At first, people around the country were simply doubting the legitimacy of the president. Some called him a fraud and others a usurper. Later, frustrated citizens were demanding proof of his legitimacy but the government simply kept repeating that they were not lying. The government accused the people who questioned their authority of being organized mobs paid for by political enemies, completely disregarding the protesters’ legitimate grievances. The president’s political opponents were branded as domestic terrorists and extremists… This is not merely happening here in the United States, it’s also happening in Iran.

The Iranian regime, which has rounded up and arrested scores of people for their protests questioning the fairness of the last election, is putting about 100 people on trial for their involvement in the protests. Among these people on trial are French and British embassy workers and notable people within Iranian society. It is important that we not lose sight of what happens overseas, because so many of the elements are the same, the only thing missing is government’s use of force, mass arrest, and kangaroo courts to silence opposition. What is worrisome is that fact that there are several independent reports of SEIU “activists” that have been threatening, manhandling, and assaulting people at town hall meetings who oppose the Obama plan to expand the government’s role in health care (examples here and here). We already have seen that the case of voter intimidation by New Black Panther Party members in the last election is being dropped by the Justice Department… I guess that to the victor go the spoils.

Black Panther members intimidating voters

Add to that the Department of Homeland Security report that labeled conservatives, libertarians, military veterans, and anyone considered “rightwing” as potential terrorists, and what you have is an administration that is increasingly using its political and executive muscle to bully political opponents. This is happening in Iran. This is happening in Venezuela. This already happened in Cuba. Americans must be wary: big government and political intimidation never lead to positive outcomes… at the same time, we must not allow ourselves to be goaded into a violent response, that is exactly the excuse that the administration needs to openly persecute patriots who oppose Obama’s expansion of government. Once that happens… let’s just try to make sure that never happens.

-AG