Posted on 04/16/2010 2:08:25 PM PDT by onyx
Former President Bill Clinton said Friday that parallels exist between the mentality that inspired the 1995 bombing of an Oklahoma City federal building and today's anti-government attitudes.
In an interview with The New York Times, Clinton specifically targeted remarks made by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) at a Tea Party rally in Washington Thursday as problematic:
"There can be real consequences when what you say animates people who do things you would never do,” Mr. Clinton said in an interview, saying that Timothy McVeigh, who carried out the Oklahoma City bombing, and those who assisted him, “were profoundly alienated, disconnected people who bought into this militant antigovernment line.”
The former president said the potential for stirring a violent response might be even greater now with the reach of the Internet and other common ways of communication that did not exist on April 19, 1995, when the building was struck.
"Because of the Internet, there is this vast echo chamber and our advocacy reaches into corners that never would have been possible before,” said Mr. Clinton, who said political messages are now able to reach those who are both “serious and seriously disturbed.”
He will be delivering the keynote address Friday at an event about the Oklahoma City attack being sponsored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and the Democratic Leadership Council.
Mr. Clinton pointed to remarks like those made Thursday by Representative Michele Bachmann, the Minnesota Republican, who when speaking at a Tea Party rally in Washington characterized the Obama administration and Democratic Congress as “the gangster government.”
“They are not gangsters,” Mr. Clinton said. “They were elected. They are not doing anything they were not elected to do.”
Tea Partiers held hundreds of rallies across the country on Thursday, which was Tax Day.
Clinton made his comments before appearing at a symposium about the 1995 bombing, which occurred during his first term in the White House.
Some Democrats, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, have warned that right-wing "extremists" could engage in acts of violence as a result of strong anti-government attitudes.
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Thank you. William Jefferson Clinton ignores his namesake. Of course, he’s really Billy Blythe, right?
Exactly.
Judging by Obama's and congress' poll numbers, the public did not elect them to rape and pillage this country, Mr. Clinton. You're losing your touch.
She looks a bit like Helen Thomas, only a little less vivacious and attractive.
with these people you don’t go on the defensive. You strike twice as hard and ridicule this disgraced impeached former President that is just lying again through his teeth. Obama was not elected to ram marxism down our throats. we need to push back on these turds - hard - we can’t do like Bush and take the so-called higher ground
Whole heartedly agree!
I’ll never forget Bill Clinton telling a gasping black church membership that they had suffered “too many church bombings” and lynchings not to get out and vote against Bob Dole.
Bill Clinton can, and will, go straight to hell.
My favorite David Brinkley quote was that Bill Clinton “Never said a damn thing worth repeating”.
Clinton gave a speech in 1995 blaming the "right wing extremists" and "Rush Limbaugh" for the Federal Building bombing. He was still smarting from the ass whopping he got in the '94 midterm election when his policies cost him his support in Congress. Dipwad hasn't learned a thing in the last 15 years.
Regards,
GtG
ETL, Please do not EVER post a picture of that thing again!! I am trying to eat dinner here!
Thank you for posting this!
I did it for all the FReepers struggling to lose weight!
“I did it for all the FReepers struggling to lose weight!”
Hey, I resemble that remark! :)
That’s right! He lied about that too.
potlatch! You’re the best! Woo-Hoo!
Thank you onyx!
Thanks for all your valuable posts with links.
I have to save this article just for the info.
You’re welcome.
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