Danger Lurking in Divisive America?

Experts who track hate groups across the U.S. are growing increasingly concerned over violent rhetoric targeted at President Obama, especially as the debate over health care intensifies and a pattern of threats emerges.

The Secret Service is investigating a Maryland man who held a sign reading "Death to Obama" and "Death to Michelle and her two stupid kids" outside a town hall meeting this week. And in New Hampshire, another man stood across the street from a Presidential town hall with his gun on full display.

Los Angeles police officers apprehended a man Thursday after a standoff with him inside a red Volkswagen Bug car in Westwood, CA – the latest disturbing case even though officials said the man had mental problems.

"I don't think these are simply people who are mentally ill or off their rocker," Mark Potok, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, told ABC News of those behind the threats. "In a very real sense they represent a genuine reaction, a genuine backlash against Obama."

Experts say a sharp growth in so-called militia groups that helped spawn a wave of domestic terrorism in the 1990s – and are now using YouTube, rock music and the Internet to recruit members and spread hate and fear - shouldn't be ignored.

"It's certainly a scary time," said former FBI agent Brad Garrett, now an ABC News consultant. Garrett said the Secret Service "cannot afford to pass on anyone," and he believes "they really do fear that something could happen to [Obama]." - ABC News Story

This has been a concern of mine for the past 8 or so years. I have wrote about it repeatedly and have gotten the raised eyebrow look from many.

As America becomes more and more divisive, and people feeling like they are losing control of the direction of their own Country they get frustrated and angry.

Lately this has been ratcheted up quite intently with one side able to just bully through legislation and ideas without having to answer to the other side. People are very angry and have no outlet.

With leaders like Pelosi and her team out there calling people on the other side crazy and radical, Obama willing to push things through regardless of what people think, and countless other members of the left willing to verbally attack, it has created a very unhealthy atmosphere in America.

I think the Town Halls are a real glimpse into the frustration and anger that exists in America. The problem is that the Left doesn't want to see it for what it truly is. They want to call it an orchestrated attack. It is an attack, but it is not orchestrated other than anger.