‘Paper Terrorism’ Sparks Angry War Of Words Republican Lawmaker’s Warning About ‘Patriots’ Gets Conservatives’ Dander Up
Rep. Karen Schmidt wanted to warn fellow lawmakers about anti-government zealots who harass people by filing frivolous lawsuits and liens and issuing “common law” subpoenas and judgments.
But the moderate Republican touched off an angry protest by nine of the Legislature’s most conservative members. They told her they were “profoundly” offended at a Washington State Patrol memorandum she had sent to 97 other lawmakers. The memorandum described the dangers and tactics of people who engage in “paper terrorism,” as some call it.
The nine accused her of calling all “patriots or Christians” anti-government extremists who engage in “paper terrorism.”
The nine, in a letter to Schmidt, said she had exploited “the anti-social conduct of a few to besmirch the honor” of “patriots” and Christians everywhere, themselves included.
The nine were Republican Sens. Val Stevens of Arlington, Harold Hochstatter of Moses Lake and Joe Zarelli of Vancouver and Republican Reps. Bob Sump, Republic; Tom Mielke, Battle Ground; Mike Sherstad, Kenmore; John Koster, Monroe; Jim Dunn, Vancouver; and Marc Boldt, Brush Prairie.
In a letter sent back to the nine, Schmidt, of Bainbridge Island, said she is “personally offended” that they had taken offense. She said she simply was trying to make them aware of a group of people who increasingly are making life hard for elected officials and everyday citizens with whom they disagree.
The exchange, which gave a glimpse of the ideological split between ultraconservative and moderate Republicans in the House, began in mid-September, when Schmidt sent a note to lawmakers on the subject of “paper terrorism.”
As chairwoman of the state Organized Crime Advisory Board, Schmidt wrote that it had been brought to her attention “that anti-government organizations have been utilizing a tactic called ‘paper terrorism’ to effectively disable government. Commonly, public officials are targeted personally. This widespread practice is accomplished by overburdening our communications, business or judicial systems with frivolous or repetitive petitions, property liens and small-claims court actions.”
Schmidt attached a description of the problem which had been prepared by the Washington State Patrol Organized Crime Intelligence Unit.
The agency said signs of “paper terrorism” include everything from “bogus liens placed on personal property” to “common law courts that issue homemade subpoenas to citizens, businesses and government officials.”
The nine lawmakers took particular offense to the WSP’s observation that these extremists identify themselves as “patriots” or as part of what they call the “Patriot movement.”
Even worse, the nine said in their letter to Schmidt, the WSP observed that among “telltale” signs of extremist activity are documents that quote “biblical passages.”
“We ourselves are patriots,” the nine lawmakers declared in their letter to Schmidt.
The nine said they will not “silently consent to the intimidation that speaking biblical passages identifies the speaker as an anti-government extremist. We recognize this as an open attack on individuals with deeply held religious convictions.”
Schmidt said she is “personally offended by the accusation” that she or the WSP are “characterizing all patriots or Christians who speak biblical passages as anti-government extremists.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” she said.
Schmidt went on in her retort to attest to her own patriotism and membership in the Episcopal Church as proof that she meant no offense against Christians or “patriots.”
Schmidt, however, disagreed strongly with another assertion made by the nine lawmakers - that anti-government sentiment described by the WSP is reason to convene hearings to determine why some people are unhappy enough with government to harass citizens and government officials.
“I have no empathy for people who, by their actions, threaten the lives of other people while cloaking their activities behind such legitimate, honorable and noble ideals as patriotism or religious conviction,” she said.
xxxx ‘PAPER TERRORISM’ The Washington State Patrol Organized Crime Intelligence Unit said signs of “paper terrorism” include everything from “bogus liens placed on personal property” to “common law courts that issue homemade subpoenas to citizens, businesses and government officials.”