Ran across the term "Black Helicopter Caucus" while reading Slate. I assume it is not a real organization but merely a joking reference to ultra-right white members of Congress, something of a counter-point to the Congressional Black Caucus. Why helicopter? Black helicopters probably refers to Black Hawk Helicopters which are used by the military for ground assault. Here is a more extensive reference to the Black Helicopter Caucus in an older Slate article:

The heart of Oklahoma's eight member, all GOP delegation is its black helicopter caucus: Largent, Coburn, and Rep. Ernest Istook. These Christian conservatives anchor the party's far right wing. Largent, the National Football League Hall of Fame wide receiver, is the most famous of the lot, telegenic and simple. He has spent his two terms preaching social conservatism; pushing hopeless, idiotic bills; and undermining his party from the right. Coburn's politics make Largent's look flaccid. A self-styled "citizen-legislator" elected in the 1994 landslide, Coburn helped orchestrate the 1997 and 1998 coups against Gingrich. He is the unofficial liaison between Christian conservative titan James Dobson and House Republicans. Shortly after he was elected, Coburn announced that government should be run on Christian principles and that "the nation must stand for or against Christ." Of all Republican backbenchers, few are more loathed by Democrats than Istook. Istook has made a career out of futile but high-profile measures designed to enrage liberals.

The following comes from a 1999 article in the Seattle Weekly:

On the upside, 1999 was notable for an absence of punitive legislation against public schools, growth management, the state Supreme Court, and sex acts unsanctioned by the Holy Bible. In other words, the session marked a retrenchment for the "Black Helicopter" caucus, about 13 House and Senate Republicans, who seem to believe if it isn't written up in the Bible, it isn't fit for legislative argument. This recession of the anti-government Republican right wing may be temporary.

One day such ignorance will lack a seat within Congress. The election of 2006 helped but there is still work to do.

(11-10-2006)