March 30, 12:27 PM

Conservative Examiner Anthony G. Martin

Contrary to popular assumptions in today's news media and schools of journalism, the primary goal of a reporter is to seek out and report the truth.  A free society is contingent to a large degree on a free press, provided that press freely does its job as it was intended.

Thus, despite the government's contention that the ATF/FBI raid of the Hutaree militia group in Michigan over the weekend was due to supposed 'plots to kill police and overthrow the government,' troubling questions remain about the government's handling of this case.

The question, therefore, is, 'What is the real truth behind the militia raid in Michigan?'

So far answers are not readily available.  There are, however, the following facts.

First, initial reports of the raid quoted government officials as saying that the militia had 'made threats against Islamic extremists.'

A quick scan of search engine results for 'Hutaree threats against Islamic extremists' will reveal numerous reports in the mainstream media, including ABC News, indicating that on Sunday, May 28, the official reason provided by the FBI for the raid was the alleged threats made by the group against Muslims.

But by yesterday, despite the headlines of those articles, all references to such alleged threats had been scrubbed/erased from the actual news stories, with the exception of certain websites that are not connected with the mainstream media.

Here is an example.  The story has been redacted.  But originally this story had the following headline--'Michigan Christian Militia Hutaree Targeted for Anti-Muslim Views.'

Second, the indictments against the members of the Hutaree militia are sealed.  Why?  The Justice Department contends that the group plotted to kill police officers and overthrow the government.  But where is the proof that such threats were made?

So far they are sealed tight in those secret indictments.  And the government has provided no real evidence thus far to back up its claims.  (UPDATE! The indictments are now unsealed.  But allegations so far carry no proof.  What, exactly, IS the proof?).

Third, the timing of the raid is suspect.  The raid was the culmination of an entire week of smears against Tea Party activists, conservatives, and even Sarah Palin, outright accusing them of 'inciting violence.'

It did not help with this smear campaign for Republican Eric Cantor to be threatened with assassination, resulting in the arrest of an Obama-supporter and donor who had made the threat.  It turns out the suspect is a LEFTWING extremist known for his hatred of Jews.

But this story was essentially buried in the press when the ATF/FBI raided the Hutaree militia, claiming that the government had saved the day against the threat from 'extremist, rightwing terrorists.'

This story, of course, was the lead news story on all of the major networks.  Absolutely nothing was said about the Jew-hating Obama-supporter who had threatened to kill Eric Cantor and his entire family.

Any reporter who is worth his/her salt smells something foul in the midst of all of this.  It is yet unknown if the Hutaree militia engaged in any direct threats of any kind against anyone.  These charges will have to be proved beyond all reasonable doubt in a court of law.  The charges may turn out to be bogus.  They may turn out to be true.

But there is clearly enough suspicious activity on the part of the government in this case to warrant some thorough investigative journalism.  The truth is there, but it can be reasonably surmised that the government is not the one telling it, given the penchant for this Administration to be recklessly footloose with the truth.

The burden of proof will be on the Obama Administration in this case.

http://www.examiner.com/x-37620-Conservative-Examiner~y2010m3d30-What-is-the-real-truth-behind-the-militia-raid-in-Michigan