Video: The Napolitano walkback begins
posted at 1:35 pm on April 16, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Sort of, anyway. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano gives the standard non-apology apology, the “I’m sorry if anyone was offended” statement. She does a reverse Truman towards the end, though, when she refuses to say that she approved the warning her own department issued, saying she was “briefed” but didn’t sign off on it. Think she’s building her defense for the House Committee on Homeland Security?
Napolitano at one point challenges the Fox anchors to “read the report,” and winds up with egg on her face when they respond:
At about 6:30, Steve Doocy asks her whether the Catholic Church qualifies as a potential terrorist threat, since they protest abortion. He reads off the definition, and Napolitano says she’d dump the footnote … now. Why not just admit that from the beginning? She tries to say that they do the same thing for the Left, but that report did not warn that an increase in animal-rights sentiment was a potential danger to our national security; instead, the DHS actually specified the groups that needed watching.
Update: My friend Kevin McCullough wants Napolitano fired.
Blowback
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It’s a double-edged sword, isn’t it? I feel bad…and yet, I don’t. LOL.
jennifernaz on April 16, 2009 at 2:18 PM
It means the current O-Bummer administration has gone back to a pre-9-11 mentality/doctrine where all the various agencies (CIA, FBI, DHS, etc.) are no longer working together and sharing information just like it was during Clintoon’s administration, which also means we are going to be hit again by our enemies only this time around I fear it will be worse, e.g., dirty bomb, suitcase nuke, Bio weapon, etc.
These socialist numbskulls are making up faux internal enemies (vets, etc) and taking their eyes off our real enemies in order to further their socialist agenda/ideology and our nation will pay the price…God help us all…
Liberty or Death on April 16, 2009 at 2:21 PM
What’s her husband think of all of this?
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Except perhaps now they will start defining ‘militias’ as people who own 2 or more guns.
Badger40 on April 16, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Dear Mr. RightWinged,
We here at the Department of Homeland Security have been carefully considering the feedback from yourself and thousands of other concerned Americans. We have, therefore, implemented the following changes to our reporting methodology:
1. “Right-wing terrorism” will now be known as “talk radio host-caused disasters.”
2. Instead of warning about an “elevated threat of violence from right-wing extremists,” our revised report will speak of “special challenges from non-progressive Americans.”
3. Instead of keeping conservatives and military veterans “under enhanced surveilance,” we will be “taking extra care to listen to your concerns.”
I hope you, and your family, and your friends, and all the members of your cell have a very secure day!
Signed,
Janet Napolitano
Doctor Zero on April 16, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Fixed.
flipflop on April 16, 2009 at 2:23 PM
I was a loyal boortz listener until he preached for months leading up to the election in 2006 that Republicans need to be “punished” with a Democrat win (the heck with the country, eh?)…and then reversed himself a week before the election because of what John Kerry said about the troops in Iraq.
So this morning I decided to listen to what he had to say about the Tea Parties, and all I heard him saying was that he cancelled because he “didn’t want Rick Sanchez to get in trouble with his employers for what he (Neal) might say” all the while that hen Belinda was cackling. What a crock of bull.
Guess I’m back to not listening to him.
Brat on April 16, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Heh, yesterday I couldn’t spell militia, and now I are one!
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 2:23 PM
yes, they are making up faux internal enemies while we face devastation from the real external enemies.
and i see where they are setting up the “rt wing extremists” as the fall guys for anything violent that may happen.
however, how damn dumb do you have to be to piss off a veteran? or the anti-abortion people? or the gun owners?
oh, right. they are already pissed & it doesn’t seem to matter.
c’mon people! let’s get together!
kelley in virginia on April 16, 2009 at 2:25 PM
The term “right wing” is right in the title of the report. That in itself proves that it was a biased and was targeting people for their political beliefs. No amount of walk back can hide that fact. Most of the “triggers” mentioned in the report would apply to anyone, regardless of their political views. Losing your job or house makes people angry, right wing or no. Of course that doesn’t mean they will turn to terrorism. She should resign.
echosyst on April 16, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Huh. Has anyone seen her and Al Gore in the same room together?
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 2:25 PM
I think she also has James Traficant vibe, but only on a Traficant good hair day…
rw on April 16, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Why would anyone make a distinction between right-wing and left-wing terrorism anyway? Howsabout just a report warning against terrorists period? If some facts were included, they would be 90% left wing groups and the other half Muslims.
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Potential threats to the Obama Presidency:
1. People who have jobs
2. People who own guns
3. People who didn’t vote for him
4. People that libtards fear naturally (men with violent skills, e.g; military)
5. Everyone else.
I forgot…did I say Obama or Stalin?
BobMbx on April 16, 2009 at 2:28 PM
unfortunately for us, real terrorists (the Muslim variety) are among us. Minnesota, anyone?
Mommypundit on April 16, 2009 at 2:28 PM
WHY ARE LIB WOMEN SO utterly UGLY?? (heart and face) – she is what my brother would call a “3-bagger”
Ris4victory on April 16, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Too little, too late, Janet. Your political extremist propensities are on full display, dear. Resign in disgrace–the sooner, the better.
Christien on April 16, 2009 at 2:29 PM
From another HotAir link -
DHS Secty “Nappy” Napolitano issued a non-apology “apology” to veterans today, along the lines of the usual formulaic Democrat politician non-apology.
The non-apology usually sounds like this – “To those (nutjobs) I have offended by my actions (driving drunk off a bridge and killing my passenger, suborning others to committ felonious perjury & committing perjury myself, using ACORN to register more fake made-up Democrat voters in XYZ County than there are people residing there including graveyard dwellers, using taxpayer money to pay my gay lover, accepting bribes & stashing the cash in my freezer, accepting bribes, accepting bribes, accepting bribes, accepting bribes, and so on), I apologize”
What she needs to do is apologize to everyone, not just those she offended. Only then is it a real apology even if we know she doesn’t mean it.
Ol’ Nappy Napolitano is just one more incompetent, politicized leftwing appointee hack in HopeyChangey’s army of flying monkeys. It’s time for her to go.
CatchAll on April 16, 2009 at 12:18 PM
CatchAll on April 16, 2009 at 2:31 PM
I swear I just copied and pasted this from Janet Napolitano’s Wikipedia page.
The post-50 Napolitano has never married. She is an avid basketball fan, regularly plays tennis, and is an avid muff diver
Firmworm on April 16, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Number 4 could include Christians too.
I meet all 5 criteria. I bet I already have a file. *waves to DHS* Come and get me, turds.
jennifernaz on April 16, 2009 at 2:31 PM
A question: Does this
include American Indian reservations?
canditaylor68 on April 16, 2009 at 2:32 PM
heh.
HornetSting on April 16, 2009 at 2:33 PM
I had to.
Talon on April 16, 2009 at 2:33 PM
After watching O’Reilly last night, Dennis Miller would ask whether anyone has seen her and Frank Luntz in the same room together.
They did a hilarious side-by-side photo comparison.
Personally, I think she resebles Fred Flintstone.
Where do Dems get these women? Janet Reno? Now, J-Nap?
BuckeyeSam on April 16, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Because conservative men have standards.
From this fact one can conclude that conservative women are beautiful. Visually challenged women necessarily gravitate towards the “anything goes” crowd where taking an interest in your looks, ergo maintaining self-confidence and self-esteem, is considered a waste of time.
BobMbx on April 16, 2009 at 2:36 PM
The old fascist trick. Pick a group that can be demonized and use them as your strawman. For Nazis it was the Jews and the communists. For Obama it is the conservative and other opposition groups.
docdave on April 16, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Ugly Janet needs her own show, ‘You and Alinsky’.
HornetSting on April 16, 2009 at 2:38 PM
But - we have them surrounded.
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 2:38 PM
“Holy mak’rel dere, Alinsky!”
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 2:38 PM
I swear I just copied and pasted this from Janet Napolitano’s Wikipedia page.
The post-50 Napolitano has never married. She is an avid basketball fan, regularly plays tennis, and is an avid muff diver
Firmworm on April 16, 2009 at 2:31 PM
It’s gone already
Firmworm on April 16, 2009 at 2:41 PM
… and the left came unhinged when Bush was listening to FOREIGN phone calls.
So are the Koskiddies and the Huffpos hyperventilating over this or cheering?
AZfederalist on April 16, 2009 at 2:43 PM
You are kidding…
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 2:43 PM
I like how she talks down to the polite and INFORMED journalists.
What a loser.
Black Adam on April 16, 2009 at 2:46 PM
You are kidding…
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 2:43 PM
I swear it was there. The folks at Wiki are probably keeping a close eye on her page.
Firmworm on April 16, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Her report casts the widest net possible to cover the entire Conservative spectrum to include those that simply did not vote for her president, and she claims the report is only targeting a narrow range of extremists?
Weasel Word Woman.
Or, better I should say, Rabid Weasel Word Woman. Infected with the Marxist/Socialist ideology that instructs it’s adherents to demonize and ostracize every single form of thought contrary to their own beloved ideology.
Maquis on April 16, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Never ONCE did she state she disagreed with anything in the report and in fact attempted to justify it. When specifically asked if veterans were more of a threat then any others to join these groups she didn’t answer the question. She instead states she has to talk about it differently with the media verses the intelligence community.
JeffinSac on April 16, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Hehe. They’re watching HA and saying, “Oh crap, somebody noticed, now we gotta clean that up.”
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Arlen Specter in drag?
epluribusunum on April 16, 2009 at 2:49 PM
So am I to understand that she’s profiling Veterans??
HarryStar on April 16, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Reminds me of Janet Reno
saiga on April 16, 2009 at 2:50 PM
It’s Janet Reno in drag.
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 2:51 PM
DHS = a woman caused disaster
Dhuka on April 16, 2009 at 2:53 PM
What the hell does she find so funny?
Wade on April 16, 2009 at 3:06 PM
She tells the F&F to read the report when it was clear she never did before it was released. Seems like SOP with all the thugs in DC.
Wade on April 16, 2009 at 3:08 PM
I’m not so sure that this so-called apology really does anything. I think the DHS report is clearly an indication of more things to come. See more here.
Sydney Carton on April 16, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Not to be rude, as I, myself am also a woman, but where do the politicians find these stupid, nerdy, homely, middle-age, old-hag women to place in these major administrative positions? This one reminds me of Janet Waco Reno, maybe it’s a name thing! She is bad enough to look at, and then God help us all, she opens her mouth, and ARGHHHHHHHH!! What a dork, she makes Hillary Clinton look like Princess Diana.
Susanboo on April 16, 2009 at 3:10 PM
When she was talking about working with Mexico,she listed things they wanted to deal with. did anyone else notice that she left out guns?
oldernwiser on April 16, 2009 at 3:10 PM
OMG! I did not even read these before I said the same thing!
Susanboo on April 16, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Incredible, her voice matches her physical appearance. Scary really. Not that it matters but I had never heard her voice before. I’d hate to meet her in a dark ally after closing time.
What was AZ thinking making her Gov anyway?
FireBlogger on April 16, 2009 at 3:14 PM
I think it’s the dull, monotone, delivery of words, and the frumpy suit and hair. Let’s get her on “What Not to Wear” and let Stacy London and Clinton Kelly make her over. Love to take a look into her closet! (well, on second thought, maybe not!) LOL!
Susanboo on April 16, 2009 at 3:19 PM
And where the hell is the GOP backlash? Do they agree with this ugly woman? Maybe there are more RINOS than we first feared and they are more than happy to see those that love their country punished.
Lindsey Graham called us bigots and told us to shut up….hmmmm. I think the maverick better start worrying about competition from Janet…..for Lindsey’s heart.
HornetSting on April 16, 2009 at 3:20 PM
The only way you are going to fix that is with a big bag. She’s an Obama Admin, many skeletons in that closet.
HornetSting on April 16, 2009 at 3:21 PM
They would probably take one look at her and agree with you! Skeletons, baggage, old unpaid tax bills, and frumpy suits, that’s what is in her closet!
Susanboo on April 16, 2009 at 3:26 PM
No no no no… I think this report came out exactly the way they wanted it and they weren’t expecting so much backlash…I’m probably just stating the obvious however…
liquidflorian on April 16, 2009 at 3:40 PM
For that matter, the Koresh was known to go jogging every morning. If all they wanted to do was arrest him, there was no need to assault the compound in the first place. Just wait for him to go jogging. The only reason to do so was to make sure they had some good footage for the nightly news. It wasn’t a coincidence that the BATF had brought with them representatives of all the major news networks on that raid.
MarkTheGreat on April 16, 2009 at 3:48 PM
And don’t even get me started on the BATF flooding a building with a tear gas that is banned by the Geneva conventions for use on foreign troops, and is contraindicated by it’s manufacturer for use in confined places.
Not to mention that the tear gas is highly flamable and was being pumped into a building known to be heated and kerosene heaters and lit with kerosene lamps.
MarkTheGreat on April 16, 2009 at 3:55 PM
How could she be so stupid?
Really. The Obama people got such a free ride from the press for so long, that now they have to actually run things they are just lost.
So veterans are scary, because McVeigh was a veteran. McVeigh was also from the state of New York..so does that mean all New Yorkers are extremists?
This kind of thinking is just so bizarre.
Terrye on April 16, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Janet Napolitano was a literal bitch as governor of Arizona. Her role now will be to NOT secure the Mexican border, and water down everything else as irrelevant. The current DHS report against the mythical great right wing, came directly from the Obama white house. In their first 100 days in office, no U.S. president in history has done this much damage, against the citizenry.
byteshredder on April 16, 2009 at 4:08 PM
I don’t trust Wikipedia anyway, but here’s a page from http://usliberals.about.com/od/stategovernors/p/Napolitano.htm :
So, from age 25 to 35 she was a lawyer, age 35 to 45 she was a prosecutor, and with all those rich lawyers around to choose from, none of them ever proposed. Why not?
She’s 51 and still single, and wants to lecture us on the education of our children, and prosecute right-wing “terrorists” at the Tea Parties.
Steve Z on April 16, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Let us imagine the reaction if a Republican had been in charge when the Waco compound when up in flames.
Terrye on April 16, 2009 at 4:09 PM
I wonder what Don Imus would say about this Nappy.
Steve Z on April 16, 2009 at 4:15 PM
What’s a “muff diver?!”
Susanboo on April 16, 2009 at 4:15 PM
She gives me the creeps.
ronsfi on April 16, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Such innocence…
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 4:23 PM
He’ll get to that as soon as he finishes defending Palin.
I heard Madam Secretary utter the words “terrorism” and “terrorist” a few times in this interview… I thought that was a no-no in this new, enlightened and nuanced administration?
yogi41 on April 16, 2009 at 4:23 PM
So she has the report. Now it is time to put a different spin on it.
She is just listing Republicans and conservatives as threatening because they intend to tromple the same.
seven on April 16, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Why don’t we have a repub. that has current facts of domestic terrorism. Not a 14 year old crime that the left continually brings up. 13, 000 acts of terrorism from muslims since 9-11. Instead of apologies how about facts to back up this insane report, and repubs should compile a lefty danger stranger report…..how about illegal alien crimes etc……where the heck are the leaders in the gop
nondhimmie on April 16, 2009 at 4:34 PM
There would be no point in that. Obama would just find someone else to say pretty much the same thing.
ddrintn on April 16, 2009 at 4:57 PM
At 7:27 she says that on the other side of the political spectrum there are animal-rights groups that go beyond advocacy and spill into violence and at 7:44 she says “it is the (animal rights terrorists) violence that we want to protect” Freudian slip of the tongue? Her report pays lip service to the proven track record of extreme violence on the Left and makes up absolute lies about non-existent violence on the right.
While we’re on the subject of servicing lips and tongues slipping, I’d like to quote Austin Powers, “That’s no woman! She’s a man, man!”
CatchAll on April 16, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Some local news stations have “Adopt a Pet” segments.
To whom do I report this dangerous, left-wing extremist activity? They might be terrorists, you know.
malclave on April 16, 2009 at 5:00 PM
It’s what gay guys prefer teabagging over.
peacenprosperity on April 16, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Boortz is a confused wimp who you can’t trust to have your back. He proved that during the Terry Schiavo fiasco, if not before.
Bizarro No. 1 on April 16, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Those were in reference to US military veterans, therefore an appropriate use.
BobMbx on April 16, 2009 at 5:17 PM
For some reason, I keep picturing Rahm Emanuel as its main author, perhaps with a little help from his friend David Axelrod….or maybe the other way around.
misslizzi on April 16, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Susanboo, it’s the same as a carpet muncher.
This woman is th “head” of homeland security? She couldn’t defend her girl friend from a 3 legged chihuahua.
elifino on April 16, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Fortunately for your brother, there’s not much chance that he’d have occasion to find out how many bags it would take – I don’t think he’s her type.
uncivilized on April 16, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Typical condescending Dimmycrap.
‘I’m sorry I’m talking to the media instead of the intelligence community, we’d be having a much different conversation,’ because, you know, regular people aren’t intelligent.
TinMan13 on April 16, 2009 at 7:05 PM
I just read the “The Grapevine” at Fox and the Morning Joe show as told that they could only have one question about the report when Sec. Napolitano appeared on their show.
Cindy Munford on April 16, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Liberals should have learned a long time ago not to put their fantasies in writing. But then, they have a mantra of what conservatives are, so they really don’t need any facts.
GarandFan on April 16, 2009 at 9:46 PM
U G L Y she ain’t got no alibi she ugly. Sorry, couldn’t resist. A face like that should come with a caution sign.
Stickeehands on April 16, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Sorry, Mizz Napolitano, neither the DHS report nor your walkback pass the smell test.
There were plenty of vets from WWII onward who attended our T.E.A party because they had read the DHS memo. I guess that the next report crafted by the D.C. “wordsmiths” will be kept under tighter security. Bah!
It will be even more telling about the Obama agenda (and yours) is after we learn the details re your joint meeting with Calderon.
onlineanalyst on April 16, 2009 at 10:46 PM
My threat warning is currently flashing magenta. We’re off the charts, folks.
onlineanalyst on April 16, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Janet Napolitano
Son of Reno
paulsur on April 16, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Let’s be consistent and praise the work of the DHS Secretary as we did under Bush.
True_King on April 17, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Just one more page in the playbook to get us to go nuts, shoot our guns, and give them an excuse to eviscerate our constitutional freedoms.
This is so orchestrated. Insults and affronts from every branch toward every conservative group to raise our level of anger and push the crazies over the edge,
eaglesdontflock on April 17, 2009 at 3:19 AM
– Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged.
Aggie85 on April 17, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Moby Comment Alert!
hawkdriver on April 17, 2009 at 9:32 AM
She must go. Honorable Secretary Napolitano seems to think securing the Homeland from within first, as Communist methodology does. Keep the people dependent and subservient to the government to protect them from their neighbor and themselves.
Her last statement in the interview is what scares me, protecting violence? I had to play it back several times to make sure I heard it right. Yes she implied, we must protect violence and a persons right to carry out violence. So what she is doing is creating an enemy within so the government has a reason to suppress the enemy within.
MSGTAS on April 17, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Reno redux
Nap is there to prove to the Obama crowd that all gender categories are in the power loop
Unfortunately what is called straight or square must be forced into a new mold to reduce the threat to that which is not
Deviation from the new norm is the threat
Obama I suppose, will give a speech at every Catholic University in the USA until there is total surrender (submission?), while Nap will put her heel on all deviant regressives until they stop squealing
entagor on April 17, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Akzed on April 16, 2009 at 2:21 PM
She couldn’t be reached for comment.
PJ Emeritus on April 17, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Let’s be consistent and condemn everything Obama does, the way we did Bush.
MarkTheGreat on April 17, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Was it a simple misstatement or a Freudian slip when she remarks at about 7:40 that “It’s the violence we’re trying to protect.” Was leaving off “against” revealing or a simple speaking to fast for her mouth? I am quite cynical enough to believe that her intention is to protect the violence itself because it serves her insterests rather than to protect the citizens from violence.
{^_^}
herself on April 17, 2009 at 4:25 PM
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