It appears no liberal Christmas is complete without the ultimate stocking stuffer: an actual stocking to wear over your face while rioting. While not yet selling face coverings for anonymous violence, Crooked Media, co-founded by former Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor, is selling a line of Antifa items for liberals wanting to make a statement against any “Peace on Earth.” (As of this posting, Antifa items were still being sold on the “Crooked Store” site). You can now proudly wear your “Antifa Dad” hat to signal your support for political violence and deplatforming. It is the ultimate naughty gift list for putting the slay back into your Sleigh Bells.
These liberal hosts and their “POD SAVE AMERICA” show have been featured on various shows and courted by figures like Hillary Clinton.
There is no apparent backlash for their support of one of the most violent groups in the world, which routinely attacks journalists and anyone who holds opposing views. Imagine the media response if a conservative site started selling “Proud Boy” items.
Yet, Crooked Media is now offering liberals the chance to buy “ANTIFA” onesies for babies, a T-shirt for toddlers reading “ANTIFA” and other items.
Just to make sure that everyone understands the support for the violent group, a spokesperson for Crooked Media told Fox News Digital that the clothes it has listed on its website “are not a joke.” The spokesman added that “all toddlers are antifa until their souls are broken by capitalism.”
As discussed in my new book, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage,” I explore the history of Antifa as a movement that began in Germany:
“Antifa originated with European anarchist and Marxist groups from the 1920s, particularly Antifaschistische Aktion, a Communist group from the Weimar Republic before World War II. Its name resulted from the shortening of the German word antifaschistisch. In the United States, the modern movement emerged through the Anti- Racist Action (ARA) groups, which were dominated by anarchists and Marxists. It has an association with the anarchist organization Love and Rage, which was founded by former Trotsky and Marxist followers as well as offshoots like Mexico’s Amor Y Rabia. The oldest U.S. group is likely the Rose City Antifa (RCA) in Portland, Oregon, which would become the center of violent riots during the Trump years. The anarchist roots of the group give it the same organizational profile as such groups in the early twentieth century with uncertain leadership and undefined structures.”
Despite the denial of its existence by figures like Rep. Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.), I have long written and spoken about the threat of Antifa to free speech on our campuses and in our communities. This includes testimony before Congress on Antifa’s central role in the anti-free speech movement nationally.
As I have previously written, it has long been the “Keyser Söze” of the anti-free speech movement, a loosely aligned group that employs measures to avoid easy detection or association. Yet, FBI Director Chris Wray has repeatedly pushed back on the denials of Antifa’s work or violence. In one hearing, Wray stated, “And we have quite a number” — and “Antifa is a real thing. It’s not a fiction.”
We have continued to follow the attacks and arrests of Antifa followers across the country, including attacks on journalists.
Some Democrats have played a dangerous game in supporting or excusing the work of Antifa. Former Democratic National Committee deputy chair Keith Ellison, now the Minnesota attorney general, once said Antifa would “strike fear in the heart” of Trump. This was after Antifa had been involved in numerous acts of violence, and its website was banned in Germany.
Ellison’s son, Minneapolis City Council member Jeremiah Ellison, declared his allegiance to Antifa in the heat of the protests this summer. During a prior hearing, Democratic senators refused to clearly denounce Antifa and falsely suggested that the far right was the primary cause of recent violence. Likewise, Joe Biden has dismissed objections to Antifa as just “an idea.”
It is at its base a movement at war with free speech, defining the right itself as a tool of oppression. That purpose is evident in what is called the “bible” of the Antifa movement: Rutgers Professor Mark Bray’s Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook.
Bray emphasizes the struggle of the movement against free speech: “At the heart of the anti-fascist outlook is a rejection of the classical liberal phrase that says, ‘I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’”
Bray admits that “most Americans in Antifa have been anarchists or antiauthoritarian communists… From that standpoint, ‘free speech’ as such is merely a bourgeois fantasy unworthy of consideration.”
Now, liberal families can bring a small part of that political violence into their homes for the holiday to pledge that there will be no peace or silent nights so long as opposing views are heard. Antifa has gone retail, and there is no better way to celebrate political violence and rage than your Antifa onesie.
With tensions rising after the election, the embrace of organizations like Antifa will only fuel calls for violent action. Liberal figures like ex-Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz have even conveyed support for the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan.
It is not the time to go full naughty list to celebrate a group that regularly beats reporters and others with opposing viewpoints. While this may appeal to your own special smash-mouth Santa, tis the season for political violence.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
“Bray admits that ‘most Americans in Antifa have been anarchists or antiauthoritarian communists…'”
I’ve never quite understood the dichotomy between supporting antifascist anti-authoritarianism,–and yet espousing, indeed demanding, authoritarian control and censorship of speech.
Throw in capitalistic marketing of these “messaged” products, and it really becomes farcical.
Good morning Lin, the left supports “anti-authoritarianism to fight the power they don’t have as they espouse and demand authoritarian control by their leftist fellow travelers.
Flaiano wrote: “In Italy, fascists divide themselves into two categories: fascists and antifascists.”[3][4]
The real author of this quotation was Mino Maccari, and Flaiano himself was in fact attributing it to him.[5][6]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ennio_Flaiano#:~:text=Flaiano%20wrote%3A%20%22In%20Italy%2C,fact%20attributing%20it%20to%20him.
Lin,
“Throw in capitalistic marketing of these “messaged” products, and it really becomes farcical.”
Right? How many times have we read about BLM supporters who then get caught using “fund raising” campaigns to enrich themselves?
Can I get one that has a red circle with a line through it?
Unbelievable, and yet not surprising these are the people Obama surrounded himself with. This is about as out in the open as it gets; anyone on the left that doesn’t support this thuggery needs to publicly disavow it *now*. It is madness, and thinking it’s a fringe mentality is whistling in the dark. Thank you for the column.
Dare not hold my breath.
James, these same far left radicals populate the Biden team as well. How do you suppose a border policy emerged that was supported by nobody in the country, that was obviously harming the administration and the party at large? How could Biden, a supposedly moderate Democrat for his whole life, but now suffering from dementia, be in a position to be yelling at Israel while financially supporting Iran? How else would the WH support Trans day for this, Trans week for that, Trans month for everything? How does Dylan Mulvaney get a WH visit? How does a man/woman bare her breasts at the Wh? How does a bald man in lipstick and a gown get put in charge of nuclear waste? How does a man in a dress become an admiral? Who nominates these people? It is the SECRET LITTLE LEFTISTS that nobody knows about.
These young leftists have infiltrated the WH for Obama and Biden’s terms and that is why the Democrats have shrunk all over the country.
HullBobby,
Yep. The majority of the Biden admin is Obama carry overs. Even Democrat strategists called them out on it. Makes sense why the Biden admin is such a hot mess. Now that Trump has won, they are in a panic as they will have no power or say in anything.
How marvelous!
@hullbobby
I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said, and the way these people are now ‘pardoning’ and moving money around – the entire notion of ‘antifascist’ is straight up communism and laughable on its face. Not gonna fly in America, but they are also not going to stop. Thank God some of the Soros DAs are out of the picture and people can actually go to jail again. Funny how minimal the discord was post-election given that reality. Silver spoon cowards and intellectual midgets, all of them, likely without many exceptions.
On January 20th President Donald Trump wil start to fundamentally change America. Elections have consequences.
Might there be be a meaningful relationship between where Antifa bad acts occur and where constitutional carry gives the citizens their own can of Whup Ass in a holster?
Yeah. FAFO!
Before Antifa, the last time that I saw groups of men (rarely saw women there) marching to a riot in military precision was in the 1950’s and 1960’s, when they wore white sheets and pillow cases and were the KKK and various of their same clothed brethren.
These people are dangerous but I have a little less worry since the esteemed Mr Wray (who searched as fruitlessly for Antifa as OJ Simpson did to find his ex-wife’s murderer) will no longer be in charge. We know that the FBI can be prolific as they track down wrongdoers such as the J6 rioters so I would suppose with retraining, a few firings and new leadership the FBI should be able to make short work of these Sock Puppets.
First thing I would suggest at a riot if we see the Antifa Sock Puppets would be to change from rubber bullets to the full metal jacket variety. The are already marked by their headgear so go at it.
It seems that we have superior ways to track financing anymore and maybe release the bloodhounds of finance to do their jobs. I suggest they take trophies to get paid bonuses. 1 sock puppet = $1000 bonus, a handful (5 for those who are math challenged) would be worth $6000. Similar to Wheel of Fortune. Taking scalps would take on a whole new meaning.
It’s time we see this financing. If Kamala can raise $1.5 billion for an incompetent campaign, I’m sure there are adequate reserves left over for more illegal events.
We don’t need pinpricks but a steamroller.
GEB,
Great comment! Love the FMJ reference.
GEB: re your comment, “First thing I would suggest at a riot if we see the Antifa Sock Puppets would be to change from rubber bullets to the full metal jacket variety. The are already marked by their headgear so go at it.”
I am thinking of the suspect who left behind shell casings in the sad NY murder of United’s CEO, that were marked with, “Deny” and “Defend” and “Depose.”
Do rubber bullets have shell casings on which could be written, “Hilarious” or “Hypocritical” or “Hyperbole”
Or maybe, baby onesies that say “Made in America. NOT.”
Or hats that say, “Duplicitous Dad,”…
Lin,
“Do rubber bullets have shell casings on which could be written,”
Yes, they do.
“I am thinking of the suspect who left behind shell casings in the sad NY murder of United’s CEO”
Leaving evidence such as that behind under most circumstances would vastly increase the probability of apprehension. A smart assassin who did not want to be caught would gather the casings and take them with him. Particularly in this case, since the perp appears to have used a very specialized, expensive handgun (B&T Station SIX-9 – Silenced Project caliber 9) that is equipped with a rotary magazine that operated in single action mode (meaning the shooter was required to manually advance the magazine to the next round after each shot) he could relatively easily have located and cleaned up the casings in little more time than it took to shoot the CEO. Obviously the shooter, or whoever hired the shooter, was intent on leaving that message. I’m leaning toward a hired killer. It is certainly possible that someone aggrieved enough against United Healthcare and its management could also be versed well enough in unusual firearms (and the apparent handgun is just that), and also be smart, clever, and calm enough to plan and engineer an assassination with as much skill and aplomb as what is in evidence here, but I think that is at least somewhat unlikely.
CEO Assassin May Have Used ‘Covert-Type’ Weapon – Took Greyhound Bus To NYC Last Month
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/suspected-ceo-assassin-arrived-nyc-bus-last-month-stayed-hostel
“equipped with a rotary magazine”
I got that from the ZeroHedge account, but, upon further research, it is incorrect. That handgun has a vertical, 9-shot magazine. The article correctly asserted single action, however, the cartridges are advanced via bolt action.
“First thing I would suggest at a riot if we see the Antifa Sock Puppets would be to change from rubber bullets to the full metal jacket variety. The are already marked by their headgear so go at it.”
You would only want to do that if they are wearing body armor. FMJ ammo, particularly when used in high(er) powered rifles, tends to over-penetrate, limiting damage to your target, and increasing the risk to innocents in the vicinity. For a non-armored target, you would want something that expands nicely after contact: hollow point if permitted by law; in some idiotic blue states such as the one where I reside, soft-point ammo such as Hornady Critical Duty/Defense is a pretty good substitute.
Number6-I like JHP’s also but the military (national guard) are usually prohibited from using them but civilians and police (in many jurisdictions) can use them. I save them and do not use for target practice (not cheap you know)
Gotcha. OTGH, if I ever came to fire at an antifa threat (or any other justifiable target), I would not be concerned about the price of ammo expended, only its effectiveness. Also, if things came to such a turn of events (I fervently hope that nothing like this ever happens) I could reconcile myself to be tried for the results of defense against a truly vile threat (the old “I would rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6” line), but I would have considerable difficulty living with the knowledge that I killed or grievously injured an innocent party who happened to be nearby when my FMJ round ricocheted or penetrated clear though the soft tissue of my antagonist.
Number6,
My preferred antifa round is a 45-70gvt, 300grn hollow point at about 2100fps. Even if they are wearing body armor, that much energy is going to feel like they took a hit to the chest by a sledge hammer.
Gotcha. But, while I could be mistaken, I thought the conversation (at least initially) was about ammo for use against Antifa. If I ever need to defend myself from thugs like Antifa members (I fervently hope to never need to use my firearm to protect myself from anyone, but I am well prepared to do so if necessary), the cost of my ammo will be the very last thing on my mind.
Haha! Does Turley seriously think this is real? I doubt he even checked out the site where those items are being sold. And come on, if Fox News is ‘reporting’ on it, you know they’re probably exaggerating. Turley’s being kinda gullible here. This is obviously satire. Some of the comments here show how easily people can be fooled or triggered, which is clearly what this was meant to do.
ANTIFA wouldn’t promote themselves like that; it totally goes against their beliefs. Sometimes, Turley seems a bit clueless about satire like this.
This is what they use their funds for,
“ The Crooked Store donates a portion of the proceeds from every purchase to organizations and funds like Vote Save America, Pride or Else, and other organizations and funds that work year-round to support access to the ballot and empower new voters to participate in the process.”
Turley keeps treating ANTIFA as one homogeneous organization. It’s not. Various loose groups have different agendas, and some may not even be ANTIFA. Some are just anarchists, which Turley seems to be clueless about. He and others group them as ANTIFA. This is hilarious.
Slow and stupid one, yeah, the links are real. The site claims it is “The official hat of Antifa, the totally real and not made-up by Fox News group.” They are selling a baby onesie too. I am sure they donate a few cents to those organizations after they, being the capitalists they are, take their portion of the funds. Kinda like the Harris campaign, still begging for donations after their failed campaign.
Upstate Farmer-any baby wearing a onesie of this type should be taken away from the parents and given to a Republican Family where initially they would be a Trans-Republican and then eventually a full fledged Republican (you can do that with political parties but not sex)
Upstate, “the links are real.” Of course, they are. Are you really that dense? The site is accurate, too. What you don’t get is that it’s satire. Selling baby onesies? The horror!
You have been gullible for too long. The ANTIFA merchandise is no different than selling onesies and hats with provocative messages that are clearly satire.
If you’re really upset and triggered like Turley, it’s clear you’re one of the targets. It’s pretty funny how people take it seriously and don’t even realize it’s all just satire.
Very weird way to duck being wrong.
What marxist would satarize themselves as anarchists ?
The website IS extremely irony those on the left constantly miss.
Marxists selling merch.
The ultimate proof of what economic system works.
Yes, they are various lose groups. But they all have one thing in common, they all hate America. That makes them enemies of America and Americans. That is why the good professor calls them out. As enemies. These are groups of people we need to fight against. They bring the violence. They started it.
Not funny at all. If scattered groups call themselves “anti-fa”, behave similarly, cause great harm and damage, hand out poles and similar signs, and make the same claims and espouse the same goals, we can take them at their word and by their behavior, especially when they claim to be antifa when arrested and are recognized as such by even the head of FBI, bucking the big mouth likes of Nadler (D).
Not funny. Groups that call themselves “antifa”, employ the same language, act the same way, cause similar damage, use similar weapons (stockpiled and delivered) and signs, and are actually identified as such by Wray and denied by Nadler and George – well, they are antifa. Don’t get in their way.
“Haha! Does Turley seriously think this is real? I doubt he even checked out the site where those items are being sold. ”
I do not know if Turley did – but obviously you didnt
https://store.crooked.com/
Why is this type of moronic error predictable.
As I have said repeatedly
All you have to do to be right all the time is check what you post befor e posting.
“And come on, if Fox News is ‘reporting’ on it, you know they’re probably exaggerating.”
Does not seem so.
“Turley’s being kinda gullible here. ”
Check a mirror
“This is obviously satire.”
If you say so.
“Some of the comments here show how easily people can be fooled or triggered, which is clearly what this was meant to do.”
Made a fool of you.
“Turley keeps treating ANTIFA as one homogeneous organization.”
” It’s not.”
Correct,
“Various loose groups have different agendas”
Correct – like christian churches – all different, yet in many ways all the same.
“and some may not even be ANTIFA. Some are just anarchists”
While the statement is false,
What does it matter ?
“Turley seems to be clueless about. He and others group them as ANTIFA. This is hilarious.”
Turley groups people because of shared values opposing free speech, NOT the labels the give themselves.
Proof yet again, it doesn’t matter what you’re selling. Scented Baby Diaper with floral prints or Abram Tanks to 3rd World Counties.
The Money is in the Retail – ! Ka Ching!
💰 is 👑
The Ukrainians are demonstrating why we need the 2nd Amendment.
Even Canada is helping on that front. They just banned 300 more types of weapons. They are buying back those weapons to then sell to Ukraine.
“They are buying back those weapons to then sell to Ukraine.”
If Canadian gun owners react to buy back programs the way US gun owners tend to, Russia should thank Trudeau. Most buy back programs here collect little but junk that is unable or dangerous to fire, or was never worth a damn even when new.
You can’t buy back something you never sold in the first place.
They’re not buying the weapons back, they’re confiscating them and paying compensation. Probably inadequate compensation, because the owners have no choice, but even if it were a fair price it’s a criminal act, exactly as if they were to seize the Toronto Star and pay the owner compensation.
News flash, we have the 2ndA. Prior to the war, the Ukrainians had very limited gun rights. Since then, now Ukrainians only need to show a picture ID to carry a weapon outside of their home, to include fully automatic weapons. And now, Biden the butcher is pushing for the Ukraine to lower the draft age to 18 for more death and destruction. Ukrainians are rejecting Biden’s call for more war. They are smart people.
Tommy Vietor is infamous for saying this about Hillary Clintons Benghazi scandal. “Dude, that was like two years ago’”
“Despite the denial of its existence by figures like Rep. Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.) ….”
*****************************
Jerry thinks every threat to safety is mythical except Krispy Kreme.
And Chic-fil-A. (If Nadler is against it, it MUST be valid.).
Reduce government spending by 50%, move 75% of what is left in DC to the Heartland.
END Centralized Power!
“Reduce government spending by 50%, move 75% of what is left in DC to the Heartland.”
Far too mild. I think the reduction, in terms of expenditures, should be as close to 85 – 90% (after getting Congress to get repeal the Civil Service Act) and 90% of what remains should be relocates to some nice place with year-round pleasant weather. I think that somewhere along the northern part of the North Dakota-Montana state line would be appropriate. In the all too likely event that the back-biting hypocrites in Congress (those don’t just sit on the Democrat side of the aisle, btw) refuse to do what should have been done long ago, and Civil Service survives, that geography itself could do wonders to help thousands upon thousands of currently useless Federal employees to suddenly discover an incentive to find useful work in the private sector.
End all Funding to Non-profits
Also listen to Mike Benz on Joe Rogan to see how YOUR Own Government FUNDS NGOs, non-profits, etc to HARM YOU and foment war and dirty tricks the world over!
I call for a Nuremberg like Trial to bring the Fascist Democrats/RINOs to justice. What they are doing needs to be EXPOSED, just like the FASCISTS Nazis were EXPOSED!
Democrats are fighting their 2nd Civil War against America….RIGHT NOW!
Follow the Money….BLM, Antifa, etc are terrorist groups and the people funding them are TERRORISTS funders!
Time to jail some people! It is CLEAR that Every Democrat Voter hates America, the West…we need to PUSH BACK!
Oh, why not close out this phase of madness with some other alternate universe gift ideas. How about a $6 million Banana on a Wall work of art? Top and/or bottom surgery for your future Antifa progeny? And so much more.
OLLY,
Or trying to sell your so called “art” to make up for $300,000 in back rent.
How about a fully furnished, $2,000 a month luxury apartment 2 years for free? To qualify, simply enter the country illegally and catch a free 1 way trip to Maine.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1842245929975329106
And Democrats are wondering why so many minorities voted for Trump.
OLLY-I think the illegals actually should be sent to Alaska. Not because I dislike Alaska but because once they live there they will want flights out immediately but only citizens would be able to get a ticket to the USA, with all the rest going to places south of the Rio Grande River
Joe McCarthy, where are you when we need you?
Where have you gone, Joe McCarthio?
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo, woo, woo
What’s that you say, Mrs. Biden-oh!
Jolting Joe has left and gone away
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
–Simon & Garfunkel
As was stated at the time ANTIFA emerged as an anti-American force, their emergence and their actions indicated a “State” actor. I am convinced now that they were and are established for the purpose of disrupting any attempt to stop the takeover of the United States Republic, switching to a Communist/Marxist form of Governance. Christopher Wray’s dismissal of this Organized and well funded force was a State developed lie to cover the connections. I am no conspiracy guy.
“I am no conspiracy guy.” Well, you sound like one. But maybe you’re a conspiracy gal?
long live the falange
Obama’s civilian army. Treeline 175 yards. Easy. Careful of the cows. Not in my neighborhood. Ever.
Nothing says capitalism like selling a onesie. Ever notice how when there is money to be made, be it a Senator’s son or your local BLM supporter, grift always happens?
They don’t understand Christmas is about the tree, not the ornaments.
As for the lorenz/unitedhealthcare dustup. I for think it high time that corprates get a dose of their own medicine.
Rise up Americans, destroy corporate greed.
corporate greed? Is that how Nancy Pelosi make $300 Million? Obama? Bidens?
This isn’t capitalism’s problem…it is Fascism…where Government and Business work to Centralize power and RULE the underclass…like Italy and Germany did in the 1930’s
Anonymous 8:03am-Obama’s Affordable care act allowed all this instead of producing a REAL national health plan. It got the stamp of approval from health insurance companies and hospitals. Remember. That’s because they both got benefits from the act. More than patients or physicians.
“Obama’s Affordable care act allowed all this”
“If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your heath care plan, period*”.
* -Just as long as it is one that disallows at least 32% of claims submitted.
Number 6- Biggest lie in recent history. Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Also it will cut your insurance by $2400 per year, you’ll get to keep your doctor and all the rest. Harvard School o Public Health said that was a lie even before the act was passed. I went to Harvard each year for medical education. The grunts who actually do the work presented the plan and savaged it. It never saved money, and they robbed Medicare to finance it. And Biden has removed money from the Medicare Advantage PLan part for the last 2 years. Thats why the have had to rewrite all the drug benefits for 2025 because Biden hardly funded them.
“playing with fire”