From an NBC interview on Oct 23, 2008. Palin could not bring herself to call anti-abortionists who commit crimes "domestic terrorists". She had no such problem using the term with Bill Ayers, however.
WILLIAMS: Back to the issue of terrorists and terrorism, this word has come up in relation to Mr. Ayers—
PALIN: Yes.
WILLIAMS: Uh, hanging out with terrorists, domestic terrorists.
PALIN: Yes.
WILLIAMS: Are we changing—its been said that it gives it a vaguely post-9/11 hint; that we don't normally associate with domestic crimes. Are we changing the definition? Are the people that set fire to American cities during the 60s terrorists? Under this definition. Is an abortion clinic bomber a terrorist? Under this definition. Governor?
PALIN: [sighs] There's no question that Bill Ayers, via his own admittance, one who sought to destroy our US Capitol and our Pentagon, that is a domestic terrorist. There's no question there. Now, others who would want to engage in harming innocent Americans or facilities that, uh, it would be unacceptable, I don't know if you're going to use the word terrorist there but its unacceptable . . .
WILLIAMS: I'm just asking what other categories you would put in there, abortion clinic bombers, uh, protesters in cities where fires were started, Molotov cocktails were thrown, people died.
PALIN: I would put in that category of Bill Ayers anyone else who would seek to campaign to destroy our United States Capitol and our Pentagon and seek to destroy innocent Americans.
The Department of Homeland Security issued an internal report last month which Director Janet Napolitano received criticism from conservative groups for saying just that, defining rightwing extremism as:
A movement of rightwing groups or individuals who can be broadly divided into those who are primarily hate-oriented, and those who are mainly antigovernment and reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority. This term also may refer to rightwing extremist movements that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration. (also known as far right, extreme right)
