, it seemed that every mainstream conservative commentator in the country expressed outrage about the fact that Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner, in discussions with Chinese officials about Chinese human rights violations, volunteered that America also has human rights problems, as shown by Arizona’s anti-illegal alien law. Let’s leave aside the fact that none of these conservatives uttered a peep of protest all through the years when Bush’s Secretary of State gallivanted around the world telling Muslim and other non-Western audiences that America’s racism still leaves America way short of true democracy and therefore that America has no right to criticize Muslim countries for their lack of democracy; nor did they complain when Bush went to Africa and declared that America is still driven by the same racism that drove slavery. As I said before the 2008 election in explaining why I would not vote for McCain, it would be better for conservatism and the country to have conservatives attacking a left-liberal Democratic president, even if hypocritically, than have them sincerely defending a left-liberal Republican president. It remains the case that Posner’s indictment of the nation he represents was indeed shocking.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Free Radicals
by Bill O’Reilly
In yet another example of the federal government’s being out of control, Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner, in a human rights discussion with the Chinese, brought up the new Arizona illegal-alien law as an example of American “discrimination.” Posner said he discussed the law “early and often” with Chinese officials, even though they didn’t even initiate the conversation.
So let me get this straight. Hillary Clinton’s State Department is trying to persuade China to close its political concentration camps, to stop incarcerating dissidents and to cease brutalizing the people of Tibet, and in the course of that discussion, Hillary’s guy says, “Oh, yeah, we’re pretty bad, too. Look at Arizona!”
Is this Bizarro World or what?
The Arizona law will not even take effect until the end of July, but already, according to some, the USA is violating human rights. The law simply says that authorities in Arizona can question people about their nationality IF THEY ARE ALREADY INVOLVED IN A POLICE MATTER.
But if you listen to NBC News, you wouldn’t know that. No, the liberal media are telling the world that Arizona law enforcement officers will be dragging Hispanics out of Kmart. Be careful walking your dog in Phoenix; you could wind up in handcuffs.
Now, I expect this kind of stuff from the dishonest, ideological press but from an assistant secretary of state? That takes the issue to another level. So, what’s really going on?
Well, it’s ideology again. Michael Posner is a committed left-wing zealot who joined the State Department in September 2009. Before that, he founded an organization called Human Rights First, which is generously funded by radical billionaire George Soros. HRF is a very lively group. In 2005, it joined with the American Civil Liberties Union in trying to sue former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for torturing people. Posner’s group opposes the Patriot Act, rendition, all coerced interrogation, and Guantanamo Bay.
Also in 2005, Posner made a speech comparing the treatment of American Muslims to the rounding up of Japanese-Americans during World War II. If this guy isn’t a left-wing loon, nobody is. So, what on earth is he doing in the State Department negotiating with the Chinese?
We called Secretary Clinton and, surprise, received no response. But if you think about it, Posner’s presence at State really isn’t a surprise. You may remember that White House environmental adviser Van Jones was sacked after it was learned he was a member of a Marxist group in San Francisco and had accused the U.S. government of attacking itself on 9/11.
Another far-left person, former Georgetown professor Rosa Brooks, currently holds a position of responsibility in the Defense Department.
Critics of this column will cry McCarthyism, but there comes a point when a person’s credentials should matter, especially when that person is representing the United States in delicate matters, such as human rights. Michael Posner should be hosting a program on Air America. Not speaking on behalf of the American people.