Lone nut jobs. Isolated loonies. Those are frequent descriptions of people like James von Brunn, the 88-year-old white supremacist accused of opening fire at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and killing a black guard.

Others believe he represents something more dangerous: A growing racist movement motivated by a number of converging factors, including the first black president.

The potential for an increase in violence from whites who feel they are slipping from power is high, people from across the ideological spectrum say.

"I believe we are headed for an unprecedented level of conflict and racial turmoil," said Carol Swain, author of the 2002 book "The New White Nationalism in America" and a professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University.

Swain cited anger over immigration, growing minority populations, racial preferences, high minority crime rates, the economy and multiculturalism as forces driving white people toward nationalism.

"It seems like the tables have turned for some white people, and they have no recourse except desperation," Swain said.

An April intelligence assessment by the Department of Homeland Security said that right-wing extremists could use the troubled economy and the election of President Barack Obama to recruit members.

Former FBI agent Danny Coulson, who headed the terrorism investigation of 1995's Oklahoma City bombing and now runs a security firm, said federal agents have increased their monitoring of white supremacist groups since Obama's election, and have noticed increased chatter and membership.

"These neo-Nazi groups have been laying in the weeds for a long time," he said. "Then you have a president who comes in who's an African-American, and they hate that. And he's tough on guns, and they really hate that."

The movement has broadened beyond neo-Nazis. Advocacy groups for blacks and Hispanics unwittingly provided a blueprint for others to organize and defend the interests of white people.

Louis R. Andrews is chairman of the National Policy Institute, a white advocacy group. He does not advocate violence, but expects to see increased racial animosity that will eventually manifest itself in more physical attacks.

"There's no such thing as post-racial," Andrews said, when asked about the claim that Obama's election moved American race relations to a better place. "There's conflict, conflict and continued conflict."

Andrews said he voted for Obama because "I want to see the Republican Party destroyed, so it can be reborn as a party representing the interests of white people, and not entrenched corporate elites."

Swain argues that many people with "white nationalist" views don't fit the extremist stereotype — they are professors, scientists, elected officials.

"What drives a person to the point where they hate someone?" she asked.

Historically, the answer has been economic trouble, combined with several more factors, scholars say.

"The hate is always there. Social factors have to exacerbate it or bring it out," said Jacques Berlinerblau, associate professor of Jewish civilization at Georgetown University.

"It's almost as if there is some sort of silent signal, a signal that it's okay, this is necessary, it must be done," he said.

Some people can be "pushed over the edge" by stresses such as the loss of a job or another traumatic event, said psychologist David Eigen.

"Men aren't supposed to feel powerless or helpless," Eigen said. "When a man starts to feel that, he feels angry and ashamed inside, and he can project it outward. For hundreds of years, Jews have been a convenient target. So let's blame the Jews."

"There's something festering in society today," he said. "A boil has been broken. We want to put a Band-Aid on it, but it's too late."

In Pittsburgh, Richard Poplawski was recently charged with gunning down three officers after his mother called the police on him. Poplawski had been upset over .....

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This racists’ first act of foolishness was calling himself “uncletom”. He REALLY DID THINK we are as dumb as he, and we’d believe he was a “negro uncle tom”. He multiplies that foolish act daily, in his posts. Below he claims Black-on-Black violence should stop, if White-on-Black violence increases because of a Black POTUS. He TRULY DOES NOT REALIZE, one is motivated by racist anger; the other is merely the same result of white-on-white violence, i.e, angry people living amongst each other.

by   
Sevennotrump
June 13, 2009, 10:35 am
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It is sad that some white folks are still holding on to these ancient hatreds and because of a african-american in the whitehouse and now they are afraid that they are slipping from power and we all know better than that.White folks so desperate that it would drive people like UNCLETOM to log on BAW everyday and post nothing but negative comments showing his racist personality and desperation and frustration.What a shame.

by   
Tgn222
June 13, 2009, 8:15 am
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WHAT??, the what is my reply to the ignoramus who very fittingly calls himself uncle tom, the republican candidate for the vice presidency this last election used to most racially divisive language when referring to the candidate now President Obama, she had her audience seeing red, screaming racial slurs, calling for his lynching and she said NOTHING, and you say stop politicizing it? Dig on this you self hating skinning&grinning son of uncle Remus, she's a politician!!

by   
Greenmean
June 12, 2009, 6:32 pm
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A big reason for the rise in racial violence can be laid at the door steps of radio and television racist like sean hannity, glen beck, and the fat drug addicted archie bunker clone rush limbaugh, these scumbags have to called out and made to account for their racist rantings over the air waves, lets make these racist lowlifes accountable!!!!

by   
Greenmean
June 12, 2009, 6:15 pm
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SHUT UP UNCLETOM.YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.YOU STILL DON'T WANT TO FACE THE REALITY OF HAVING A BLACK PRESIDENT.SO KEEP YOUR DUMB COMMENTS TO YOURSELF.

by   
Tgn222
June 12, 2009, 4:37 pm
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If someone is to accept the premise that "Because a black man is president, then we can anticipate a rise in white racist attacks against all minorities" then the contra positive should be true also that the rate in black on black homicides should decrease. So far based on crime statistics, it is not true. The only ones responsible for killing are the perpetrators. Please stop politicizing these issues because we have a black president!

by   
Uncletom
June 12, 2009, 3:51 pm
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Maybe the fear whites are experiencing is the fear of their ancestors years of oppression of Native Americans, Blacks, Jews, Asians, Hispanics, and other minorities. Believe this, you will reap what you sew.

by   
Aseelah
June 12, 2009, 11:17 am
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