Racism? I don't think so. In my view, this was just a wacko who thought that disagreement with a President should be handled in highly irrational ways? Washington Post

By Toni Locy
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON

Francisco Martin Duran, the Colorado man who allegedly opened fire on the White House last month, was charged Thursday with attempting to assassinate President Clinton after several friends and co-workers told investigators that he had said he wanted to kill the president.

Even though those people have now come forward with the information, U.S. Attorney Eric H. Holder Jr. had harsh words for them Thursday during a news conference announcing Duran's indictment by a federal grand jury.

Related link: Bob Somerby tells Colbert King to stop race-baiting and to remember Duran and the guy who crashed a Cessna into the White House south lawn and died, in a possible suicide attempt.

Plus: Glen Greenwald: Is the Right's attack on Obama's legitimacy new or unprecedented?

A question for you guys and ladies: How come the race-baiters never bring up this regrettable incident, in the context of armed men near townhalls and people yelling lies at President Obama? Is it because the race-card argument suffers once we understand that ultraconservatives hate Big Democrats regardless of their color? 

Frank said last night on the Rachel Maddow show that Wilson was frustrated, and the tirade shows that Obama's speech was effective and the GOP couldn't handle it; but that this was not a big deal, citing heckling in the British parliament.

MADDOW: A Republican Member of Congress named Joe Wilson of South Carolina screamed, "You lie" at the president tonight, interrupting his speech. Is this an "ignore the tantrum" moment or is that a big deal?

FRANK: I don't think it's a big deal. Look, I think free speech--you know, heckling is a tradition, obviously, in the British parliament. They even have mikes that come down to hear the heckles.

I think what we should take it as--it is unusual--it's a sign of how effective the president was. These guys just couldn't handle it. I looked at John Boehner and he looked about as glum and as dour as--as possibly he could be.

So what Joe Wilson did was just scream out in frustration because the president was nailing it.

What do you guys and ladies think about the fact that we think it was a big deal and progressive stalwart Barney Frank doesn't?

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post made a major accusation today against Representative Al Green (D-TX): that Green "pound[ed] his fist" in the air in what appeared to be a "fascist salute," aimed at President Obama, according to Milbank.

But I'm confused, for when I search "fascist salute" in google, I get a bunch of images of Mussolini and other fascist making an open-hand sign, as opposed to a fist.

Could anyone else here confirm that the fascist salute is an open-handed one?
I have to point out that even if it were in the form of a fist, no serious person could conclude that simply clenching one's fist constitutes evidence of intention to make a "fascist" sign.

Media Matters condemned Milbank's remarks.