uh-oh — Newsweek.com seems to be on a downward spiral — first the Rielle Hunter hagiography and now a ridiculous piece about “a running Newsweek debate about why and when we decide to call attacks on our country by the loaded word ‘terrorism.’” I’ve dealt with the media and political hypocrisy on the Austin IRS Terrorist here.

Here’s a key bit of the Newsweek piece:

Devin Gordon, Editor, NEWSWEEK.com
Austin Tax Wacko a terrorist-or as the Wall St Journal called him “the tax protester.” And I’m wondering if anyone has read yet – or would tackle themselves—a thorough comparison between our ho-hum reaction to a guy who successfully crashed a plane into a government building versus the media’s full-throated insanity over the underpants bomber, who didn’t hurt anyone but himself.

(extra links removed) — here’s the link to Newsweek.com’s “discussion.”

Here’s Greenwald’s reaction:

On so many levels, this is one of the most stunningly revealing things I’ve read in quite some time.  As I documented last week, the media’s reluctance to describe IRS attacker Joe Stack as a “terrorist” reveals that this term has little to do with the act itself and everything to do with the demographic attributes of the actor:  namely, in the American political lexicon, “Terrorists” are Muslims who dislike the U.S., while Americans — especially ones who are white and non-Muslim — cannot, by definition, qualify.

Key Admonishment / Stunning Newsweek.com Admission: (emphasis added)

[Glennwald] This is the first answer, from [Newsweek.com] Managing Editor Kathy Jones:

Did the label terrorist ever successfully stick to McVeigh? Or the Unabomber? Or any of the IRS bombers in our violence list?

Here is my handy guide:

Lone wolfish American attacker who sees gov’t as threat to personal freedom: bomber, tax protester, survivalist, separatist

Group of Americans bombing/kidnapping to protest U.S. policies on war/poverty/personal freedom/ – radical left-wing movement, right-wing separatists

All foreign groups or foreign individuals bombing/shooting to protest American gov’t: terrorists.

[Glennwald]So according to Newsweek‘s Managing Editor, only a foreigner who “protests the American government” can be a Terrorist.  Americans cannot be.  …  That’s really what she said. Read Greenwald here

The managing editor “handy guide” to de facto demographic discrimination is embarassing, and that’s not even the worst of it — I’ll be glad when Newsweek.com goes under.

Related posts:

1. Next Up after Joe Stack — Jihad Jane
2. Marcus Toussaint @ JackandJillPolitics.com Goes After Newsweek.com’s Profile of Rielle Hunter
3. Newsweek.com article on the usage of Ushahidi.com in Haiti and Chile
4. Andrew Sullivan Catches a Key Element Behind Torture and The IRS Terrorist
5. James Clyburn Admonishes Steven King