(h/t Heather)
On the heels of C&L's reporting on the Poplawski case, David Shuster filled in for Chris Matthews on Hardball Monday and did a very important segment asking the question: "Is the angry rhetoric emanating from the right winger talkers infecting the hard right of the GOP? And are they being turned into militias?"
I'm not against guns, but would like more restrictions and all assault weapons banned. The gun manufacturers just want to turn profits so they have their minions activated to pounce on any mention of a "gun" in a negative light. Charles Blow came on and explained this:
“New York Times” columnist Charles M. Blow wanted a better sense of the mind and mood of the country of the right, and so he immersed himself in conservative media. He wrote in Saturday‘s “New York Times”: “My read: They're apocalyptic. They feel isolated, angry, betrayed and besieged. And some of their leaders seem to be trying to mold them into militias.”
Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, was on to defend those who are worried President Obama wants to take away their guns and leave them unarmed, or something. They just need those assault weapons or they won't feel safe at night. You can see what we're up against here, with people like Gottlieb carrying the water for the gun-toting, anti-Obama crowd, which spreads a very dangerous message of fear that is resonating far and wide to a very unhappy segment of our population.
BLOW: But I think what's happening in that echo chamber is very dangerous, because it only takes a couple of people — or one person — to do something that — with a gun that is very irresponsible, that leads to something like this. And I feel like, if you are going to let these people ramble on, and if they feel like that's a responsible way to use the platform that they have, then that's very unfortunate.
GOTTLIEB: I'm not saying confront that fear with guns, but that doesn't mean you can't own one. And if you think the government might take your rights away from you, then you want to exercise before that happens. It's a normal reaction. Everybody does it, left or right. In fact, a lot of the people buying guns, first time gun owners, happen to be liberal Democrats.
BLOW: A lot of people buying guns are also not liberal Democrats. Across the spectrum people are buying guns. People have written this story in newspapers across the country. When they ask people why they're buying guns, they‘re afraid the government will infringe on that right. That is a dangerous situation.
The best part is that Gottlieb can't ever name an actual statement by Obama suggesting he'd like to take away people's guns, let alone any serious initiative by either Obama or the Democrats to even pass gun-control legislation.
Full transcript is here.
GOTTLIEB: It is a dangerous situation. It‘s dangerous because the government shouldn‘t be doing it. It‘s a legitimate fear that Americans have, based on statements made by elected public officials.
SHUSTER: Name one statement. Just so we‘re clear, name one statement that is not a statement from Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity. What statement from President Obama has given what you call people a legitimate fear?
GOTTLIEB: President Obama has tried to duck the issue a lot. It‘s the spokesman for his administration.
SHUSTER: We‘re just trying to be specific.
GOTTLIEB: Hillary Clinton, Blaming—blaming Americans owning guns for crime happening in Mexico, which is totally absurd. I mean, things of that nature.
SHUSTER: She didn‘t say that, Alan. Alan, that‘s not what she said. Try again.
GOTTLIEB: Oh, yes. She did say that. I‘m sorry. I have the quotes.
SHUSTER: Alan, you‘re not entitled to your own facts. I think that‘s part of the problem with this entire debate, is when the right wing echo chamber comes up with their own facts, their own analogies, and says that fascism is on the march, and that FEMA is creating concentration camps. You get these nut cases that will take matters into their own hands.
GOTTLIEB: I didn‘t say FEMA was doing concentration camps.
SHUSTER: You just supported the argument.
SHUSTER: That‘s the right way to do it. I can‘t understand why so many people don‘t understand that.
GOTTLIEB: We have every right to organize our people and get them active and energized so they know what‘s happening.
SHUSTER: Right. You don‘t have every right to essentially inspire some of the crazies out there to do something violent because they think fascism is on the march. Alan Gottlieb, thanks for coming on. Charles Blow, from the “New York Times,” we appreciate it as always.
Even Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs is dumbfounded by FOX News using Judge Napolitano on their new live streaming show.
