Right Wing Groups Go Off Deep End, Again

Right Wing Groups Go Off Deep End, Again
By Ray Hanania
Southwest News-Herald Newspaper Friday May 17, 2013 

Sure it’s not right that the IRS targets anyone, but the truth is the federal agency scrutinizes a lot of people for a lot of reasons.

The Tea Party just happens to be a politicized right wing group with loud mouthed fanatics who are constantly looking for ways to tear down this country and President Obama.And the same right wing groups seem to joyously denounce Obama over the handling of the terrorist attacks against the Benghazi Embassy that took place on Sept. 11, 2012 and cost the lives of four Americans including the Ambassador there, J. Christopher Stevens. Of course it was a terrorist attack, but in the fog of conflict there were some suspicions that the protests were driven by anger in the Muslim World, which is not uncommon. Later, it was determined that the attackers had been organized and not spontaneous protests that turned violent in Libya, a country consumed by violence that was in part spawned by American politics.

In a fantasy world, one might look at both controversies and think they are legitimate concerns facing the American people. But in the real world, both controversies are being driven by right wing politics posturing for the 2016 presidential elections.

It’s symptomatic of the problems the right has caused this country since Sept. 11, 2001 in which Republicans exploited terrorism to give themselves a mandate of power driven by fear and emotion rather than solutions.

So many rights were violated when the Republican fanatics were in control of the administration of former President George W. Bush. So many lives were lost because of real lies that meant something, like the claim that there were Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.

American soldiers invaded Iraq, and killed not only Iraqi soldiers but thousands of innocent civilians. So many American soldiers lost their lives there needlessly, too, because the conflict didn’t bring democracy to Iraq or safety to America from terrorism. Instead, the misguided Iraq war brought profits to Halliburton, former Vice President Dick Cheney’s multi-national corporation. It gave President Bush some revenge against a dictator who once threatened his father, also former President George H.W. Bush.

The Tea Party fanatics are whining that they were targeted by the IRS. What does that mean? It means that they were given extra scrutiny, much in the same way that our country gives extra-scrutiny to a lot of folks who happen to be Middle Eastern despite the fact there is no evidence of them doing anything. Targeted. Harassed. Investigated. Nothing.

This isn’t a new practice that followed Sept. 11 terrorism. It has been happening for years, driven by racism and political corruption.

After serving two years active duty during the Vietnam War, the FBI investigated me for more than two years accusing me of being a “terrorist.” Why? Because I happen to be an American Arab. My brother was a Marine. My dad was in the 5th Army and my uncle served in the Navy, both during World War II.

What the Tea Party is going through is nothing compared to what others experience. Write a book about it. I did. And quit whining.

Frankly, I am sick and tired of the right wing nut jobs holding this country hostage, dividing our society with racist hatred and polarizing our nation.

You should be, too.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning columnist. You may reach him athttp://www.TheMediaOasis.com or follow him on Twitter athttp://www.twitter.com/RayHanania.)