Southern Poverty Law Center Publishes Patriot Hit List
In a report on its web site dated April 2010, entitled “Meet The Patriots,” the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) profiled “36 individuals at the heart of the resurgent [patriot] movement.” (In reading the list, I counted only 35 “patriots” and 5 “enablers” for a total of 40. I’m not really sure how the SPLC came up with “36.” Perhaps their ability to count is commensurate with their ability to appreciate patriotism and liberty.) The SPLC (founded by Morris Dees) sees itself as America’s guardian against “right wing militias” and loves to label conservatives and libertarians that it doesn’t like as “extremists.” The SPLC is one of the most ultra-liberal organizations in the country and should be dismissed as a group of paranoid leftists, not worthy of thought or mention.
The sad truth is, however, our federal government has chosen to exalt the SPLC to the position of being its “go to” source for information regarding “potential domestic terrorists” and similar characterizations. As a result, the information and reports disseminated by SPLC wind up in police reports and bulletins all over the United States. As an example, the SPLC had its fingerprints all over the infamous MIAC report. One could even question whether the SPLC is merely a front organization for Big Brother.
Harold
In 2008, SPLC was featured on National Geographic “Inside American Terror.” It is my understanding that broadcast explored SPLC’s litigation against several branches of the Ku Klux Klan.
I personally believe SPLC’s litigation might have contributed to causing some alleged extremist organizations to restructure; to adopt a palatable appearance and forums, that include savvy public relations that consider issues important to ordinary Americans; issues that may lead to getting laws passed and their candidates elected. In the future, fewer extremist organizations may be sued; more groups are becoming legally educated and openly oppose violence and intimidation making it more difficult for someone to sue an entire organization because of the unsanctioned illegal acts of a few members. The “old extremists” and their leaders, often singled out by the press are fading, dissipating the ability of news media to point to them as being currently representative of anything. It may become difficult for the press to attack the new face of alleged extremists without attacking democracy itself.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) profiled “36 individuals at the heart of the resurgent [patriot] movement. I was surprised how many of these individuals I bumped into over the years, including some now deceased.
I can’t recall the Southern Poverty Law Center ever listing a Leftwing organization or individual as “Extremist.” If that is the case, why? For example, shouldn’t some of the people Obama has assocated with and or invited to the White House be listed as “extremists?”