This week, Republicans in congress have picked up on the chatter coming from their think tanks and news masters and have launched a campaign of outrage against the Department of Homeland Security. DHS released a report, which you can view here, that listed right wing groups and 'disgruntled veterans' as possible perpetrators of anti-government violence.
The report was twisted and turned until it came out of some blogger's mouths as being a grand indictment of the entire military community.
Never ones to miss a chance to stand on their soapboxes and decry a perceived slight against the military, the right has turned what should have been a wake up call into a talking point.
In relation to the rest of the report, there has been an increase in anti-federal government rhetoric coming from the right-wing since President Obama took the oath of office. Anyone that took part in or passed by a Tea Party yesterday can attest to that fact, and continuing coverage of the sovereignty issue in Texas and the battles going on in the press about the recovery packages and gun control have only fanned those flames. These are all issues that need to be discussed, debated and worked through, but need to be done in a manner befitting our nation. Discussing the merits and disadvantages of each issue is needed, not rhetorical generalizations that seem to be running rampant right now. For more information about the rise in rhetoric, see Media Matters' report on the issue here. While Media Matters is in no way an unbiased outlet, the report is a good summary of the type of rhetoric being used by the right.
The reaction by the press and Republicans has only contributed to this division, and the report has now become a talking point instead of the wake up call it was intended to be. The politicization of the American military is nothing new and goes back to our roots as a nation. But it is not something that we should be proud of, no matter what side of the aisle you are from.
For more information and a balanced look at the issue, take a look at this review of the report and the reaction that came from it.
Edit: lol, palatable. sorry.