From an email sent by Bob Barr:
While I am rarely surprised, I am always angered when I find out a government agency has issued a suggestion that you and I may be part of a “militia movement” and that we may become terrorists.
Why are we the target of such suspicion?
Because of our independent thinking, liberty-minded activism in the 2008 election? That’s right, a government report concludes that we could be in some secret plot to subvert our government with violence. No, this isn’t an April Fool’s joke. Here’s the story.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has spent $254 million between 2004 and 2007 funding state-based “Fusion Centers.” Although they were formed to help local and regional law enforcement communicate better and develop crime-fighting strategies, at least one has stepped way out of bounds.
Recently, the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC), one of those federally funded Fusion Centers, released a report on “The Modern Militia Movement.” In it, they revealed a process for identifying potential terrorists. Their model includes political activism on behalf of me and my political campaign among other!
That’s right, if you supported me or Ron Paul, or certain others, you are the target of their suspicion.
This is totally absurd.
I suspect you are as angry as I am . . . and rightfully so.
When I decided to run for President, I realized we would ruffle a lot of feathers in Washington in both parties. And I guess I should have predicted that I and my supporters would garner attention.
You may have seen or read media coverage over the past few days about this. And now we need to bring attention to this issue of Fusion Centers and rein them in.
But I need your help.
You see, before I can expand my legal and public lobbying efforts I need to pay off the last of my campaign debt.
I am pleased to report that as of now we have raised more than 97% of all funds spent and we are very close to paying off the last of the bills.
Your courageous gift to my campaign in any amount for $25 to $50, $100, $250 or even more, will me the funds to pay off my last debts and to combat the Fusion Centers.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Bob Barr
P.S. — Remember, DHS-funded Fusion Centers may be tracking our actions. Your gift will give them something to think about! It says you are willing to take a courageous stand against their efforts to label us as a danger to America. Please, let me hear from you right away. Thanks again!
P.P.S. – Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin and I sent a letter of protest to Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. An official in his administration replied acknowledging our concerns, apologizing for the error and promising to remove references to us. I responded with gratitude but remain concerned about the broader issue of DHS spending hundreds of millions of dollars on Fusion Centers who may be targeting political activists – perhaps with a special interest in those who oppose the status quo – for surveillance.
If you are unhappy with AP, you should try reading Daily Kos discussions, which claim they are heavily Republican-biased at a level meaning that newspapers should drop their AP service. Examples of newspapers doing this are given.
I notice that Barr still wants to ignore Baldwin, the only one of the three presidential candidates mentioned in the MIAC report that Barr chooses not to name but instead lumps him in as one of “certain others,” presumably referring to the Libertarian and Constitution Parties.
Funny how the AP avoids mentioning the third party presidential candidacies of both Barr and McKinney.
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=10112295
Associated Press – April 1, 2009 3:54 PM ET
ATLANTA (AP) – Former U.S. Reps. Bob Barr and Cynthia McKinney are not often on the same side, but they both are speaking out on potential abuse of “fusion centers,” funded by the Department of Homeland Security to blend state and local law enforcement and national security aims.
The ACLU cites Barr – once a conservative Georgia Republican congressman – and McKinney – who was a liberal Democrat – in a press release Wednesday expressing concerns about fusion center risks to privacy rights.
The ACLU asked Homeland Security to investigate five examples of alleged abuse, “from directing local police to investigate non-violent political activists and religious groups in Texas to advocating surveillance of third-party presidential candidate supporters in Missouri.”
This is actually a decent retire-my-debt letter.