Preoccupation With 'Terrorist' Label Obscures the Real Issues

Some Republican lawmakers are blasting the Obama administration for labeling the Fort Hood massacre a case of workplace violence, without referring to it as an act of terrorism.

Is anyone surprised by the strident tone of the Republican response to this simple statement? Ever since 9/11, the threat of terrorism has been a linchpin of the party's political strategy: Portray terrorism as the No. 1 threat to Americans, and portray themselves as those best qualified to protect Americans.

How long will it be before overzealous lawmakers don their McCarthy masks and begin engaging in witch hunts to round up all Muslims and their associates as potential terrorists? It may have begun already. There are doubtless some people who would love to incarcerate Muslims en masse, just the way Japanese Americans were rounded up during World War II.

http://www.theprovocation.net/2011/12/preoccupation-with-terrorist-label.html