Atlanta journalist lies to readers, tells them Census workers may enter their apartments

I am not kidding. This right-wing wackadoodle Bob Barr, who has a blog on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Web site, is deliberately lying about what Census workers are allowed to do:

http://blogs.ajc.com/bob-barr-blog/2010/05/26/census-workers-can-enter-your-apartment-in-your-absence/?cxntfid=blogs_bob_barr_blog

He is misinterpreting the law that requires owners of apartment buildings to open their buildings to Census workers so the workers can knock on doors inside the building and attempt to complete questionnaires by taking to the residents. He is telling his readers that this law means that a Census worker can demand access to THEIR INDIVIDUAL APARTMENTS in their absence ...that workers are legally permitted to demand that your landlord unlock your door and allow them to enter your PRIVATE living space (not public hallways) while you are away. The implication being that Census workers are permitted to go through your possessions and use them to ascertain the information they need to complete their questionnaires. (Meaning, of course, they also have the opportunity to steal your possessions.)

Many actual Census workers are attempting to correct this lie in the comments, but his fellow wingnuts are not paying them any attention whatsoever, because they're too busy enjoying being infuriated by what they have been told. These big, brave guys (many of whom appear to live in houses, not apartments) are responding by threatening to shoot or unleash their dogs on any Census worker who dares to knock on their door. Why? Because they know that Census workers are all "losers" and "goons" and "Gestapo" hired by ACORN, SEIU, Soros and NAMBLA (in order to gift unemployed sex offenders, thieves and lazy black people with jobs they don't deserve) and sent by that illegitimate president Barry Hussein Soetoro Osama (whom all Census workers are said to love) in order to invade their homes, rifle through their personal possessions, and steal whatever they like before "sharing" all their personal information with insurance companies, the IRS (to catch tax cheats) and, well, George Soros.

Of course, Drudge and the other bottom-feeders of the blogoverse have picked up on this column and have spread it even further and wider, further fanning the flames of wingnut paranoia and causing even more jackasses to decide that any Census worker who so much as approaches their side of the sidewalk is going to be met by a frothing Doberman and "my buddies Smith and Wesson." Because THEY WILL BE DAMNED IF THESE CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATORS WILL BE ALLOWED TO INVADE THEIR HOMES AND SEARCH AND SEIZE THEIR POSSESSIONS, DAMMIT!!!!!!11111111

As far as I'm concerned, this idiot has violated the First Amendment by shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theater when there is no fire. Someday he may have the blood of a Census worker on his hands. He should have to pay.

...and I rarely EVER say "OMG." The sheer stupidity of the Rabid Right is...well...STUPIFYING!! I had a dream about moving to Finland last night - a good dream, too!