You may have seen news articles with blaring headlines such as 'Congressman Warns of Obama Dictatorship' written by the AP's Ben Evans hyperlinked above with regard to remarks that I recently made regarding statements by our president-elect.

Personally, I think that such headlines are a bit sensationalistic. Because they accurately summarize what you said, Congressman, and focus attention on your demagoguery? What's sensational are your untoward accusations about the President-elect. That's where the news lies. The focus really should be more on Barack Obama's remarks than upon what I have said about them. Barack Obama's spokespeople and national commentators have described how your interpretation of Obama's remarks is taken out of context, partisan, and independent of the standard definitions for the ideological affiliations you accuse Obama of holding.

Mr. Obama certainly did state in a July speech that 'We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.' Give it up, man.

One would think that back in July members of the media should have begun asking Mr. Obama exactly what he meant. Since they did not, I think it is perfectly appropriate for members of Congress to do so. As I serve on the House Committee on Homeland Security, I think it is particularly appropriate for me to raise questions. Indeed, bringing accountability to the Executive Branch is what Congress is suppose to do, and we can only wish that our various Republican Congresses over the last eight years had not abdicated that responsibility. Still, Congressman, try hard not to confuse accountability with calling the President-elect a terrorist, OK?

Perhaps Mr. Obama's call for a civilian national security force on par with the authority and funding of the military is innocuous. However, historical examples of such organizations in other countries, present ample cause for concern. Unfortunately for demagogues everywhere, rhetorical posturing isn't the same thing as asserting an historic parallel.

Furthermore, the vicious attacks upon Joe the Plumber, Forget about Joe the Plumber, Congressman; everything about Joe is a fraud, which may explain why Republicans who invent their own realities – such as yourself – find him so convenient... for asking a simple question regarding Obama's tax plans, and upon Barbara West, the Orlando television reporter who dared to ask the obvious-How is wealth redistribution not a Marxist idea?-and upon her husband as well, cause one to wonder to what extremes the Obama political machine will go to suppress dissent. You've made the national news. What's your beef?

Attacking private citizens and members of the media for simply asking questions is hardly a shining example of adherence to democratic principle. Anyone who is not alarmed by such intimidation tactics needs to think again. You sound paranoid.

I firmly believe that we must not fall victim to the 'it can't happen here' mentality. I adhere to the adage 'eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.' It's a shame you couldn't have turned that "eternal vigilance" onto the authoritarian consequences of Bush's unitary executive.

By the way, why has no one asked Mr. Obama about the premise of his remark: 'we cannot continue to rely only on our military' for national security? Because it wasn't a policy statement. Why exactly do you think your loaded question about something you've taken out of context would interest a wide audience? As a United States Marine and former Navy medical officer, I take exception to his assertion. I take exception to your divisive partisanship.

It seems that during the campaign, the 'mainstream media' was strangely disinterested in Mr. Obama's personal history, particularly his long-time associations with the most radical, fringe-elements of the American Left, including those with a history of violence, such as William Ayers, and bitter anti-American rhetoric such as Rev. Wright and Louis Farrakhan. Those accusations have been aired and addressed (unlike Sarah Palin's and her husband's comradery with secessionists); Obama has disassociated himself from Wright (something McCain has never done with Rod Paisley and only belatedly did with John Hagee). The issue's a non-starter for anyone who follows the news. Isn't it interesting that in the post-election world, these characters have gone public? No.

As to socialistic/Marxist principles, Mr. Obama's confiscatory tax and wealth redistribution schemes (once that cat got out of the bag) are a self-indictment. The question by Barbara West was never answered by Joe Biden and has never been answered. It also has never been asked again of Mr. Obama or Mr. Biden by any major journalist. Why not? Let's think about it. Obama has proposed tax-relief for the middle class and tax increases for wealthy Americans like yourself, Congressman. Your name-calling smells like sour grapes. Furthermore, I don't recall hearing you pound your chest in protest against "socialism" during the last eight years, when Bush tax policies were precipitating history's largest redistribution of the wealth upwards from the poor and middle classes to the wealthy. But Republicans are like that. They're all for redistribution of the wealth when it's driven by economic fundamentalism that benefits them.

Finally, Mr. Obama's political record shows that he is no friend of the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment is rooted in the understanding of our Founders that only armed citizens can remain truly free. Or dead. Like that 8-year-old boy who recently killed himself with an Uzi at a gun show, while being supervised by a certified instructor.

I never called Mr. Obama a communist, nor did I accuse him of being Hitler, We heard your dog whistle, Congressman, and your words included, "[Obama]'s showing me signs of being Marxist"... but I do not apologize for stating the obvious: his socialist views are out of the mainstream of American political thought, and history shows that 'civilian national security forces' bode ill for citizens. You're just mad and acting badly because Americans elected Obama and rejected the right-wing politics that Republicans have traded in for so long. Like I said before, Congressman, you need to figure out what Obama and the Democrats have done right, and try to emulate it.

It is perfectly appropriate for members of Congress, members of the media, and private citizens to hold Mr. Obama accountable for his views and his intentions. When we do, we should not be marginalized. At least you understand where your trash talk has gotten you.

I hope my concerns are completely unfounded, They are... as I am eager to work with our president-elect when he is constitutionally correct. True to your right-wing breed, you claim your own views are the only ones legitimate. I hope Mr. Obama will embrace his executive role by becoming a bipartisan leader. Bipartisanship is a two-way street, Congressman, and there's nothing in what you say that would make anyone believe it's a street you intend to cross. I am extremely pleased to witness the election of our nation's first African American president, and I wish Mr. Obama much success as he leads Americans forward.