From an editorial in the Greene County Republican Committee newsletter:
The ultimate task for the people is to remain vigilant and aware ~ that the government, their government is out of control, and this moment, this opportunity, must not be forsaken, must not escape us, for we shall not have any coarse but armed revolution should we fail with the power of the vote in November ~ This Republic cannot survive for 4 more years underneath this political socialist ideologue.
A truly appalling call for violence, and a truly appalling repudiation of basic American democratic principles. The author seems willing to start a bloody war with his fellow Americans, a war that he’s certain to lose — since by hypothesis he’d be fighting against the majority who reelect the President, coupled with the armed forces who would doubtless follow the lawful orders to suppress any such revolution — and that, if seriously prosecuted, would costs the lives of a vast number of his fellow citizens.
And why? Because, by hypothesis, President Obama has been reelected? If you don’t like who gets elected, persuade your fellow Americans so they elect your party instead of the other (as in fact they have in most elections over the past 35 years). Or persuade them to elect your party to one or both Houses of Congress, to counteract the President’s power (which in fact happened just two years before). That’s the American way.
Yes, I agree that in some circumstances armed revolution can be justified. But the likely costs of such revolution in a country such as the modern U.S. range from the horrific to the catastrophic. Partly because of this, it is very rare for armed revolution to be justifiable — even under circumstances that are much more extreme than the ones we face now — in a democracy where peaceful means (winning elections) are available. And in any event, all that bloodshed can’t be justifiable if it’s likely to be futile, as it certainly would be, and if it’s over policy differences that, important as they might be, cannot warrant bloody civil war.
I realize that this author is just an editor of a county party newsletter. And I quite doubt that more than a few Greene County Republicans really believe this nonsense. (The newsletter says, “Content of newsletter does not reflect the opinion of the Republican Party whole or in part, all contents offered are individual,” and in this instance I’m sure it’s true.) But I’ve heard enough people say variants of something like this that I wanted to speak out publicly about it. And I certainly hope that the Greene County Republican Party Committee does the same, and makes sure that such calls for violence don’t appear in its publications again.
UPDATE: Commenter redheadedbuddha reports that the site now says — apparently referring to the controversy —
~ all this rip roar Media hype….. is all about…..being armed with the voices of We the people…..you must arm yourself with a spoken word to be heard ~ just as the founding fathers spoke out during the revolution……So, Yes, arm yourself with many voices for the people and by the people….as your constitution allows….should the vote fail ….this November or at anytime……
~ Being Armed with Your Voices of We The People is The Only Way if Any Vote Should Fail No Matter Who You Vote for ~
” your voice being heard is the best method “
Yeah, that’s what “armed revolution” means — armed with words, “just as the founding fathers spoke out during the revolution.” Right.