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Oklahoma
State Senate
For Immediate Release: April 16, 2009 Responding to a report of the Obama administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) characterizing returning veterans and others who uphold traditional American values as “right wing extremists” and a threat to American security, Senator Steve Russell R-OKC will offer a resolution calling DHS and the Administration to account. The nine-page document from the DHS titled "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," has caused an outcry from veterans groups, Republican lawmakers and conservative activists. "It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration," said the report, which also listed as suspect gun owners and veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The outcry resulted in a demand from the head of the American Legion to meet with Ms. Napolitano, a request the DHS chief said she would honor next week when she returns to Washington from her current tour of the U.S.-Mexican border. Sponsored by Senator Steve Russell, a retired Army Colonel and veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, Senate Resolution 42 demands that President Obama’s Administration ‘retract this report and apologize to America’s returning war veterans.’ “To suggest that we would terrorize the very nation we risked our lives for should give all Americans pause,” said Russell. “Yesterday afternoon I participated in a rally with thousands of good, law-abiding, God-fearing Oklahomans who voiced their concerns about the Federal government’s expenditures of our hard-earned dollars,” said Russell, referring to the Tea Party rally that was held on the steps of the State Capitol. “According to the Department of Homeland Security report, these people would also be considered threats to the national security. “It is vital that we take a stand and express, in our constitutional right to peaceful assembly and our extreme displeasure and disagreement with the Administration on this important matter,” Russell continued. “Taken at face value, this report from our Department of Homeland Security would qualify the vast majority of Oklahomans as threats to our national security,” Russell added. “If upholding traditional American values such as the sanctity of life, the right to bear arms and defending your country is extremist, then I stand so accused,” Russell concluded. Senate Resolution 42 further states that the Oklahoma
State Senate supports America’s military veterans, who have
risked their lives preserving the nation instead of attacking
it, and believes that the traditional American values under attack
by the Obama Administration should be respected and revered by
the federal government. For more information contact:
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