Confront threat or more will die

It is becoming ever-more essential that we directly confront a growing threat: the heavily armed lunatic right-wing fringe.

The nut-talk has once again ratcheted up. "Obama is a closet Muslim." (Proof: his reaching out to the Muslim world in his Cairo speech). "Obama has a socialist agenda" -- or even a fascist agenda, take your pick. (Proof: the takeover of failing G.M.) "Obama is out to gut democracy." "Obama is not a natural-born U.S. citizen." (No proof needed for such obvious "truths.") It goes on.

Let's be frank about the unspeakable: President Obama's life is in jeopardy from this group. The recent killings of abortion provider Dr. George Tiller and Holocaust Museum guard Stephen Johns are merely warm-ups for the real prize: President Obama. Jews, blacks, Muslims, and their "ilk" are also in grave jeopardy from this cadre of armed lunatics.

Few are speaking out against the growing threat. Right wing talk show hosts openly inflame it. Semi-legitimate news outlets (i.e., Fox News) further it with incendiary diatribes posing as news. Even mainstream media help it along by reporting killings as news without further, sensible commentary.

We face a critical problem. Each of the killers will be labeled a "solitary nut." Those egging him on will walk away, smiling and untouched. Unless we deal all this directly, we'll suffer the catastrophic consequences.

Bruce Barnbaum
Granite Falls