Right-Wing Intimidation Hits Home

Let me share with you a letter I received at home, Tuesday, September 30th. At the time, I knew nothing about the sender or the organization of which he's Chairman. Now, thanks to the Internet, I know a good deal more about him. This letter arrived in a large, thin cardboard envelope, labeled "UPS Expedited Mail." The envelope also proclaimed that this was "Expedited Mail by UPS Mail Innovations" and it was "Time Sensitive Material." I don't remember ever getting "Time Sensitive Material, Expedited by UPS Mail Innovations." Here is the letter accompanied by a legal memorandum from the sender's attorney:

Click on image for pdf.

Here is my OPEN LETTER in response to Howard Rich, Chairman, Americans for Limited Government Foundation:

Dear Howie,

Thanks for your time-sensitive, expedited letter, undated. Let me call you Howie since you have my home address, something only my friends and business associates have, and since there are almost four million internet entries about you, many of which refer to you as Howie. Do you like being called Howie? Probably as much as I like to get threatening letters from people such as you. I'm sure you really don't know anything about me, let alone my political leanings. How is it then that you have my name and address and threaten to "publicize my involvement in leftist organizations in my local community?"

Let me tell you about my local community. I live and work in Hollywood, where if you publicize someone's involvement with the Left, a thunderous yawn will likely arise over the basin. Unlike you, people out here don't care what organizations a person belongs to. You must have gotten my name as a result of sloppy work by a lazy hired hand because in my case, you got the wrong guy. I wonder how many of the other 11,000 or more identical letters you sent went to people you've wrongly identified as "belonging to the radical agenda of the left."

You see, I'm not a member of any political organization - left, right or center. I gave a donation to Barack Obama, but not to any PAC's or any other candidates. I once gave a donation to our local Sheriff, but I have no idea what party he belongs to. I am a member of two prominent social clubs, both of which could be called conservative. You might enjoy them as much as I do. So what am I doing in your database?

As I mentioned, there are almost four million internet entries that reference you and your organization. Some of them refer to you as a "wealthy, New York developer." Like a lot of stuff that gets written about people, one can't always verify the truth, but here are a few random entries: a posting by a Robert W. Dalton claims you're "one of the most despised figures in South Carolina politics." Mr. Dalton's posting goes on to quote the Spartanburg (SC) Democratic Chairman who calls you "A disaster waiting to happen." The Democratic Public Information Officer for the Union County Schools in South Carolina says you're "pouring money into candidates who are willing to sell their souls to get elected."

On the other hand, prominent Republicans like the State GOP Party Chairman, the Spartanburg GOP County Chairman, and Governor Mark Sandford (R) have nothing but good things to say about you. It seems the dispute along party lines is over your desire to create a private school system funded by taxpayers. You seem to be a big spender and you put your money behind your beliefs. Nothing wrong with that, nothing that should cause anyone to send you a threatening letter. But again at random, a website called STOP BALLOT FRAUD says you "subsidize voter fraud." By the way, nice picture of you on that website.

Surely my small donation to the Democratic candidate for President can't be what offends you, so I invite you to lay out publicly exactly what it is you consider to be my radical agenda. I'm sharing this note with the public because it demands wider circulation. What you're expediting is Un-American. False accusations. Threats. Attempts to suppress speech. As Joseph Welch, long ago lamented to Senator Joe McCarthy, "Sir, have you no shame?"

Sincerely,
William Friedkin

P. S. Enclosed is a letter to you from my lawyer, Eric George, sent by regular mail.

Click on image for pdf.

Comments

[luckyrico1]

Does anybody else get the feeling that this is the tone the far right will take for the duration of the Obama presidency.

Here's a message to those far-right intimidators:

We've got more on our minds than to let you bully, us, the American public. The economy trumps your witch hunts.

We believe in the American constitution and The Bill of Rights; we will not be persecuted because of our beliefs or associations. Americans recognize that McCarthism was /is wrong.

Americans are patriotic even when they are liberal, conservative, Christian, Jewish, Muslim (or any other religion). You don't own God, Country, or anything else you think will convince the undereducated, underpaid Joes who vote against their own self interests to keep people like you in power.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THE FAR RIGHT AGENDA ANY LONGER. It is anti-choice, anti-science and ANTI-AMERICAN.

We will oppose your continued efforts to make the income gap wider and wider in your favor. It's not that we are socialists, it is that we don't think you really "earn" your disproportionate wealth. The mortgage meltdown and the resulting credit freeze happened because greed became unbridled with deregulation.

THE FAR-RIGHT HAS BECOME DRUNK FROM POWER AND GREED; NOW IS TIME FOR THE PAINFUL TASK OF SOBERING-UP.

Now, leave us alone, we've got important business to tend to.

[billbb]

Another reason to vote as if your life depended on it.

It does.

[Flash-389009]

Everyone needs to embrace this philosophy. This is not a new problem:

"The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato

[luckyrico1]

Amen.

[shannabanana]

The first time I saw The Exorcist, I was about 5 years old and there was a Catholic Priest visiting my home. I swear that is the truth. To this day, it is the only movie that ever really scared me and I've seen it like 20 times. I'm a huge horror fanatic! I was raised Catholic, but today (I guess) an Atheist. I don't like that label and I do not profess to know for sure that there is definately no God like being. The way I believe has nothing to do with the Catholic Religion. It was the Evangelicals here in the south that caused me to start thinking. I'm a white chic. I grew up in SW Pa. and there ARE alot of racists there. I've lived in South Carolina for 21 years now and there ARE alot of racists here. There are also alot of religious nuts. I think they even pray before they use the restroom. I will show my support for Obama by voting for him and donating money. I live in a rural area and I dare not put up a sign or put a bumper sticker on my car. I tell my family not to either. They support Obama also. My sister and my biracial nephew live with me , I have pets and I can't be home all of the time. I'm a Democrat with a 12 guage shotgun, though I really hope it doesn't ever come to that.

[planetjeffy]

William, can I suggest that you and the other 11000 subjects of Mr Rich's concern, gang up and sue his buttt for harassment and other trumped charges - to keep himbouncing around in courts for years to come. This is the only way to stop this garbage.

[jalowe1957]

"Publicity is justly recommended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants." - Louis Brandeis, Supreme Court Justice

God save the poison antidotes. The noxious specter of McCarthyism has reared its ugly head once again.

Like on the TV series "Mad Men," they become better at expressing their true selves, ableit in code-word form. As in "Cadillac-driving welfare queen," "law and order," and "he's not one of us."

Pathetic, isn't it.

[RegularJoe08]

Heard John McCain just hired Joe McCarthy to work on his campaign.

[RegularJoe08]

Personally I intend to write to Howie and demand I be sent a letter immediately and that my activities be monitored forthwith. I respect Mr Friedkin but I will not stand to be excluded or play second fiddle simply because I am not a member of the Hollywood elite. If I don't receive a letter I intend to file an action to compel him to send me one. Let's keep Howie busy. He has too much time on his hands.

[atila]

ENOUGH!!...not this time...

[Shozen]

Wouldn't have been better to hit the SOB with an Injunction? Or at least send the letter via certified mail?

[SurrealPumpkin]

No, that letter should do the trick. Nothing like threatening the pocketbook to curb unacceptable behavior.

[logicfirst]

Stunning. And so wrong. Good for you, Mr. Friedkin. Good for you.

[abmabardy]

Hey Howie, where's MY letter?

I am a PROUD and unabashed supporter of the "LEFT agenda". That agenda embraces all people as equals who deserve equal rights and equal opportunities. It is an agenda of compassion and fairness, the agenda of Social Security and Civil Rights. It is an agenda that supports the middle class as the heart and soul of America,as opposed to pandering to the insatiable greed of (some of)the wealthy. It is the agenda of diplomacy before aggression that so respects and supports our troops as to never put them in harms way without real and verifiable cause. It is an agenda of justice and fairness and hope.

You see, Howie, the terms "left" and "liberal" are not something to be ashamed of at all, as you and your fellow neocons have worked so hard to make them. We on the LEFT, American Progressives, are taking back God and the flag, and we are taking back our country.

I'll be looking for your letter, Howie, so I can send it to scores of local and state newspapers as well as radio and TV shows.

[UrbanRevolution]

Fellow Huff Po readers - i haven't really paid attention to politics until now. Is this type of anti-American, McCarthy-esque B.S. typical? Did folks come out against the democratic party this way in 2000 or 2004?!?

[useyourbrain]

Thank you, Mr. Friedkin. I only wish others had your passion and your guts not to sit back and just trash the letter. I only hope this makes Op-Ed sections around the country.

How ironic that it's an organization for "limited government". Considering what Bush & Co. have done to destroy the Constitution (or make it moot) it's appalling to think that this "red scare" of the 1940's is coming back.

I've done some research into what happened in Hollywood before the "Hollywood Ten" became an event. When unions were trying to organize in Hollywood, the California Legislature started what became the HUAC Federally, which has been resurrected by George "I want to change the tone in Washington" Bush, Jr. It's changed alright. When Clinton was being impeached and the vitriol on both sides was at it's peak, the Democrats never said the opposition was un-American or traitorous. Sadly, that isn't the case anymore.

To paraphrase Preston Sturges, "Civility is not only dead, it's decomposed". When people like you make the effort to counter this resurgence, it's a good sign. One down and 300 million more to go.

[JBS]

Yeah, it's pretty much the standard republican party line & tactics for the last 30 years or so.

[Weribe]

To UrbanRevolution,

The answer to your last question is, unfortunately "yes". As someone who has protested Bush and the right wing neocons for some years, I have little doubt that my name is in some databases also. It has not been uncommon to be called unpatriotic, un-American, etc, etc.

I have Obama stickers on my car, and a few days ago, a McCain support put an obscene bumper sticker on my back window. We are seeing the consequences of both the subtle and the blatant "you are with me or you are against me" mentality of the past 8+ years.

In many ways, this election is about more than a change in governance style. It is about a change in attitudes, including respect for people and points of view that are different. It is about understanding that all Americans matter, not just those who agree with us. It is about honoring the Constitution and our laws. I long to again see an America that is, legitimately a moral compass in the world.

Franklin Roosevelt said it better than I can: "It is a good thing to demand liberty for ourselves and for those who agree with us, but it is a better thing and a rarer thing to give liberty to others who do not agree with us".

[SurrealPumpkin]

FDR really had a way with words.

[jpage78]

I liked reading that. We all need to respond in that way to intimidation and random threats....also, I suggest that people go out and buy or watch "The French Connection" or "The Exorcist" in support of Mr Friedkin or if you just want to watch a couple of the greatest movies of all time. lol

[jamie461]

WOW. Just, WOW. It's un-freaking-believable how low the wingnuts will go. There is just no bottom to their slime.

[Intelligentia]

Someone might want to remind "Howie" about something called Title III relating to illegal monitoring of electronic communications. I am not sure how they are collecting the information, they may want to have their lawyers check their activities. When Obama becomes president, your money can no longer buy you freedom for your criminal activities. Talk about un-American!

[DrYRHead]

The last 8 years have shown that the GOP types have a total disregard for such laws. Bush Jr and Cheney have taken the old Nixon style wire tappings to a whole new level.