in his house of worship, a place of peace." Wow, how about the wombs that all of those babies were in? The womb is supposed to be a safe place of peace for a baby. But that monster would intrude and kill each one of them, with no remorse.

And I do not feel sorry for a family who loved a murderer. And I sure do NOT feel sorry for a church that had no problem allowing a murderer to attend.

Debra J.M. Smith
of
www.InformingChristians.com

Your turn.

VIDEO: Christian Group Airing Pro-Obama Ad in Ohio

By GottaLaff

Political outreach by Christian groups has long been associated with Republican candidates and conservative causes. "One of our goals with this project is to raise up a different Christian witness," Vanderslice said. Whereas more established Christian groups may focus on abortion or same sex marriage, Matthew 25's main concerns include family, eradication of poverty and world peace. It aired a pro-Obama TV spot during last month's Saddleback Forum that emphasized his role as a husband and father.

The group has not finalized its ad buy, but intends to air it on Christian radio stations in ten to fifteen markets across Ohio, at least 30 to 40 times on each station, Vanderslice said.

Amen.

Poll-itics: Obama leads among Christians

By GottaLaff

What?? Barack Hussein Obama leads among... Christians???

A new Barna Group poll finds Sen. Barack Obama maintains a nine point lead over Sen. John McCain among Christians, 43% to 34%.

Key finding: "Of the 18 faith groups identified in the polls, McCain is only leading among evangelicals and it's a narrow lead. Obama leads among the other 17 faith groups identified including the born again vote. Barna notes that would mark the first time in more than two decades that the born again vote has swung toward the Democratic candidate."

Complete survey results are available.

Oh, this is just too sweet for words.

Gay Scientists Isolate Christian Gene

Snort guffaw. No diss to our tolerant Christian folks. Funny to hear it with this spin.

Via Pam.

Tennesee Church Killing Was An Anti-Liberal Christian Terrorist Act

You know we all thought it was. The sheriff is having a news conference right now. Background here by a Kossack member of the church that was attacked. News story here, more as I get it.

Only question is how long before the Fundies make him a hero like Eric Rudolph?

Sad update- per this diarist at Kos, Fox is the only news channel that didn't carry the news conference. I wonder why.

More recent update here.

Christians for Obama

By GottaLaff

But.. but... he's one of them Muslims!

A new Christian political action committee backing Democrat Barack Obama in the presidential race is escalating its efforts to elect the Illinois senator with the help of Christian voters this November.

The Matthew 25 Network, named after the Bible verse (“I tell you the truth, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me”) is a consortium of Christian faith leaders and activists working to elect more Democrats to office who share the same “biblical and gospel values,” said Mara Vanderslice, the head of the PAC.

Obama shares... "biblical and gospel values"? Who knew?

Vanderslice said the group intends to spend at least $500,000 in advertising between now and Nov. 4, and the group will focus mainly on Christian radio and Christian publications, such as the National Catholic Reporter and Relevant Magazine.

A new one-minute radio ad will be airing on Christian radio in Ohio, Michigan, and Colorado in the short-term. Vanderslice said they plan to expand the buy to other swing states, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, Missouri, and North Carolina.

[...] The ad underscores Obama’s Christianity.

There shouldn't be a need to underscore his religion, Christian or otherwise.

Brit Hume questions Obama's Christianity

By GottaLaff

Obama needs to "Fight the Smears" even harder:

In fact, Obama does indeed have a “Muslim background,” but that in no way makes him a Muslim — a point he emphasized last year on the campaign trail when he was asked “to explain his Muslim heritage”:

“My father was from Kenya,” he said, “and a lot of people in his village were Muslim. He didn’t practice Islam. Truth is he wasn’t very religious. He met my mother. My mother was a Christian from Kansas, and they married and then divorced. I was raised by my mother. So, I’ve always been a Christian. The only connection I’ve had to Islam is that my grandfather on my father’s side came from that country. But I’ve never practiced Islam.”

[...]The Post article Hume referenced is no longer available online and it does not appear on the LexisNexis database.

Remember: If Obama makes a claim, his veracity is dubious at best, and he's an anti-American terrorist. If Brit Hume makes a claim, he is not only believable, but he is the most trusted all-American patriot in all of Newsdom.