From: f_gautjw@ccsvax.sfasu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.conspiracy
Subject: Re: Bo Gritz and Friendly Fascists
Date: 14 Sep 92 11:46:46 CST
Organization: Stephen F. Austin State University

In article <18s8l9INNipd@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>, aq817@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Steve Crocker) writes:
> 
> The article here by Chip Berlet makes much of Gritz's associations
> with those such as Carto or Mullins who are arguably or actually
> anti-semitic. However, the article is curiously silent on Gritz's
> own views, except for noting that these are "conspiracy theories
> popular with the far right" (not an exact quote). The one arguably
> anti-semitic remark attributed to Gritz is the one about "eight 
> Jewish families" controlling the Fed. Even if Gritz believes this, it
> it doesn't make him anti-semitic - just wrong. (Actually, I don't
> know for sure which banking families DO control the Fed. My 
> impression, though, is that they are both Jewish and Gentile).
> 
> My main problem with the article is that it relies heavily on
> the McCarthyite tactic of guilt by association. Gritz has
> been a political ally of people like Carto and Mullins, therefore
> there appears to be a presumption that he shares their views.
> 
> Now I don't know in any detail what Col. Gritz's political
> views are. However, I presume they are well enough documented
> that Chip could have described them for his article, with
> whatever criticism he might think appropriate. After reading
> Chips blatant misrepresentation of the views of Lyndon
> LaRouche, which I AM familiar with in detail, I certainly
> would not accept his unsupported impressions of Gritz.
> 
> I think we need to move beyond the idea that calling 
> somebody "right wing" and showing that they have questionable
> associates is substantive political criticism. If somebody
> wants to oppose LaRouche, Gritz, or whoever, I think they
> should have the decency to accurately represent their
> views.
> 
> -Steve

	
	What concerns me is the almost total lack of knowledge among
those on this network about Bo Gritz or any other third party candidate
who might have constructive or at least controversial ideas to offer
at election time.  Only Perot with his billions to play the game has
received any significant amount of press.
	I am very limited as to my knowledge of Gritz but was impressed
by his courage in rescuing what was left of the Randy Weaver family from
almost certain destruction at the hands of our own government...and at
significant personal risk to himself.  I was not impressed by the way
the media, at least in this area, reported the story.  Some reports did
not mention his name and simply referred to him as a Vietnam veteran.
If his name was mentioned, nothing was said of his third party candidacy.
It was as if there was a news blackout against him.  
	I know nothing of the validity of his supposed statement that
control of the Fed was in the hands of certain Jewish families.  I do
feel, however, that the Fed is tightly controlled by those with real
financial clout and as an institution of highly questionable value.  I
don't consider being at odds with the Fed an extreme 'right-wing' view,
whatever that means.  I recently received a letter from Sen. Lloyd
Bentsen who mentioned a bill pending before the House of Representatives
that proposed an audit of the Fed (the Fed has not been audited since
its inception in 1913...some banking practice, huh?) and Bentsen went
on to say that if a similar bill was introduced in the Senate that he
would give it careful consideration.  
	I personally suspect we need to go further and abolish the Fed
which appears to be a serious problem in our bankrupt economy and return
to the economic thinking of Jefferson and Madison (Jefferson liquidated
the Second Bank of the United States, the Fed of his day).  If Gritz
is in favor of doing that, it's a point in his favor as far as I am
concerned.
Xref: sparky alt.conspiracy:10567 alt.activism:16164 talk.politics.misc:44883 phl.misc:233 pa.general:295