Oath Keepers remove IVAW “testimony”
The other day I linked to “testimony” of an IVAW member by the name of Eric T Orseske at the Oath Keepers website. Some of you went over there and engaged the Oath Keepers and called them on their hypocrisy in a battle that lasted for over 50 comments. Founder Stuart Rhodes defended his decision to leave the young man’s testimony on the website by using the words of Ron Paul who endorsed Adam Kokesh’s Congressional candidacy;
Adam Kokesh has been a tremendous supporter – of both me AND you! As a leader of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Adam has spent years traveling the country to spread our message of peace, a strong national defense and limited government. Adam has tremendous credibility because of his service in the United States Marine Corps and I have deep respect for his commitment to principle.
Of course, using Ron Paul to quell dissent in their ranks only tells you the level of discourse at Oath Keepers.
Well, finally, Rhodes and “the board” has capitulated and removed that particular testimony. During the discussion, Oath Keepers used phrases like “is our great nation afraid of a few communists?” Well, apparently Oath Keepers are afraid of a few communists;
IVAW in particular has direct connections with some radical left collectivist individuals and organizations, who would scrap this Republic in a heartbeat if they could, to replace it with their own collectivist vision. Such collectivism is incompatible with Oath Keepers, an organization dedicated to the preservation of this Republic. As Oath Keeper Vietnam Vet Lew Waters said: “IF someone shows and acknowledges a propensity to support the very views we are swearing to stand up against and openly admits to obeying those who would impose the very programs we say we will oppose, are we not leaving our flanks exposed?”
Those were the arguments you and I were making through out the discussion. Thanks to all of you who participated in the removal of this IVAW garbage from the internet. As long as IVAW refuses to silence the subversive voices in their ranks, we’ll be there to silence it for them.
Category: Antiwar crowd, General Whackos, Oath Keepers, Ron Paul, Usual Suspects
I just asked Oath Keepers a very pointed question on their post about this: Oath Keepers » Blog Archive » testimonial of Eric T Orseske, IVAW, has been deleted
My comment was: A few folks still aren’t happy apparently…
Keepers remove IVAW “testimony”
I don’t make accusations, but I WILL asked very pointed questions, and the question I ask is this, are you a HUGE supporter of Ron Paul?
You can answer here or in private email if you wish, but I would really like to know, and my continued linking TO Oath Keepers is dependent on the answer of this question. (end)
I never play games behind people backs, I ask out front and I’ll never say anything about you on another blog I won’t say TO you on your blog or mine, that’s the *stand up* kind of guy I am… But I have to say, if Oath Keeepers really is a bunch of Paulinistas, I am done with them and will delink them ASAP…
Just so you know, Fred, Stuart Rhodes, the founder of Oath Keepers, was a Ron Paul staffer.
Yeah, I just found that, not sure how I missed it on the site, but just like that *poof*, they are gone, I won’t link to Ron Paul, his supporters or anything to do with the guy..
And just to let you know, I am removing This Ain’t Hell from my Fred’s Faves page too…
But, I am adding it to The Best of the Web on my front page!! 😛
Thanks, Fred. I’m honored.
Been watching Oath Keepers for quite sometime and was ready to join. After reading what was allowed to be posted and learning other data about Ron Paul influence, I think I’ll now pass. I could never stomach encountering Ron Paul supporters at moveon antiwar rallies.
Oops. Just so it’s clear, I was countering the moveon maroons.
My new mission: engaging with the Oath Keepers and convincing them otherwise. I’ve had some admiration for them in the past.
ugh, Ron Paul. so we agree on two things now, yay!
As long as IVAW refuses to silence the subversive voices in their ranks, we’ll be there to silence it for them.
You’ll be there [here] to _silence_ voices? Your track record on this blog has been to _expose_ speech, not regulate it. The former is consistent with liberty, the latter is not. You may want to clarify the sentence I quoted in your post.
John,
On a related topic concerning OathKeepers. I am a combat veteran and current LEO and I heard about OathKeepers through Facebook. I thought they were interesting and they were trying to be a mainstream blog voicing concerns of a lot in the LEO and military community concerning valid Constitutional issues. For the first month they were and nothing out of the ordinary was amiss even though I was concerned about how they validated someone’s credentials.
I began to receive emails from a discussion group today about the NG in Pittsburgh and how this is the start of the “military order” in America. My fellow LEO posted a response and we both deleted our accounts. Thanks for exposing the site and continue to discredit these crazies. I believe now after reviewing the site after your posting that there are very few LEOs or military members on the site. There is enough crazy things, things that you discuss, that we dont need to try and make things up. I dont think they are as crazy as the SPLC says they are but are not what they say they are!
Thanks for site and continue the great work! Happy 3 Years and I look forward to more!
It seemed to go on longer than that we were fighting the membership as well.
[…] for members of This Ain’t Hell to convince Rhodes to take the testimonial down. It began here and ended here. What hasn’t ended, however is Oathkeepers’ support of Adam Kokesh which Bev Perlson told us […]
I joined O-K after hearing about their stance and believed in their stated mission shortly before September 2009. I attended their associated banquet on 9.12.2009 in DC. Shortly thereafter I saw testimony on their site from an IVAW member and replied … voicing my displeasure that someone with socialist/communist ties would be allowed venue for their anti-American BS. I was bombarded with crap from the paulinista’s because I stated that I wouldn’t follow Ron Paul to 7-11 much less allow him to lead this country. They all wholeheartedly supported RP and AK regardless of their communist ties. I figured that I did not need OK to stand by my oath that I took on 12.11.1962 … I stand by that belief today. I do not believe Stewart Rhode’s statement that he will disavow IVAW … or VVAW … or CPUSA … or SPUSA … or Code Pink for that matter. Tha’s just me though and my opinion.