Setback for The New Brown Scare
By Anthony Gregory • Tuesday March 27, 2012 1:55 PM PDT • 9 Comments
Two years ago, members of the Michigan “Hutaree” militia were jailed and charged with conspiracy to violently overthrow the government. As is the case in most of these incidents, the feds had planted an informant among the group. The arrests made a splash in the news, especially among progressive journalists who, beginning at the dawn of the Obama presidency, began weaving together a narrative involving the new threat coming from rightwing extremists. Of course, this nebulous group—rightwing extremists—included all the usual suspects we were told to fear during the Clinton era: anti-government groups, tax resisters, self-proclaimed patriots, reactionary populists, armed Americans, white separatists, anti-Semites, and various militia. This was the motley crew opposed to the center-left managerial state, the group associated with hate crimes, anti-government atrocities, the Oklahoma City Bombing of 1995, and much more.
Well, a federal judge has acquitted the Hutaree militia members of the conspiracy charge. A few remain on the hook for firearms violations. These are no small matter—they face up to ten years in prison for keeping and bearing the wrong kind of arms.
As a USA Today writer put it: “Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheldon Light had conceded on Monday there was no proof of a ‘specific plan’ to attack the government.” This is presumably the same U.S. Attorney’s office that had planted an informant and secretly recorded this group. Yet after an elaborate scheme lasting months to compile enough evidence to nail these folks, the prosecutors failed.
This story, vindicating the Hutaree folks, does not seem to be getting nearly as much play as the initial arrests. It does seem telling, however, that one of the most menacing examples of the rightwing extremist conspiracy—armed militia members, sharing dangerous thoughts about the government and practicing with weapons in the woods—has been determined, by the government itself, not to have been the threat it was made out to be.
At the time of the arrests, good friends of mine were a little confused by my outrage. All of civilized opinion seemed to run in favor of locking these people up, the danger they posed too obvious to articulate. If even a federal judge rules in their favor, what does that tell you about the media?
One final point: These people had two years stolen from them. Will they be compensated a fraction of what they deserve? Very doubtful. This is not a case of a victimless crime. There are victims here: Those who were jailed by the federal government and escaped with their liberty after years of humiliation and abuse, and those who are still facing years in a cage over the peaceful and constitutional activity of owning politically incorrect weapons.
Tags: Civil Liberties, Civil Society, Criminal Justice, FBI, Gun Control, Law, Liberalism 
The only real threat is the Boobus Americans who believe everything that the government,through the Main Stream Media,tells them as if the information was gospel. America will be a better place when the majority of the American adult population starts thinking for themselves instead of forming their opinions on what some news agency or TV station tells them to think.
libertarian jerry | Mar 28, 2012 | Reply
Yes, Jerry, at the present time the masses are ignorant, arrogant,infantile, and superstitious; easy prey for the power elite.
richard | Mar 28, 2012 | Reply
If I remember correctly the 2nd amendment reads:
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
So in essence aren’t these people within their rights as set down by the Constitution of these United States or am I miss understanding something?
Will | Mar 29, 2012 | Reply
And yet the takeover of the Southwest of this United States of America by Mexicans (both legal and illegal) is completely ignored, even though they rally at our universities and teach overthrow in our schools. When will we ever hear of the government putting a stop to that??
Lucy M Young | Mar 29, 2012 | Reply
Even more telling regarding the hollowness of the government’s case is that the charges were thrown out based on the defense’s motion to dismiss. When one side makes a motion to dismiss, the judge must view the evidence “in the light most favorable” to the other side. Even with that favorable standard of proof, the prosecution couldn’t avoid dismissal. Pathetic. Outrageous.
dennis | Mar 29, 2012 | Reply
In my opinion, this is not about left or right. This is about an overgrown national police force looking for something to do. They use agents provocateur in order have some fun and to stir up business. What is needed is for some sort of judicial oversight.
Alger Hiss | Apr 2, 2012 | Reply
Actually, the Obama administration has deported immigrants at twice the rate that Bush did. He is perhaps the most active deporter in presidential history.
Anthony Gregory | Apr 4, 2012 | Reply
And sir, after you fact check that statement would you please come back and pay for that bridge that I have for sale.
Ron | Apr 4, 2012 | Reply
If you’re referring to my statement, Ron, I would only point to one of the many news articles that have covered the trend:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/20/us-obama-immigration-idUSTRE78J05720110920
“The Obama administration had deported about 1.06 million as of September 12, against 1.57 million in Bush’s two full presidential terms.
“This seeming contradiction between rhetoric and reality is a key element of debate over U.S. immigration policy, and stakes are high for 2012′s presidential election as Obama faces criticism from both conservatives and liberals.”
Anthony Gregory | Apr 5, 2012 | Reply