rightwingwatch--2020-05-08--Tea Party 2.0: What the ‘Reopen’ Protests Have in Common With the Tea Party

Americans remain deeply worried about opening up shops , restaurants , and other stores too soon amid the coronavirus pandemic , according to a new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll , but a relatively small , loud group of protesters in states across the country have grabbed headlines , demanding lawmakers ease stay-at-home restrictions and business closures .
For those who studied and reported on the Tea Party , the parallels are everywhere .
Protests have erupted in nearly every state , with protesters wielding homemade signs , Trump paraphernalia , and guns , attracting some who have called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go about their normal routines , and far-right groups like the Proud Boys .
Confederate flags and Gadsden flags , now a symbol of the Tea Party , are frequent sights .
Beyond the familiar imagery , these reopen protests have ties to groups and figures who funded and helped organize the Tea Party movement .
The first Michigan protest was organized and funded by the Michigan Conservative Coalition and the Michigan Freedom Fund , two organizations with long ties to the DeVos family .
The New York Times reported that Stephen Moore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Koch ally , and a Trump adviser , had secured a funder to pay the legal fees of protesters in Wisconsin to challenge the state ’ s health rules .
Mark Meckler , a founder of the Tea Party with longtime connections to Koch world , and his Convention of States have promoted the protests online via “ Open the States ” and advised protesters on “ optics.
” Right Wing Watch spoke with Lisa Graves , executive director of the watchdog group True North Research , who has studied the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tea Party .
She wrote about these parallels in a New York Times op-ed , where she noted these protests were not fully spontaneous .
The following conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity and length .
Kristen Doerer : Are these protests more of a homegrown phenomenon or is this big political groups organizing these protests ?
Lisa Graves : Like I said in the op-ed , it ’ s both real and manufactured .
You have these brush fires emerging of people who are angry or afraid or don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of flattening of the curve and what ’ s necessary to try to prevent this contagion from spreading so widely in our states and cities and towns .
And then you have some bigger , well-established groups , well-funded groups tied to big funders like Betsy DeVos or Betsy DeVos ’ s righthand financial man who are helping to guide those protests , giving them advice on optics , on how to appear in the media , helping to organize and shape the public relations components of these events .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesting , and then there are also obviously some real well-funded special interest groups that are helping to direct this and fanning those flames .
Kristen Doerer : How similar is this to the beginning of the Tea Party ?
Lisa Graves : It is sort of a Tea Party , 2.0 .
There ’ s real and manufactured anger , and there ’ s an effort to direct that anger toward political opponents or toward a political objective versus things that perhaps ought to make people angry .
So back in 2009 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inaugurated , when people were facing exceptional uncertainty over the collapse of Wall Street in September of 2008 and whether government was going to help people or help corporations , suddenly there ’ s a Tax Day protest .
Along came this effort to try to blow that fear and anger—and I would say documented racism by some—into a movement to attack President Obama and the government instead of dealing with Wall Street , which had caused that meltdown , and instead of demanding that the government be more responsive to the bailout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks .
And here you have a situation in which people are facing uncertainty in the current crisis .
People react to these circumstances with fear and anger and worry about their economic future , and there ’ s an effort to redirect those feelings toward attacking states , attacking government .
Some states are trying to save people ’ s lives—and deal with the reality that the federal government has failed to adequately secure the life-saving equipment and provide the support we need to address this crisis—and deal with the economic uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demands of big corporations , like the oil industry .
So I think that ’ s a significant parallel .
Then you have the parallel of some of the groups helping to orchestrate it or helping to shape it and grow it like Mark Meckler ’ s Convention of States .
And Meckler is obviously a common denominator in both .
Kristen Doerer : In your piece , you mentioned that the Convention of States often recruits activists from gun shows .
And here , you have the gun activist Dorr brothers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook pages and Trump tweeting , “ LIBERATE VIRGINIA ” and claiming gun rights are “ under siege.
” So what ’ s the connection between gun rights activists and these reopen protests ?
Lisa Graves : I know from the research that I did with my team when I was at the Center for Media and Democracy back in 2015 , 2016 that COS expressly recruits from gun shows .
And it ’ s consistent with the other things we were seeing at the time in 2015 , 2016 , 2017 about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to have these constitutional conventions .
One of the other groups , co-sponsored by the Koch-aligned ALEC , even held a machine gun shoot to raise money , and they were targeting gun rights activists , saying they were the caretakers of our government and a Constitution they “ will ” keep—which was underscored with a blood-red line .
At their event at a shooting range , they auctioned off a rapid firing assault weapon , and some of them even sang a song calling their opponents socialists .
This was very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that gun activists have been a prime target of theirs , and part of that is built on the continuing ways in which the NRA operates both as a membership group and as an industry-financed group funded by the gun industry to try to keep people at a heightened state of fear that their guns are going to be taken away when that just not a realistic threat .
But it ’ s a great fundraising tool for them .
Now , fast forward to the present moment , Meckler and his Convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters not to bring your guns , because optics are everything .
I don ’ t know that they ’ ll be successful in encouraging that—some people may well leave their guns at home , and others may not—but these Meckler groups are trying to control the optics or shape the optics .
Kristen Doerer : So , gun activists are a key target audience .
What are other recruitment strategies ?
Lisa Graves : It ’ s a key audience for Convention of States in recruitment , and during the Obama administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Convention of States about Obama , the deficit , and having a balanced budget amendment .
That ’ s been a long-standing goal of Charles Koch and ALEC .
The right wing has been trying to use BBA since the late 70s as a weapon to reduce the size of government , to reduce the power of our government .
But what you can see in looking at these groups , in particular Convention of States , is when Trump wins and pushes through massive tax cuts for big corporations and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Trump family , the Kochs , the Mercers , and others , Mark Meckler does not push his followers or these activists to go out and protest Trump , Congress , Mitch McConnell , or the White House about these massive deficit-ballooning tax cuts .
They weren ’ t urged to protest him at all .
Meckler wasn ’ t instigating and trying to blow into a bigger movement these followers who purportedly were part of this operation because of their supposedly abiding opposition to deficits , to deficit spending .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can see that the convention façade is really just another vehicle for this Tea Party organizer Meckler to have a perpetual sort of standing army of grassroots activists to deploy on the political things they want to deploy on—not on the principle , not when it was inconvenient for them to have a Republican president who makes the deficit bigger .
But instead , now in the middle of this health crisis , in the face of this deadly , very contagious disease , that ’ s where they ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to protest these commonsense protocols to try to mitigate the number of people who die from this .
Kristen Doerer : You noted that part of the idea behind the balanced budget amendment was Koch and ALEC ’ s desire to reduce the size of government .
So , is that part of the motivation that we ’ re seeing now as businesses are shut down and government needs to step up to help people ?
Lisa Graves : At other times , the insider folks like ALEC and the outside folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the federal government .
And now you have a situation where you have the practical abdication of a key role of government by this president to really marshal resources quickly and get enough protective equipment for health care providers and to save people ’ s lives .
Instead of fully deploying those powers , we have a president who has allowed and , in some ways , even spurred this competition between the states of these this vital equipment and thwarted their ability to get it at a low price—even allowing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by competing with the states .
And so , states have had to step up and do more coordination that otherwise we might have reasonably expected the federal government to do to through the Defense Production Act .
You have state governors who are attempting to contend with the reality of this disease by trying to flatten the curve , and you have these groups , attacking those efforts to try to flatten the curve saying it ’ s about government overreach .
That ’ s their claim , obviously , but this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more Americans dead in three months than in the entire Vietnam War .
Kristen Doerer : So , in some sense , are they just trying to help Trump by attacking mostly Democratic governors ?
Lisa Graves : I don ’ t know that .
First of all , they appear to be organizing in every state .
It is the case that Trump has particularly targeted Democratic-led states with his “ liberate ” tweets and more .
And Democratic-led states have had some of these early protests that have been aided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s beyond those states .
The organizing is in virtually every state .
And I think that it is political organizing , and Trump , in essence , has encouraged it in that way to basically attack the governors and to put pressure on them to reopen .
He has made it clear at numerous points that he ’ s chomping at the bit to reopen even as pandemic experts are saying that would be a total disaster and result in more dead Americans .
And you could see his desire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen by Easter , which was at the time just a couple weeks away , and then he had to walk that back , saying that was just his aspiration .
He is skilled rhetorically at putting up these trial balloons and then distancing himself from them .
But as president , those trial balloons aren ’ t just bullshit at the bar .
Those trial balloons have an impact on real people ’ s lives and also set expectations by his fans and followers and then create pressure to advance the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in theory and sometimes as actual policy .
Kristen Doerer : The Koch ’ s Americans for Prosperity says they ’ re not supporting the reopen protests , but what do we know about whether or not Koch is involved ?
Lisa Graves : I ’ m skeptical of the claims coming from Koch world , because we ’ ve seen this playbook before , where they denied repeatedly that they had anything to do in any way with funding the Tea Party efforts in 2009 and 2010 .
And then we know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups were significantly involved even before the Tea Party launch , as Jane Mayer documented in “ Covert Operations.
” For example , “ The Tea Party Talking Points ” was the name of the document that was being promoted by Americans for Prosperity before the Tea Party protests happened that were supposedly spontaneous .
They weren ’ t set up under Bush the previous year and organizing protests against a Republican president on Tax Day .
Suddenly , when Obama was president , and they have lost that election so badly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a desire to stir up anger about taxes when the president , I don ’ t think , had even passed a tax bill in those first 100 days .
I certainly understand that AFP has stated publicly recently that it is not actively promoting these protests of the states and is working on pushing policymakers to open the economy inside the beltway , through inside strategy efforts .
But , you know , we won ’ t know the truth and the real truth until after we see the filings and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the array of groups that Koch and his network have funded .
And we know that Koch world spent time in 2009 , 2010 , and beyond denying they had any role , only to later brag about their role in helping the Tea Party .
Meckler has also said in an interview with Politico that they ’ re not there now , but they may be soon .
So , who knows ?
But also , and this is significant , Koch ’ s Americans for Prosperity followed its denials with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacking the power of the governor and his administration to issue health orders in this pandemic .
That is , Koch ’ s political arm is using its power to try to destroy the stay-at-home pandemic orders that the protesters are protesting .
That is active and substantial assistance to the GOP in Wisconsin and to backstop the protests that they tried to spin the press about .
The fact is that Koch ’ s Americans for Prosperity is actively trying to strike down the rule in Wisconsin , so quite frankly the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the supposed misgivings about previously helping the Tea Party seem awfully convenient and have an effect of manipulating readers .
They have made a display of touting that they are not urging the protests against the pandemic rules , and yet they have rushed into court to try to strike down the rules the protests are attacking .
Actions speak louder than words .
We also know that some of these groups and operatives have long ties to the Kochs .
Stephen Moore is a longtime Koch ally , and has had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Koch fortune including his “ Rich States , Poor States ” report that was produced by ALEC .
Moore is also part of Heritage Foundation , which has long-standing Koch support .
That ’ s not the same , of course , as Koch supporting this particular set of claims by Stephen Moore at this time .

Americans remain deeply worried about opening up shops, restaurants, and other stores too soon amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll, but a relatively small, loud group of protesters in states across the country have grabbed headlines, demanding lawmakers ease stay-at-home restrictions and business closures. For those who studied and reported on the Tea Party, the parallels are everywhere.
Protests have erupted in nearly every state, with protesters wielding homemade signs, Trump paraphernalia, and guns, attracting some who have called the crisis fake, others who want to go about their normal routines, and far-right groups like the Proud Boys. Confederate flags and Gadsden flags, now a symbol of the Tea Party, are frequent sights.
Beyond the familiar imagery, these reopen protests have ties to groups and figures who funded and helped organize the Tea Party movement. The first Michigan protest was organized and funded by the Michigan Conservative Coalition and the Michigan Freedom Fund, two organizations with long ties to the DeVos family. The New York Times reported that Stephen Moore, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a Koch ally, and a Trump adviser, had secured a funder to pay the legal fees of protesters in Wisconsin to challenge the state’s health rules. Mark Meckler, a founder of the Tea Party with longtime connections to Koch world, and his Convention of States have promoted the protests online via “Open the States” and advised protesters on “optics.”
Right Wing Watch spoke with Lisa Graves, executive director of the watchdog group True North Research, who has studied the Koch network’s involvement in aiding the Tea Party. She wrote about these parallels in a New York Times op-ed, where she noted these protests were not fully spontaneous. The following conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
***
Kristen Doerer: Are these protests more of a homegrown phenomenon or is this big political groups organizing these protests?
Lisa Graves: Like I said in the op-ed, it’s both real and manufactured. You have these brush fires emerging of people who are angry or afraid or don’t understand the science and the idea of flattening of the curve and what’s necessary to try to prevent this contagion from spreading so widely in our states and cities and towns. And then you have some bigger, well-established groups, well-funded groups tied to big funders like Betsy DeVos or Betsy DeVos’s righthand financial man who are helping to guide those protests, giving them advice on optics, on how to appear in the media, helping to organize and shape the public relations components of these events. There are obviously real people who are out there protesting, and then there are also obviously some real well-funded special interest groups that are helping to direct this and fanning those flames.
Kristen Doerer: How similar is this to the beginning of the Tea Party?
Lisa Graves: It is sort of a Tea Party, 2.0. There’s real and manufactured anger, and there’s an effort to direct that anger toward political opponents or toward a political objective versus things that perhaps ought to make people angry.
So back in 2009, just weeks after President Obama was inaugurated, when people were facing exceptional uncertainty over the collapse of Wall Street in September of 2008 and whether government was going to help people or help corporations, suddenly there’s a Tax Day protest. Along came this effort to try to blow that fear and anger—and I would say documented racism by some—into a movement to attack President Obama and the government instead of dealing with Wall Street, which had caused that meltdown, and instead of demanding that the government be more responsive to the bailout needs of Main Street than the big banks.
And here you have a situation in which people are facing uncertainty in the current crisis. People react to these circumstances with fear and anger and worry about their economic future, and there’s an effort to redirect those feelings toward attacking states, attacking government. Some states are trying to save people’s lives—and deal with the reality that the federal government has failed to adequately secure the life-saving equipment and provide the support we need to address this crisis—and deal with the economic uncertainty that human beings are facing versus the demands of big corporations, like the oil industry. So I think that’s a significant parallel.
Then you have the parallel of some of the groups helping to orchestrate it or helping to shape it and grow it like Mark Meckler’s Convention of States. And Meckler is obviously a common denominator in both.
Kristen Doerer: In your piece, you mentioned that the Convention of States often recruits activists from gun shows. And here, you have the gun activist Dorr brothers who started a few of those popular reopen Facebook pages and Trump tweeting, “LIBERATE VIRGINIA” and claiming gun rights are “under siege.” So what’s the connection between gun rights activists and these reopen protests?
Lisa Graves: I know from the research that I did with my team when I was at the Center for Media and Democracy back in 2015, 2016 that COS expressly recruits from gun shows. And it’s consistent with the other things we were seeing at the time in 2015, 2016, 2017 about that being a target audience for these efforts to have these constitutional conventions. One of the other groups, co-sponsored by the Koch-aligned ALEC, even held a machine gun shoot to raise money, and they were targeting gun rights activists, saying they were the caretakers of our government and a Constitution they “will” keep—which was underscored with a blood-red line. At their event at a shooting range, they auctioned off a rapid firing assault weapon, and some of them even sang a song calling their opponents socialists. This was very anti-Obama stuff.
And so we know that gun activists have been a prime target of theirs, and part of that is built on the continuing ways in which the NRA operates both as a membership group and as an industry-financed group funded by the gun industry to try to keep people at a heightened state of fear that their guns are going to be taken away when that just not a realistic threat. But it’s a great fundraising tool for them.
Now, fast forward to the present moment, Meckler and his Convention of States people have been telling these protesters not to bring your guns, because optics are everything. I don’t know that they’ll be successful in encouraging that—some people may well leave their guns at home, and others may not—but these Meckler groups are trying to control the optics or shape the optics.
Kristen Doerer: So, gun activists are a key target audience. What are other recruitment strategies?
Lisa Graves: It’s a key audience for Convention of States in recruitment, and during the Obama administration, there were a lot of communications from Convention of States about Obama, the deficit, and having a balanced budget amendment. That’s been a long-standing goal of Charles Koch and ALEC. The right wing has been trying to use BBA since the late 70s as a weapon to reduce the size of government, to reduce the power of our government. But what you can see in looking at these groups, in particular Convention of States, is when Trump wins and pushes through massive tax cuts for big corporations and some of the richest people, including Trump, the Trump family, the Kochs, the Mercers, and others, Mark Meckler does not push his followers or these activists to go out and protest Trump, Congress, Mitch McConnell, or the White House about these massive deficit-ballooning tax cuts. They weren’t urged to protest him at all. Meckler wasn’t instigating and trying to blow into a bigger movement these followers who purportedly were part of this operation because of their supposedly abiding opposition to deficits, to deficit spending.
In that sense, I think you can see that the convention façade is really just another vehicle for this Tea Party organizer Meckler to have a perpetual sort of standing army of grassroots activists to deploy on the political things they want to deploy on—not on the principle, not when it was inconvenient for them to have a Republican president who makes the deficit bigger. But instead, now in the middle of this health crisis, in the face of this deadly, very contagious disease, that’s where they’re going to put their energy, getting those people out to protest these commonsense protocols to try to mitigate the number of people who die from this.
Kristen Doerer: You noted that part of the idea behind the balanced budget amendment was Koch and ALEC’s desire to reduce the size of government. So, is that part of the motivation that we’re seeing now as businesses are shut down and government needs to step up to help people?
Lisa Graves: At other times, the insider folks like ALEC and the outside folks have touted federalism and states’ rights against the federal government. And now you have a situation where you have the practical abdication of a key role of government by this president to really marshal resources quickly and get enough protective equipment for health care providers and to save people’s lives. Instead of fully deploying those powers, we have a president who has allowed and, in some ways, even spurred this competition between the states of these this vital equipment and thwarted their ability to get it at a low price—even allowing the federal government to drive up the costs by competing with the states.
And so, states have had to step up and do more coordination that otherwise we might have reasonably expected the federal government to do to through the Defense Production Act. You have state governors who are attempting to contend with the reality of this disease by trying to flatten the curve, and you have these groups, attacking those efforts to try to flatten the curve saying it’s about government overreach. That’s their claim, obviously, but this is an almost unprecedented deadly pandemic scenario with more Americans dead in three months than in the entire Vietnam War.
Kristen Doerer: So, in some sense, are they just trying to help Trump by attacking mostly Democratic governors?
Lisa Graves: I don’t know that. First of all, they appear to be organizing in every state. It is the case that Trump has particularly targeted Democratic-led states with his “liberate” tweets and more. And Democratic-led states have had some of these early protests that have been aided by some of these groups. But it’s beyond those states. The organizing is in virtually every state. And I think that it is political organizing, and Trump, in essence, has encouraged it in that way to basically attack the governors and to put pressure on them to reopen. He has made it clear at numerous points that he’s chomping at the bit to reopen even as pandemic experts are saying that would be a total disaster and result in more dead Americans. And you could see his desire to rush ahead obviously in the threats to reopen by Easter, which was at the time just a couple weeks away, and then he had to walk that back, saying that was just his aspiration.
He is skilled rhetorically at putting up these trial balloons and then distancing himself from them. But as president, those trial balloons aren’t just bullshit at the bar. Those trial balloons have an impact on real people’s lives and also set expectations by his fans and followers and then create pressure to advance the objectives that he’s stated sometimes in theory and sometimes as actual policy.
Kristen Doerer: The Koch’s Americans for Prosperity says they’re not supporting the reopen protests, but what do we know about whether or not Koch is involved?
Lisa Graves: I’m skeptical of the claims coming from Koch world, because we’ve seen this playbook before, where they denied repeatedly that they had anything to do in any way with funding the Tea Party efforts in 2009 and 2010. And then we know that history shows that in fact Koch groups were significantly involved even before the Tea Party launch, as Jane Mayer documented in “Covert Operations.” For example, “The Tea Party Talking Points” was the name of the document that was being promoted by Americans for Prosperity before the Tea Party protests happened that were supposedly spontaneous. They weren’t set up under Bush the previous year and organizing protests against a Republican president on Tax Day. Suddenly, when Obama was president, and they have lost that election so badly, suddenly, there was a motive and a desire to stir up anger about taxes when the president, I don’t think, had even passed a tax bill in those first 100 days.
I certainly understand that AFP has stated publicly recently that it is not actively promoting these protests of the states and is working on pushing policymakers to open the economy inside the beltway, through inside strategy efforts. But, you know, we won’t know the truth and the real truth until after we see the filings and other documents that come out from this period from the array of groups that Koch and his network have funded. And we know that Koch world spent time in 2009, 2010, and beyond denying they had any role, only to later brag about their role in helping the Tea Party. Meckler has also said in an interview with Politico that they’re not there now, but they may be soon. So, who knows?
But also, and this is significant, Koch’s Americans for Prosperity followed its denials with a legal brief it filed in Wisconsin attacking the power of the governor and his administration to issue health orders in this pandemic. That is, Koch’s political arm is using its power to try to destroy the stay-at-home pandemic orders that the protesters are protesting. That is active and substantial assistance to the GOP in Wisconsin and to backstop the protests that they tried to spin the press about. The fact is that Koch’s Americans for Prosperity is actively trying to strike down the rule in Wisconsin, so quite frankly the recent claims of Koch operatives from AFP on the supposed misgivings about previously helping the Tea Party seem awfully convenient and have an effect of manipulating readers. They have made a display of touting that they are not urging the protests against the pandemic rules, and yet they have rushed into court to try to strike down the rules the protests are attacking. Actions speak louder than words.
We also know that some of these groups and operatives have long ties to the Kochs. Stephen Moore is a longtime Koch ally, and has had his writings in some publications funded by the Koch fortune including his “Rich States, Poor States” report that was produced by ALEC. Moore is also part of Heritage Foundation, which has long-standing Koch support. That’s not the same, of course, as Koch supporting this particular set of claims by Stephen Moore at this time.


rightwingwatch--2020-05-11--Right Wing Round-Up: OBAMAGATE

Right Wing Round-Up: OBAMAGATE

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rightwingwatch--2020-05-11--U.S. On ‘Cusp of War With China’ Over COVID-19 ‘Act of War,’ Claims POTUS Shield’s Frank Amedia

Frank Amedia , the former Trump campaign adviser who created the POTUS Shield network to support Trump ’ s presidency , urged his followers in an online video Monday to pray for the president , vice president , and the nation ’ s military leaders , who he said are considering how to respond to what he claims was the Chinese government ’ s intentional spread of the COVID-19 virus .
A text message to POTUS Shield supporters asked for “ urgent ” prayer for “ POTUS VP and cusp of war with China , ” while Amedia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ the threat of war with China.
” In his video , Amedia called the Chinese government ’ s actions “ almost an act of war , ” which was slightly more qualified than remarks he made last week in which he said the Chinese government ’ s intentional spread of COVID-19 was an “ act of war ” and that most Americans didn ’ t “ understand the precipice we ’ re at with the decisions that need to be made to that.
” Amedia said on Monday that the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s actions is being discovered and suggested that it will force President Donald Trump to take some form of retaliatory action .
But he said it would be “ great ” if God decided to take care of the Chinese government himself so that Trump didn ’ t have to .
Amedia urged people to pray that God would give Trump “ divine wisdom ” to make the right response , adding that he ’ s counting on God to speak to Trump through his spiritual adviser and White House aide Paula @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just a mere accident .
At which point it became intentional , I ’ m not certain , but I ’ m certain intelligence likely knows by now , not only from this nation but other nations .
I believe that somehow this was intended and it went awry .
And I also believe there are consequences of this .
I stated [ during last week ’ s online event ] that we had , that no matter how it came about , even if it was unintentional at first but then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 ] is almost like an act of war , and that this president and those around him and our military leaders , that they are called to make some very strong decisions in the present time right now .
This is very serious .
You can ’ t ignore it and do nothing .
And you don ’ t want to overreact and do the wrong thing .
So , we are praying for God ’ s wisdom .
We are praying for wisdom that passes human understanding .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind of Christ involved for this president and those advisers around him , that they understand what God ’ s will is in this , and also that we put the fear of the Lord in the enemies of this nation , that they understand that there is a consequence , and that wouldn ’ t it be great if the Lord himself took measure , and it was only by his spirit , and that we in this country and our leaders and this president and vice president did not need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has often spoken of his network ’ s insider access to the White House , which is no secret given that White has kept a stream of Trump-supporting Christian leaders pouring through the place .
Amedia encouraged people to pray for White and another White House aide , Jenny Korn , and said he believes God will impart divine wisdom to Trump through White : We do have a strong base of faith that goes in and out of the White House and that this president and vice president draw upon .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in a place , not just those who are in the ministry , and outside of the White House in the faith community , but those who are there serving .
I want to encourage you to continue to pray for pastor Paula White .
God has put her in that place .
And at some point , some time , as his pastor and spiritual adviser , we ’ re believing God to speak through her also in words that he will understand that he will be able to discern and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind from God on high .
Amedia began Monday ’ s video by asking POTUS Shield ’ s “ warriors , worshippers , and watchmen ” to pray for Trump and Vice President Mike Pence , saying that they are weary from dealing with the crisis .
Noting that people working in the White House have tested positive for COVID-19 , Amedia declared that God would keep Trump and Pence healthy , citing verses from Psalm 91 , which promises that whoever dwells “ in the shelter of the Most High ” will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We thank you , Father , that this plague can not touch our leaders , ” he said .

Frank Amedia, the former Trump campaign adviser who created the POTUS Shield network to support Trump’s presidency, urged his followers in an online video Monday to pray for the president, vice president, and the nation’s military leaders, who he said are considering how to respond to what he claims was the Chinese government’s intentional spread of the COVID-19 virus. A text message to POTUS Shield supporters asked for “urgent” prayer for “POTUS VP and cusp of war with China,” while Amedia’s YouTube video is accompanied by text warning of “the threat of war with China.”
In his video, Amedia called the Chinese government’s actions “almost an act of war,” which was slightly more qualified than remarks he made last week in which he said the Chinese government’s intentional spread of COVID-19 was an “act of war” and that most Americans didn’t “understand the precipice we’re at with the decisions that need to be made to that.”
Amedia said on Monday that the “real truth” about the Chinese government’s actions is being discovered and suggested that it will force President Donald Trump to take some form of retaliatory action. But he said it would be “great” if God decided to take care of the Chinese government himself so that Trump didn’t have to.
Amedia urged people to pray that God would give Trump “divine wisdom” to make the right response, adding that he’s counting on God to speak to Trump through his spiritual adviser and White House aide Paula White.
Here’s more from Amedia’s video:
I firmly believe this was not just a mere accident. At which point it became intentional, I’m not certain, but I’m certain intelligence likely knows by now, not only from this nation but other nations. I believe that somehow this was intended and it went awry. And I also believe there are consequences of this. I stated [during last week’s online event] that we had, that no matter how it came about, even if it was unintentional at first but then intentionally fostered, that [the spread of COVID-19] is almost like an act of war, and that this president and those around him and our military leaders, that they are called to make some very strong decisions in the present time right now. This is very serious. You can’t ignore it and do nothing. And you don’t want to overreact and do the wrong thing. So, we are praying for God’s wisdom. We are praying for wisdom that passes human understanding. We’re praying that there would be the mind of Christ involved for this president and those advisers around him, that they understand what God’s will is in this, and also that we put the fear of the Lord in the enemies of this nation, that they understand that there is a consequence, and that wouldn’t it be great if the Lord himself took measure, and it was only by his spirit, and that we in this country and our leaders and this president and vice president did not need to make and take an action.
Amedia has often spoken of his network’s insider access to the White House, which is no secret given that White has kept a stream of Trump-supporting Christian leaders pouring through the place. Amedia encouraged people to pray for White and another White House aide, Jenny Korn, and said he believes God will impart divine wisdom to Trump through White:
We do have a strong base of faith that goes in and out of the White House and that this president and vice president draw upon. And we have certain people that God has put in a place, not just those who are in the ministry, and outside of the White House in the faith community, but those who are there serving. I want to encourage you to continue to pray for pastor Paula White. God has put her in that place. And at some point, some time, as his pastor and spiritual adviser, we’re believing God to speak through her also in words that he will understand that he will be able to discern and translate in his wisdom and in his mind from God on high.
Amedia began Monday’s video by asking POTUS Shield’s “warriors, worshippers, and watchmen” to pray for Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, saying that they are weary from dealing with the crisis. Noting that people working in the White House have tested positive for COVID-19, Amedia declared that God would keep Trump and Pence healthy, citing verses from Psalm 91, which promises that whoever dwells “in the shelter of the Most High” will not be felled by pestilence or plague. “We thank you, Father, that this plague cannot touch our leaders,” he said.


rightwingwatch--2020-05-11--David Barton Says It’s ‘Not the Role of the Federal Government to Handle’ the COVID-19 Pandemic

Religious-right psuedo-historian and Republican political activist David Barton heaped praise on President Donald Trump for the largely hands-off approach his administration has taken to the COVID-19 pandemic , declaring that the federal government ’ s lack of response has been an excellent example of federalism .
Barton , who recently faulted Americans for not having strong enough Christian faith to show courage in the face of the deadly pandemic and praised Trump for “ not letting medical professionals ” determine the response , told Chad Robichaux of the Mighty Oaks Foundation during a Friday interview that Trump ’ s refusal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government to address the crisis was exactly what the Founding Fathers intended .
“ The Constitution puts all health care at the state level ; it does not put it at the federal level , ” Barton said .
“ So this was not a federal question ; it is a state question .
In the Constitution , you have 17 what are called enumerated powers .
The Constitution says , ‘ Federal government , here ’ s 17 things you ’ re allowed to do.
’ And then in the 10th Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not one of those 17 things , it belongs to the states to deal with .
Health care was one of those issues.
” “ I think the president did an excellent job of keeping the federal government from managing this whole crisis , ” Barton continued .
“ All he did from the very beginning was come out with federal guidelines—we ’ ve got all these experts , here ’ s what they ’ re saying you need to look for , here ’ s what they ’ re saying about shutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do that .
So from the beginning , he respected what we call federalism , and that is this is not the role of the federal government to handle this crisis , this goes to the states … This is actually constitutional the way he ’ s gone at it .
”

Religious-right psuedo-historian and Republican political activist David Barton heaped praise on President Donald Trump for the largely hands-off approach his administration has taken to the COVID-19 pandemic, declaring that the federal government’s lack of response has been an excellent example of federalism.
Barton, who recently faulted Americans for not having strong enough Christian faith to show courage in the face of the deadly pandemic and praised Trump for “not letting medical professionals” determine the response, told Chad Robichaux of the Mighty Oaks Foundation during a Friday interview that Trump’s refusal to use the power of the federal government to address the crisis was exactly what the Founding Fathers intended.
“The Constitution puts all health care at the state level; it does not put it at the federal level,” Barton said. “So this was not a federal question; it is a state question. In the Constitution, you have 17 what are called enumerated powers. The Constitution says, ‘Federal government, here’s 17 things you’re allowed to do.’ And then in the 10th Amendment, it says if it’s not one of those 17 things, it belongs to the states to deal with. Health care was one of those issues.”
“I think the president did an excellent job of keeping the federal government from managing this whole crisis,” Barton continued. “All he did from the very beginning was come out with federal guidelines—we’ve got all these experts, here’s what they’re saying you need to look for, here’s what they’re saying about shutting down—and he turned it to the states to do that. So from the beginning, he respected what we call federalism, and that is this is not the role of the federal government to handle this crisis, this goes to the states … This is actually constitutional the way he’s gone at it.”


rightwingwatch--2020-05-12--Right Wing Round-Up: Dance of the Queen Bee


rightwingwatch--2020-05-12--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: Cyborgs

Right Wing Bonus Tracks: Cyborgs


rightwingwatch--2020-05-12--Chris McDonald and Mark Taylor Say Coverage of Ahmaud Arbery’s Killing Is a ‘Farce’ and ‘False Flag’

Chris McDonald and Mark Taylor Say Coverage of Ahmaud Arbery’s Killing Is a ‘Farce’ and ‘False Flag’ Designed to Harm Trump

During Monday night ’ s broadcast of “ The MC Files ” program , radical right-wing conspiracy theorist Chris McDonald and fellow radical right-wing conspiracy theorist Mark Taylor agreed that the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery was a “ false flag ” being hyped by the media in order to distract Americans from President Donald Trump ’ s efforts to take down the deep state .
Arbery was a 25-year-old black man who was shot and killed by two white men who pursued him while he was out for a run because they claim they thought he looked like someone suspected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For months , no charges were filed against the men who killed Arbery , until footage of his death was released publicly last week , which prompted prosecutors to submit the case to a grand jury .
Arbery ’ s death and the subsequent handling of the case has generated a wave of outrage and condemnation of the persistent racial inequities in the justice system .
On last night ’ s “ MC Files ” broadcast , McDonald and Taylor agreed that the release of the video and the subsequent media coverage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to racially divide Americans in an effort to prevent the 2020 election .
“ I knew it was going to happen over the weekend , ” McDonald said .
“ They ’ re going to turn this into a Trump-bashing , racially charged event .
They ’ re trying to distract .
I look at this almost like you call it a red flag , a false flag .
It ’ s not that it didn ’ t happen , but it was a distraction to get our attention off of [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ] .
” McDonald said that if the investigation determines that “ that these two men acted recklessly and they killed that boy , they need to be held to the account of the law , ” but added that if this killing is determined to be a hate crime , then the Department of Justice needs “ to look at every single time that this has been in reverse when you ’ ve had black people shooting white people , and let ’ s look about seeing that being a hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law should be applied equally to everyone involved in the case , regardless of race and called on Americans not to be distracted by this “ farce ” that is being used mainly to harm Trump .
“ Don ’ t let them do this to our nation tonight , folks , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a farce .
It ’ s a false flag , and they ’ re using it to destroy one Donald John Trump , and you can not let them do that.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil war in this country , a race war , ” Taylor responded .
“ They ’ re trying to spark anything that they can right now to start riots or this , that , and the other to literally stop the election in November , and we just can not fall for it right now .
”

During Monday night’s broadcast of “The MC Files” program, radical right-wing conspiracy theorist Chris McDonald and fellow radical right-wing conspiracy theorist Mark Taylor agreed that the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery was a “false flag” being hyped by the media in order to distract Americans from President Donald Trump’s efforts to take down the deep state.
Arbery was a 25-year-old black man who was shot and killed by two white men who pursued him while he was out for a run because they claim they thought he looked like someone suspected of several break-ins in their neighborhood. For months, no charges were filed against the men who killed Arbery, until footage of his death was released publicly last week, which prompted prosecutors to submit the case to a grand jury. Arbery’s death and the subsequent handling of the case has generated a wave of outrage and condemnation of the persistent racial inequities in the justice system.
On last night’s “MC Files” broadcast, McDonald and Taylor agreed that the release of the video and the subsequent media coverage of the killing are nothing more than an attempt to racially divide Americans in an effort to prevent the 2020 election.
“I knew it was going to happen over the weekend,” McDonald said. “They’re going to turn this into a Trump-bashing, racially charged event. They’re trying to distract. I look at this almost like you call it a red flag, a false flag. It’s not that it didn’t happen, but it was a distraction to get our attention off of [Trump’s fight against the deep state].”
McDonald said that if the investigation determines that “that these two men acted recklessly and they killed that boy, they need to be held to the account of the law,” but added that if this killing is determined to be a hate crime, then the Department of Justice needs “to look at every single time that this has been in reverse when you’ve had black people shooting white people, and let’s look about seeing that being a hate crime too.”
McDonald insisted that the law should be applied equally to everyone involved in the case, regardless of race and called on Americans not to be distracted by this “farce” that is being used mainly to harm Trump.
“Don’t let them do this to our nation tonight, folks,” he said. “It’s a farce. It’s a false flag, and they’re using it to destroy one Donald John Trump, and you cannot let them do that.”
“They’re trying to start a civil war in this country, a race war,” Taylor responded. “They’re trying to spark anything that they can right now to start riots or this, that, and the other to literally stop the election in November, and we just cannot fall for it right now.”


rightwingwatch--2020-05-13--Right Wing Round-Up: Unmasking the Unmaskers


rightwingwatch--2020-05-13--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: Something Might Happen


rightwingwatch--2020-05-13--Dave Daubenmire Says ‘Communist Muslim Freak’ Barack Obama ‘Must Go to Jail’

Radical right-wing activist Dave Daubenmire declared on his “ Pass The Salt Live ” program yesterday that former President Barack Obama “ must go to jail ” and should probably be hanged for treason .
Daubenmire , who last year made multiple trips to Chappaqua , New York , to protest outside the home of Bill and Hillary Clinton and demand the latter ’ s arrest , said that Obama must be held accountable for supposedly using his office to destroy both Michael Flynn and President Donald Trump .
“ He must go to jail , ” Daubenmire said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama knew what was being done to Donald Trump .
He knew it .
He knew what was being done to Michael Flynn .
Barack Obama knew it .
We have the evidence .
He knew it.
” “ The buck stops at the top , ” he continued .
“ If we think [ James ] Comey and [ James ] Clapper—getting those little peons—if we think that ’ s it , no , no , no .
In order for justice to be restored to America , Barack Hussein Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be put in jail.
” “ The president of the United States destroyed Michael Flynn , ” Daubenmire declared .
“ That in itself in my opinion is a hangable offense .
”

Radical right-wing activist Dave Daubenmire declared on his “Pass The Salt Live” program yesterday that former President Barack Obama “must go to jail” and should probably be hanged for treason.
Daubenmire, who last year made multiple trips to Chappaqua, New York, to protest outside the home of Bill and Hillary Clinton and demand the latter’s arrest, said that Obama must be held accountable for supposedly using his office to destroy both Michael Flynn and President Donald Trump.
“He must go to jail,” Daubenmire said. “There’s no doubt that Barack Obama knew what was being done to Donald Trump. He knew it. He knew what was being done to Michael Flynn. Barack Obama knew it. We have the evidence. He knew it.”
“The buck stops at the top,” he continued. “If we think [James] Comey and [James] Clapper—getting those little peons—if we think that’s it, no, no, no. In order for justice to be restored to America, Barack Hussein Obama, the communist Muslim freak, must be put in jail.”
“The president of the United States destroyed Michael Flynn,” Daubenmire declared. “That in itself in my opinion is a hangable offense.”


rightwingwatch--2020-05-14--Right Wing Round-Up: The Church of Q

Right Wing Round-Up: The Church of Q


rightwingwatch--2020-05-14--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: A Perfect Country


rightwingwatch--2020-05-14--Conservative Church Network Launches Plan to Defy California Social Distancing Orders

A political network of churches dedicated to advancing conservative politics and policies in California has announced its intentions to gather for worship services on May 31 no matter what public health restrictions are in place at the time .
Church United ’ s founder , ex-gay pastor turned anti-gay activist Jim Domen , held a press conference last Thursday with other pastors announcing their plans .
The church network , which is supported by the Family Research Council and other religious-right groups , brings pastors together with politicians who “ vote in favor of a biblical worldview ” to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separation and energize them into greater political action to “ transform ” the culture .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom did not include church services in plans for the second phase of reopening , which began last Friday , but he has met with faith leaders and said he might allow churches to open earlier than expected .
“ Our fear is simply this , ” Newsom said at a news conference last Thursday .
“ Congregations of people from far and wide coming together in a closed space at a large scale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for us .
We are working on guidelines for physical distancing and working with faith leaders talking about unique conditions in their own facilities .
Nothing is etched in stone.
” Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills church is part of the Church United effort .
In an online video message posted on May 5 , Hibbs called on California pastors to open their doors “ in unison ” on May 31 .
It is “ not my decision , ” he said , explaining that the May 31 date was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayer three weeks earlier .
May 31 is Pentecost in the Western Christian calendar this year , commemorating the day in which the Bible says the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles of Jesus of Nazareth .
“ I can not think of a more biblically-sanctioned day ” for churches to reopen , Hibbs told the Christian Post .
Pentecost falls 50 days after Easter ; this year , a number of religious-right leaders are placing particular spiritual importance on the days between Passover , when they believe God in some way broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Pentecost , a day in which they expect an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will spark spiritual revival and a new Great Awakening and usher in a prophesied End Times “ billion-soul harvest.
” Hibbs , who works with Christian nationalist political operative David Lane , is proudly defiant of restrictions on churches and other tax-exempt charitable organizations ’ involvement in electoral politics and tells congregants that the church will instruct them on how to vote .
“ The pandemic has made us consider : Who will be the ultimate authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God answer to the government ?
Or ultimately , does the government answer to the Lawgiver Himself ?
” Hibbs told the Christian Post .
“ The church transcends the governments of this world and the politics of this world because the church is a living , breathing , divine institution , ” Hibbs said .
“ We have to remember that no matter where we might live in the world , under what government , those governments will eventually fail .
The Bible makes it clear ; Jesus will come and establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Power Worshippers : Inside the Dangerous Rise of Christian Nationalism , ” Katherine Stewart devotes a chapter to Church United and its leader Domen .
“ Goliath must fall in California , ” Domen has written about Church United ’ s mission , saying that the state ’ s legislature is “ defiling the armies of God.
” Domen ’ s organizing strategy includes extensive outreach among Latino pastors and the distribution of voter guides .
Stewart attended a Church United organizing meeting at which speakers made “ preposterous allegations ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their rights and lurid mischaracterizations of state sexuality education requirements .
Among the speakers at that event was Hibbs , whose 15-minute speech packed “ a day ’ s worth of whoppers , ” according to Stewart .
Like Hibbs , Domen is a huge fan of President Donald Trump and sees a divine hand at work .
Stewart quotes Domen saying , “ I believe it ’ s also divine that we are powering up Church United at the same time that America is under new leadership .
”

A political network of churches dedicated to advancing conservative politics and policies in California has announced its intentions to gather for worship services on May 31 no matter what public health restrictions are in place at the time.
Church United’s founder, ex-gay pastor turned anti-gay activist Jim Domen, held a press conference last Thursday with other pastors announcing their plans. The church network, which is supported by the Family Research Council and other religious-right groups, brings pastors together with politicians who “vote in favor of a biblical worldview” to get pastors to rethink their ideas about church-state separation and energize them into greater political action to “transform” the culture.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom did not include church services in plans for the second phase of reopening, which began last Friday, but he has met with faith leaders and said he might allow churches to open earlier than expected. “Our fear is simply this,” Newsom said at a news conference last Thursday. “Congregations of people from far and wide coming together in a closed space at a large scale remains a point of concern and anxiety for us. We are working on guidelines for physical distancing and working with faith leaders talking about unique conditions in their own facilities. Nothing is etched in stone.”
Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills church is part of the Church United effort. In an online video message posted on May 5, Hibbs called on California pastors to open their doors “in unison” on May 31. It is “not my decision,” he said, explaining that the May 31 date was “deposited in my head” during prayer three weeks earlier.
May 31 is Pentecost in the Western Christian calendar this year, commemorating the day in which the Bible says the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles of Jesus of Nazareth. “I cannot think of a more biblically-sanctioned day” for churches to reopen, Hibbs told the Christian Post.
Pentecost falls 50 days after Easter; this year, a number of religious-right leaders are placing particular spiritual importance on the days between Passover, when they believe God in some way broke the power of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Pentecost, a day in which they expect an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will spark spiritual revival and a new Great Awakening and usher in a prophesied End Times “billion-soul harvest.”
Hibbs, who works with Christian nationalist political operative David Lane, is proudly defiant of restrictions on churches and other tax-exempt charitable organizations’ involvement in electoral politics and tells congregants that the church will instruct them on how to vote.
“The pandemic has made us consider: Who will be the ultimate authority? Does Christ and the Word of God answer to the government? Or ultimately, does the government answer to the Lawgiver Himself?” Hibbs told the Christian Post.
“The church transcends the governments of this world and the politics of this world because the church is a living, breathing, divine institution,” Hibbs said. “We have to remember that no matter where we might live in the world, under what government, those governments will eventually fail. The Bible makes it clear; Jesus will come and establish His kingdom.”
In her recent book “The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Christian Nationalism,” Katherine Stewart devotes a chapter to Church United and its leader Domen.
“Goliath must fall in California,” Domen has written about Church United’s mission, saying that the state’s legislature is “defiling the armies of God.” Domen’s organizing strategy includes extensive outreach among Latino pastors and the distribution of voter guides.
Stewart attended a Church United organizing meeting at which speakers made “preposterous allegations” about legislators’ desire to strip Christians of their rights and lurid mischaracterizations of state sexuality education requirements. Among the speakers at that event was Hibbs, whose 15-minute speech packed “a day’s worth of whoppers,” according to Stewart.
Like Hibbs, Domen is a huge fan of President Donald Trump and sees a divine hand at work. Stewart quotes Domen saying, “I believe it’s also divine that we are powering up Church United at the same time that America is under new leadership.”


rightwingwatch--2020-05-14--Sean Feucht Launches Political Group to Mobilize Conservative Christian Millennials

Sean Feucht , a missionary and musician who ran unsuccessfully for Congress this year in hopes of bringing revival and reformation to California and the U.S. , has a new project called Hold the Line , which he describes as a “ political activist movement ” with a goal to “ to engage with the church and with millennials in a way that charges them to become more politically active.
” Feucht plans to launch a media operation this summer that he hopes will demystify the political world and be “ really fun.
” Feucht talked about Hold the Line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daily Signal Podcast , a product of the Heritage Foundation .
He said he wanted to build on the momentum generated by his congressional campaign and reported that his new group would register new voters , educate people on issues , and mobilize them around specific causes .
He said he feels “ that voices need to be raised up right now across America to stand for righteousness and to stand for , really , the call of God that I believe is inherent in our nation right now.
” Feucht told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealing whether people believe in “ governmental control of freedom of the people.
” Hold the Line ’ s website says it hopes “ to bring awareness that will lead to historic engagement in the governmental realm of cultural influence , ” an apparent rhetorical nod to Seven Mountains Dominionism .
Feucht is associated with the controversial Northern California megachurch Bethel , which has a global reach through its music ministry , School of Supernatural Ministry , and pastor Bill Johnson ’ s books and media presence .
Johnson co-edited a book on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” author Lance Wallnau .
In January , Feucht told the “ Movement 2020 ” gathering that his candidacy was a fulfillment of his own prayer at a Lou Engle rally on the National Mall in 2000 that God would “ raise up deliverers that would fight for the unborn , that would fight for family values , that would fight for freedom in our nation.
” Feucht ’ s congressional candidacy was endorsed by Christian nationalist David Lane , Turning Points USA ’ s Charlie Kirk , and New Apostolic Reformation leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December , Feucht visited the White House with other evangelical leaders and put out an anti-impeachment video in which he urged members of Congress to “ stop harassing the president .
”

Sean Feucht, a missionary and musician who ran unsuccessfully for Congress this year in hopes of bringing revival and reformation to California and the U.S., has a new project called Hold the Line, which he describes as a “political activist movement” with a goal to “to engage with the church and with millennials in a way that charges them to become more politically active.” Feucht plans to launch a media operation this summer that he hopes will demystify the political world and be “really fun.”
Feucht talked about Hold the Line on Monday’s edition of The Daily Signal Podcast, a product of the Heritage Foundation. He said he wanted to build on the momentum generated by his congressional campaign and reported that his new group would register new voters, educate people on issues, and mobilize them around specific causes. He said he feels “that voices need to be raised up right now across America to stand for righteousness and to stand for, really, the call of God that I believe is inherent in our nation right now.”
Feucht told the Daily Signal that the COVID-19 pandemic is revealing whether people believe in “governmental control of freedom of the people.”
Hold the Line’s website says it hopes “to bring awareness that will lead to historic engagement in the governmental realm of cultural influence,” an apparent rhetorical nod to Seven Mountains Dominionism.
Feucht is associated with the controversial Northern California megachurch Bethel, which has a global reach through its music ministry, School of Supernatural Ministry, and pastor Bill Johnson’s books and media presence. Johnson co-edited a book on Seven Mountains Dominionism with Trump-promoting “prophetic” author Lance Wallnau.
In January, Feucht told the “Movement 2020” gathering that his candidacy was a fulfillment of his own prayer at a Lou Engle rally on the National Mall in 2000 that God would “raise up deliverers that would fight for the unborn, that would fight for family values, that would fight for freedom in our nation.”
Feucht’s congressional candidacy was endorsed by Christian nationalist David Lane, Turning Points USA’s Charlie Kirk, and New Apostolic Reformation leaders Cindy Jacobs and Ché Ahn. In December, Feucht visited the White House with other evangelical leaders and put out an anti-impeachment video in which he urged members of Congress to “stop harassing the president.”


rightwingwatch--2020-05-14--Mark Taylor Continues to Stand By His Failed ‘Red Tsunami’ Prophecy

It is difficult to be a modern-day prophet , especially when the things one has prophesied frequently fail to come true .
Such is the dilemma facing radical right-wing conspiracy theorist and so-called “ firefighter prophet ” Mark Taylor , who has repeatedly predicted and prophesied things that never materialized , most notably his multiple guarantees in 2018 that the midterm elections would result in a “ red tsunami ” that would sweep Republicans into office all across the nation .
That was not what happened , which forced Taylor to retroactively revise his predictions in order to claim that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first , Taylor claimed that the resignation of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions would unleash a wave of arrests in which dozens of Democratic members of Congress would be taken down , resulting in their seats being filled by Republicans and therefore confirming the red tsunami that he had promised .
When that didn ’ t happen , Taylor changed course and began to insist that the red tsunami he had prophesied had come true when Republicans gained control of six new governorships during the 2018 elections .
Unfortunately for Taylor , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually lost control of several states when the Democrats picked up seven gubernatorial seats .
Yesterday , Taylor appeared on the “ Up Front In The Prophetic ” program , where he trotted out a new explanation of how his red tsunami prophecy had been accurate .
“ I prophesied there was going to be a red tsunami in the midterms , and I got hammered because we lost the House , ” Taylor said .
“ We didn ’ t lose the House … I believe they allowed it to happen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats were , how bad they really were , so that people could experience for themselves so that they will never be able to get back into office again.
” Taylor went on to assert that most of the new Democrats elected to Congress in 2018 “ are not supposed to be there because they stole the election .
We know that .
”

It is difficult to be a modern-day prophet, especially when the things one has prophesied frequently fail to come true. Such is the dilemma facing radical right-wing conspiracy theorist and so-called “firefighter prophet” Mark Taylor, who has repeatedly predicted and prophesied things that never materialized, most notably his multiple guarantees in 2018 that the midterm elections would result in a “red tsunami” that would sweep Republicans into office all across the nation.
That was not what happened, which forced Taylor to retroactively revise his predictions in order to claim that he had actually been correct.
At first, Taylor claimed that the resignation of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions would unleash a wave of arrests in which dozens of Democratic members of Congress would be taken down, resulting in their seats being filled by Republicans and therefore confirming the red tsunami that he had promised.
When that didn’t happen, Taylor changed course and began to insist that the red tsunami he had prophesied had come true when Republicans gained control of six new governorships during the 2018 elections. Unfortunately for Taylor, that claim was false, as the GOP actually lost control of several states when the Democrats picked up seven gubernatorial seats.
Yesterday, Taylor appeared on the “Up Front In The Prophetic” program, where he trotted out a new explanation of how his red tsunami prophecy had been accurate.
“I prophesied there was going to be a red tsunami in the midterms, and I got hammered because we lost the House,” Taylor said. “We didn’t lose the House … I believe they allowed it to happen to let people see and experience who these Democrats were, how bad they really were, so that people could experience for themselves so that they will never be able to get back into office again.”
Taylor went on to assert that most of the new Democrats elected to Congress in 2018 “are not supposed to be there because they stole the election. We know that.”


rightwingwatch--2020-05-14--Capital Research Center Employee Favorite Source for White Nationalist Smear Campaign Against Ahmaud

Capital Research Center Employee Favorite Source for White Nationalist Smear Campaign Against Ahmaud Arbery

White nationalists are championing a Capital Research Center employee who is at the forefront of an attempt to justify the killing of Ahmaud Arbery , an unarmed black man killed by two white men while jogging earlier this year .
Ashley Rae Goldenberg , an investigative reporter at CRC , has gained newfound attention from the far-right by taking part in an effort to smear Arbery and downplay his death after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael on charges of murder and aggravated assault last week .
Goldenberg has advanced the idea that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting him dead in the street , even going so far as to suggest that the government ’ s arrest of the two men was part of “ race war ” she claims has been playing out in the United States “ for decades.
” How Goldenberg has reacted to Arbery ’ s death fits a pattern : far-right actors have long attempted to demonize black victims of violent crimes that have received national outrage .
The lethal actions of the McMichaels against Arbery have been described as vigilantism by the American Civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights groups .
On the day that the GBI arrested the two white men—months after they admitted to Arbery ’ s killing—Goldenberg tweeted , “ Vigilantism is good , actually.
” Capital Research Center , Goldenberg ’ s employer , is a decades-old Beltway operation research outfit that targets nonprofit organizations it perceives to be liberal or anti-conservative , actively discouraging contributions to those groups .
( Full disclosure : People for the American Way , Right Wing Watch ’ s parent organization , has been among CRC ’ s targets. ) The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ America ’ s investigative think tank , ” is funded largely by conservative megadonors and dark-money groups , including the behemoth Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation .
Its work , which includes a digital encyclopedia of liberal groups called Influence Watch and a handful of publications that take aim at liberal causes , is often cited in conservative media and the group is frequently present at major right-wing events such as the Conservative Political Action Conference .
One CRC project , Dangerous Documentaries , contributed $ 500,000 to the production of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starring comedian Adam Carolla and right-wing commentator Dennis Prager about the supposed erosion of free speech on college campuses .
White nationalist activists and media personalities , including Unite the Right rally organizer Jason Kessler , anti-Semitic podcaster Nicholas Fuentes , far-right YouTuber Vincent James Foxx , and disgraced former Daily Caller editor Scott Greer , have shared Goldenberg ’ s online remarks alongside their own similar commentary on Arbery ’ s death .
While Goldenberg ’ s Twitter account is publicly listed , meaning its content can be viewed and shared by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of , or sympathy for , many of the figures now sharing her commentary about Arbery .
On her publicly viewable “ Communism Kills ” Telegram channel , Goldenberg has shared and engaged with content from many of the same movement sources , including Fuentes , white nationalist organizer Patrick Casey , white nationalist organization VDARE , and far-right media personality Faith Goldy .
In December 2019 , Goldenberg praised the alt-right and white nationalist “ groyper ” movements now cheering on her Arbery commentary , tweeting that they were the “ first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to not recoil and apologize profusely for accusations of racism.
” Goldenberg ’ s Twitter profile pays explicit homage to the latest incarnation of the white nationalist cause ; her avatar is a rendering of the groyper character to her likeness while her display name is currently “ Ashley Rae Groypenberg.
” She appears to have first curried favor with the movement via her defense of Fuentes , whose unapologetic racist and anti-Semitic remarks have caused the careers of many conservatives who have entered his orbit to disintegrate .
Prior to February ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would attend a gathering of groyper white nationalist event called the “ America First Political Action Conference , ” featuring Fuentes and other far-right speakers .
A RWW source present at AFPAC confirmed her attendance .
Since her May 7 tweet in support of vigilantism , Goldberg has posted or retweeted more than 200 tweets that mention or reference Arbery ’ s death , according a manual review at the time of publication .
The posts criticize conservatives who denounced the shooting , use content from racist sources  ( including VDARE ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ captured on video that resulted in Arbery ’ s killing , appear to suggest subverting justice in the trial against Arbery ’ s alleged murders via jury nullification , and seek to to question Arbery ’ s character , post-mortem , by presenting footage , purportedly of the victim , at construction sites .
A montage video created and shared by Goldenberg , which she claimed to show Arbery at construction sites , contains footage of a man the Arbery family tells ABC News is not their slain son .
Goldenberg also cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s indictment as a teenager for allegedly bringing a firearm to a high school basketball game , writing : “ If thieves don ’ t deserve to die what is everyone ’ s thoughts on people who bring loaded guns to high schools ?
” Goldenberg has also attacked conservatives who have questioned or criticized the men who killed Arbery .
She accused conservative columnist Rod Dreher of publishing “ vehemently anti-white ” commentary after Drehr wrote that black people are frequent subjects of hostility in the United States .
Goldenberg also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have appeared in the liberal black publication The Root , but that the “ spelling and grammar might give it away.
” Peppered into her Arbery commentary is Goldenberg ’ s distaste for a Denny ’ s restaurant advertisement that featured families of two different racial backgrounds , citing the ad to mock claims that the longtime white supremacist claim of a racial “ replacement ” —a claim that has inspired multiple mass shootings—is a conspiracy theory .
Record of a private social media conversation obtained by RWW shows that a concern about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised in January with one of her CRC colleagues , who told that individual that the concern would be raised internally at the organization .
Since that message was received by the person who claimed to have raised the concern , Goldenberg has remained employed by CRC , authoring material for its website as recently as May 7 .
Sarah Lee , the organization ’ s director of communications and external affairs , declined comment when reached by RWW for this story , citing organization policy against publicly commenting on personnel issues .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stance regarding white nationalism , Lee also declined comment , citing the same personnel policy .
But Goldenberg ’ s actions have not come completely without a professional price .
Former associates and conservative media industry colleagues of Goldenberg ’ s have expressed dismay at Goldenberg ’ s behavior .
One such colleague , who spoke to RWW on the condition of anonymity for fear of professional retaliation , said they were surprised that Goldenberg has remained employed by a conservative Washington institution , considering her unabashed public support of unsavory far-right actors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CPAC denied her request for event media credentials—despite the fact that CRC was an exhibitor at the 2020 CPAC .
Her byline on CRC ’ s website first appears in November 2018 .
Before that , Goldenberg joined the Daily Caller as a spring 2015 intern .
At the site , founded by Fox News host Tucker Carlson , Goldenberg ’ s byline appeared on articles that often took aim at racial and social justice activists and causes .
Eric Owens , a former Daily Caller editor who worked with Goldenberg at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Goldenberg a letter of recommendation for her first full-time job at Media Research Center , a different right-wing nonprofit media outlet .
Owens told RWW it was a leg up he now wishes he had not given her .
“ It ’ s one of my biggest regrets , giving her a positive reference , ” Owens said .
Owens told Right Wing Watch that during Goldenberg ’ s internship , a photograph showing Goldenberg and longtime white nationalist Matthew Heimbach together—with Heimbach holding an Imperial German flag and Goldenberg holding the flag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of him and then-boss Carlson .
Owens told RWW it was eventually decided it would be worse if the Daily Caller “ made a spectacle and fired her over the photo.
” Carlson , when reached via email , said he “ unequivocally ” denied Owens ’ recollection of the situation .
When questioned about the photograph , Heimbach told RWW that he used to be friends with Goldenberg , that they had attended protests together , but claimed that he recently walked away from white nationalism .
“ While it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person Ashley is , and while in retrospect The Daily Caller certainly should have fired her , at the time  [ it seemed that ] she was just a college student who did something stupid , ” Owens said , adding that he was not surprised Carlson did not remember the conversation on account of Carlson ’ s busy lifestyle at the time , juggling obligations to Fox News , the Daily Caller , and his family of four .
Curtis Houck , managing editor of Media Research Center ’ s NewsBusters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook as a former co-worker , “ liked ” and shared Twitter posts critical of Goldenberg in December .
However , neither Houck or MRC responded to our requests for interviews , via Twitter and online contact form , respectively .
Before entering conservative media , Goldenberg achieved notoriety online for her Tumblr blog project , “ Communism Kills , ” and for intense backlash she received after writing and posting a limerick about Michael Brown , a black teenager whose death at the hands of a white police officer inspired protests and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 .
According to a Campus Reform article from the time , Goldenberg ’ s poem , which she posted approximately three months after Brown was shot to death , read : Goldenberg attended a 2016 conference hosted by the National Policy Institute , a white nationalist think tank notoriously presided over by “ alt-right ” poster-boy Richard Spencer , at the apparent invitation of Paul Ray Ramsey , a longtime white nationalist speaker .
According to The Washington Spectator , Ramsey told the crowd at that event to make friends by exchanging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s autobiography as a possible present .
Ramsey , who called Goldenberg a “ friend , ” publicly stated years later that he had invited in her capacity as a journalist , however RWW was unable to locate a single article with Goldenberg ’ s byline that mentioned the event , let alone any published work with her byline that mentions National Policy Institute .
Last week , Goldenberg shared a post of Ramsey ’ s in which he mocked the reported fact that Arbery was killed while jogging .
Megan Squire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elon University who studies right-wing extremism , compared Goldenberg ’ s comments about Arbery ’ s killing to those made by far-right activists about other victims of violent acts that spawned national outrage .
“ The blame-the-victim narrative is par for the course for the far-right .
It ’ s part of the playbook : Deny , demean , discredit .
They did it to Eric Garner , Trayvon Martin , Heather Heyer , the list goes on , ” Squire said via email .
Squire likened Goldenberg ’ s comments about Arbery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white nationalist Jared Taylor after the death of Eric Garner , who was choked to death in 2014 by a New York police officer .
Squire said that Taylor , like Goldenberg , “ tries to represent the ‘ alt-lite ’ side of things , but they can ’ t help but demean the victim rather than admit that people aligned with them are violent and unfair.
” She pointed to what Taylor said of Garner after the officer accused of fatally choking Garner was fired last year .
“ He was obese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had asthma , he was a fella who was so out of shape and had so much of a problem even moving around , he couldn ’ t even walk one block without ending up queasy .
At the time of the incident he was out on bail for selling untaxed cigarettes , driving without a license , and marijuana possession and false impersonation … and he had been arrested by the NYPD more than 30 times , ” Taylor said on his American Renaissance podcast , arguing that the officer should still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video of Garner ’ s last moments shows the officer on top of him while Garner repeatedly says through his gasps , “ I can ’ t breathe.
” Right Wing Watch offered Goldenberg the opportunity to comment via a Twitter direct message to her personal account and a Facebook direct message to her “ Communism Kills ” page but did not receive a response prior to publication .

(Update 5/18/20): After Right Wing Watch published this investigation, Capital Research Center updated its staff directory page to exclude Ashley Goldenberg and updated Goldenberg’s author bio to state that she is a “former” investigative reporter for the organization.
White nationalists are championing a Capital Research Center employee who is at the forefront of an attempt to justify the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed black man killed by two white men while jogging earlier this year.
Ashley Rae Goldenberg, an investigative reporter at CRC, has gained newfound attention from the far-right by taking part in an effort to smear Arbery and downplay his death after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael on charges of murder and aggravated assault last week. Goldenberg has advanced the idea that Arbery’s killers were justified in shooting him dead in the street, even going so far as to suggest that the government’s arrest of the two men was part of “race war” she claims has been playing out in the United States “for decades.” How Goldenberg has reacted to Arbery’s death fits a pattern: far-right actors have long attempted to demonize black victims of violent crimes that have received national outrage.
The lethal actions of the McMichaels against Arbery have been described as vigilantism by the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and other civil rights groups. On the day that the GBI arrested the two white men—months after they admitted to Arbery’s killing—Goldenberg tweeted, “Vigilantism is good, actually.”
Capital Research Center, Goldenberg’s employer, is a decades-old Beltway operation research outfit that targets nonprofit organizations it perceives to be liberal or anti-conservative, actively discouraging contributions to those groups. (Full disclosure: People for the American Way, Right Wing Watch’s parent organization, has been among CRC’s targets.) The right-wing operation, which has dubbed itself “America’s investigative think tank,” is funded largely by conservative megadonors and dark-money groups, including the behemoth Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Its work, which includes a digital encyclopedia of liberal groups called Influence Watch and a handful of publications that take aim at liberal causes, is often cited in conservative media and the group is frequently present at major right-wing events such as the Conservative Political Action Conference. One CRC project, Dangerous Documentaries, contributed $500,000 to the production of “No Safe Spaces,” a film starring comedian Adam Carolla and right-wing commentator Dennis Prager about the supposed erosion of free speech on college campuses.
White nationalist activists and media personalities, including Unite the Right rally organizer Jason Kessler, anti-Semitic podcaster Nicholas Fuentes, far-right YouTuber Vincent James Foxx, and disgraced former Daily Caller editor Scott Greer, have shared Goldenberg’s online remarks alongside their own similar commentary on Arbery’s death. While Goldenberg’s Twitter account is publicly listed, meaning its content can be viewed and shared by anyone, Goldenberg has voiced explicit approval of, or sympathy for, many of the figures now sharing her commentary about Arbery. On her publicly viewable “Communism Kills” Telegram channel, Goldenberg has shared and engaged with content from many of the same movement sources, including Fuentes, white nationalist organizer Patrick Casey, white nationalist organization VDARE, and far-right media personality Faith Goldy.
In December 2019, Goldenberg praised the alt-right and white nationalist “groyper” movements now cheering on her Arbery commentary, tweeting that they were the “first right-wing movements in [her] lifetime to not recoil and apologize profusely for accusations of racism.” Goldenberg’s Twitter profile pays explicit homage to the latest incarnation of the white nationalist cause; her avatar is a rendering of the groyper character to her likeness while her display name is currently “Ashley Rae Groypenberg.” She appears to have first curried favor with the movement via her defense of Fuentes, whose unapologetic racist and anti-Semitic remarks have caused the careers of many conservatives who have entered his orbit to disintegrate. Prior to February’s CPAC 2020, Goldenberg stated she would attend an extreme-right event called the “America First Political Action Conference,” featuring Fuentes and other far-right speakers. A RWW source present at AFPAC confirmed her attendance.
Since her May 7 tweet in support of vigilantism, Goldberg has posted or retweeted more than 200 tweets that mention or reference Arbery’s death, according a manual review at the time of publication. The posts criticize conservatives who denounced the shooting, use content from racist sources (including VDARE), downplay the severity of the incident captured on video that resulted in Arbery’s killing, appear to suggest subverting justice in the trial against Arbery’s alleged murders via jury nullification, and seek to to question Arbery’s character, post-mortem, by presenting footage, purportedly of the victim, at construction sites. A montage video created and shared by Goldenberg, which she claimed to show Arbery at construction sites, contains footage of a man the Arbery family tells ABC News is not their slain son. Goldenberg also cited a 2013 incident that led to Arbery’s indictment as a teenager for allegedly bringing a firearm to a high school basketball game, writing: “If thieves don’t deserve to die what is everyone’s thoughts on people who bring loaded guns to high schools?”
Goldenberg has also attacked conservatives who have questioned or criticized the men who killed Arbery. She accused conservative columnist Rod Dreher of publishing “vehemently anti-white” commentary after Drehr wrote that black people are frequent subjects of hostility in the United States. Goldenberg also commented that Dreher’s column could have appeared in the liberal black publication The Root, but that the “spelling and grammar might give it away.”
Peppered into her Arbery commentary is Goldenberg’s distaste for a Denny’s restaurant advertisement that featured families of two different racial backgrounds, citing the ad to mock claims that the longtime white supremacist claim of a racial “replacement”—a claim that has inspired multiple mass shootings—is a conspiracy theory.
Record of a private social media conversation obtained by RWW shows that a concern about Goldenberg’s online behavior had been raised in January with one of her CRC colleagues, who told that individual that the concern would be raised internally at the organization. Since that message was received by the person who claimed to have raised the concern, Goldenberg has remained employed by CRC, authoring material for its website as recently as May 7. Sarah Lee, the organization’s director of communications and external affairs, declined comment when reached by RWW for this story, citing organization policy against publicly commenting on personnel issues. When asked whether CRC has an organizational stance regarding white nationalism, Lee also declined comment, citing the same personnel policy.
But Goldenberg’s actions have not come completely without a professional price. Former associates and conservative media industry colleagues of Goldenberg’s have expressed dismay at Goldenberg’s behavior. One such colleague, who spoke to RWW on the condition of anonymity for fear of professional retaliation, said they were surprised that Goldenberg has remained employed by a conservative Washington institution, considering her unabashed public support of unsavory far-right actors. This year, she reported that CPAC denied her request for event media credentials—despite the fact that CRC was an exhibitor at the 2020 CPAC.
Her byline on CRC’s website first appears in November 2018. Before that, Goldenberg joined the Daily Caller as a spring 2015 intern. At the site, founded by Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Goldenberg’s byline appeared on articles that often took aim at racial and social justice activists and causes. Eric Owens, a former Daily Caller editor who worked with Goldenberg at the time, told RWW that he wrote Goldenberg a letter of recommendation for her first full-time job at Media Research Center, a different right-wing nonprofit media outlet. Owens told RWW it was a leg up he now wishes he had not given her.
“It’s one of my biggest regrets, giving her a positive reference,” Owens said.
Owens told Right Wing Watch that during Goldenberg’s internship, a photograph showing Goldenberg and longtime white nationalist Matthew Heimbach together—with Heimbach holding an Imperial German flag and Goldenberg holding the flag of Israel—had been brought to the attention of him and then-boss Carlson. Owens told RWW it was eventually decided it would be worse if the Daily Caller “made a spectacle and fired her over the photo.” Carlson, when reached via email, said he “unequivocally” denied Owens’ recollection of the situation.
When questioned about the photograph, Heimbach told RWW that he used to be friends with Goldenberg, that they had attended protests together, but claimed that he recently walked away from white nationalism.
“While it’s now easy to see what a terrible person Ashley is, and while in retrospect The Daily Caller certainly should have fired her, at the time [it seemed that] she was just a college student who did something stupid,” Owens said, adding that he was not surprised Carlson did not remember the conversation on account of Carlson’s busy lifestyle at the time, juggling obligations to Fox News, the Daily Caller, and his family of four children.
Curtis Houck, managing editor of Media Research Center’s NewsBusters blog and someone who Goldenberg described on Facebook as a former co-worker, “liked” and shared Twitter posts critical of Goldenberg in December. However, neither Houck or MRC responded to our requests for interviews, via Twitter and online contact form, respectively.
Before entering conservative media, Goldenberg achieved notoriety online for her Tumblr blog project, “Communism Kills,” and for intense backlash she received after writing and posting a limerick about Michael Brown, a black teenager whose death at the hands of a white police officer inspired protests and unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. According to a Campus Reform article from the time, Goldenberg’s poem, which she posted approximately three months after Brown was shot to death, read:
There once was a thug named Brown
Who bum-rushed a cop with a frown
Six bullets later
He met his creator
Then his homies burnt down the town
Goldenberg attended a 2016 conference hosted by the National Policy Institute, a white nationalist think tank notoriously presided over by “alt-right” poster-boy Richard Spencer, at the apparent invitation of Paul Ray Ramsey, a longtime white nationalist speaker. According to The Washington Spectator, Ramsey told the crowd at that event to make friends by exchanging gifts, suggesting copies of Adolf Hitler’s autobiography as a possible present. Ramsey, who called Goldenberg a “friend,” publicly stated years later that he had invited in her capacity as a journalist, however RWW was unable to locate a single article with Goldenberg’s byline that mentioned the event, let alone any published work with her byline that mentions National Policy Institute. Last week, Goldenberg shared a post of Ramsey’s in which he mocked the reported fact that Arbery was killed while jogging.
Megan Squire, a professor of computer science at Elon University who studies right-wing extremism, compared Goldenberg’s comments about Arbery’s killing to those made by far-right activists about other victims of violent acts that spawned national outrage.
“The blame-the-victim narrative is par for the course for the far-right. It’s part of the playbook: Deny, demean, discredit. They did it to Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Heather Heyer, the list goes on,” Squire said via email.
Squire likened Goldenberg’s comments about Arbery’s killing to those made by white nationalist Jared Taylor after the death of Eric Garner, who was choked to death in 2014 by a New York police officer. Squire said that Taylor, like Goldenberg, “tries to represent the ‘alt-lite’ side of things, but they can’t help but demean the victim rather than admit that people aligned with them are violent and unfair.”
She pointed to what Taylor said of Garner after the officer accused of fatally choking Garner was fired last year. “He was obese, he had heart problems, he had asthma, he was a fella who was so out of shape and had so much of a problem even moving around, he couldn’t even walk one block without ending up queasy. At the time of the incident he was out on bail for selling untaxed cigarettes, driving without a license, and marijuana possession and false impersonation … and he had been arrested by the NYPD more than 30 times,” Taylor said on his American Renaissance podcast, arguing that the officer should still have his job.
A widely circulated video of Garner’s last moments shows the officer on top of him while Garner repeatedly says through his gasps, “I can’t breathe.”
Right Wing Watch offered Goldenberg the opportunity to comment via a Twitter direct message to her personal account and a Facebook direct message to her “Communism Kills” page but did not receive a response prior to publication.


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