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SPLC’s hatewatch gives cover to hate

SPLC’s hatewatch gives cover to hate

As long-time readers surely know, I have examined the pernicious methodology of the Southern Poverty Law Center in moving from fighting Klan and neo-Nazi groups to fighting for the Democratic Party agenda against conservatives and the Tea Party.

In seeking to justify its hefty salaries, budget and fundraising, SPLC made a very dangerous leap to treating political opponents as “hate groups” and speech it didn’t like as “hate speech.”

My first post about SPLC was when Mark Potok, head of SPLC’s Hatewatch project, smeared a prominent black female law professor at Vanderbilt as an “apologist for white supremacists,” based upon a complete misreading of her review of a movie involving racially inflammatory rhetoric.  It was a vicious attack, taken apart by James Taranto in The Wall Street Journal.

Since then I examined the SPLC’s tendency to exaggerate hate group statistics for fundraising purposes, including inventing hate groups in my home State of Rhode Island:

When it came to the Tea Party, I wrote that SPLC Completed Its Descent Into Madness when it called a speech by Sarah Palin at the National Tea Party Convention in February 2010 one of the landmark events in the “Patriot Movement” (which SPLC defined as Tim McVeigh-type anti-government violent groups):

Whatever SPLC once was, it now is a bastion of political hackery which, by equating legitimate political opposition with criminal violence, is doing substantial damage to our national fabric.

It is time for people of conscience to speak out against SPLC’s tactics.

SPLC continued its agenda against the Tea Party and conservatives when it persisted in claiming that Jared Loughner was “right wing” long after it was clear that was not the case.

SPLC also moved on to the issue of marriage, and named several groups — including the Family Research Council and the National Organization for Marriage — as hate groups, SPLC Demonizes Supporters of Traditional Marriage:

Time and again SPLC, through its Hatewatch division, seeks to shut down debate by applying the “hate group” or similar epithets to political opponents, and those political opponents almost always are conservative.

Being labeled a “hate group” by SPLC can be devastating, because most of the country is unaware of how politicized SPLC has become….

SPLC is at it again, with a list of 18, “anti-gay”groups, 13 of whom also will make SPLC’s upcoming ”hate group” list….

Most of these groups are unknown to me,  although a couple are well-known Christian groups, such as American Family Association and Family Research Council (both of these entities will be on SPLC’s upcoming Hate Group list).  I don’t defend or not defend these groups because I don’t know much about them, but based upon SPLC’s past performance, the burden should be on SPLC to make the case for including a group on a hate list.

All these groups, with one exception below, were included for having a fundamentalist Christian view of homosexuality and gay marriage.  Oddly, no Orthodox Jewish or Muslim groups were included, even though those religious affiliations have views not much different from fundamentalist Christians….

The inclusion of NOM on this list really is outrageous, and typical of how SPLC seeks to demonize a mainstream conservative (and in this case, constitutional) view.  The explanation SPLC gives for including NOM is flimsy and filled with innuendo.

And so it came to pass, support for retaining the centuries old definition of marriage as one man, one woman, routinely now is labeled as “hate speech” on campuses and increasingly in the liberal-dominated media.  Groups which support retaining the definition now are hate groups — with SPLC cited as the authority.

Chick-fil-A brought to the surface the hysteria.  A company whose executives supported retaining the traditional definition of marriage was threatened by politicians with denial of business licenses, its products were called “hate chicken,” its employees were rudely confronted, and protesters outside its stores harassed and belittled those who disagreed.  Now Chick-fil-A is being banned from campuses.

And in almost every instance, the justification is that support for retaining the traditional definition of marriage is hate speech, and often the SPLC is cited as the authority because it has designated groups like the Family Research Council as a hate group.

SPLC gave cover to those who use the “hate speech’ and “hate group” labels to shut down political and religious speech, and now it has spiralled out of control.

———————
I think it’s worth posting Anne’s viral video again (related posts here and here)

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Comments

You know what I just realized? No one EVER refers to the Nation of Islam as a ‘Hate Group’ listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The SPLC is ENTIRELY a farce of an organization.

    Ragspierre in reply to Chuck Skinner. | August 15, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    Actually, Chuck, last time I was on their site (long ago, because I won’t give them traffic) they DID list several Muslim organizations as hate groups.

      I should have been more clear. What I meant was that I don’t ever see anyone in the Main Stream Morons ever write a story that says “the Nation of Islam, which the Southern Poverty Law Center deems a hate group ….”

      It’s something that would have been particularly appropriate for the “news” to say when the “Fruit of Islam” (aka “the men in suits”) were dispatched to Chicago to quell the shooting violence last month (July 2012) by the Nation of Islam.

      It’s all about narrative demonization. The Loony Left is willing to use their selective outrage to attack so long as it doesn’t cost them anything (meaning they have neither morals nor ethics) and deserve to be consistently reminded of their hypocrisy. If they were to use it against the Nation of Islam, it would most definitely cost them something.

    scooby509 in reply to Chuck Skinner. | August 16, 2012 at 12:11 am

    I thought they did, but either way, they have a number of left-wing organizations listed.

    The SPLC does have a very thorough team investigating violent and radical organizations of all stripes. They have a well-earned reputation.

    It’s just they have no compunctions about using that reputation and their resources to target and destroy mainstream conservatives.

    It’s a big organization, and you may find that the national organization is where the more partisan operations take place. This was often the case with the ACLU.

    They’re a good example, though, of how blind liberals are to their own vicious streak, and how conditioned they are to the demagoguery of their leadership.

      Estragon in reply to scooby509. | August 16, 2012 at 12:28 am

      SCLC won a lawsuit against a Klan branch several decades ago, which put that branch out of business.
      Ever since, Dees and a handful of aides solicit money from rich liberals with scary press releases and emails and fundraising letters.

      It’s a total scam. They don’t “investigate” anything beyond the occasional Google search. Dees now moves into “gay hate” because he figured out how much money there is in those pockets, PERIOD.

      Only complete idiots believe it is a serious operation.

        As a result of the SPLC suing the Klan, the SPLC now owns the copyright to the name “KKK”. Anytime some new KKK outfit springs up, the SLPC goes after them on copyright grounds.

        NC Mountain Girl in reply to Estragon. | August 16, 2012 at 9:07 am

        When I used to do tax planning for wealthy Chicagoan I concluded that Morris Dees is to civil rights organizations what Max Bialystock is to theatrical producers. Clients who listed SPLC on their lists of charitable contributions usually had blue hair. As those who still thought the Klan was a force died out Dees had to find other dupes to support his life style. Thus the SPLC’s definition of hate changed.

      Milhouse in reply to scooby509. | August 16, 2012 at 12:29 am

      For some reason my reply ended up below.

      J. W. in reply to scooby509. | August 16, 2012 at 1:37 am

      “They have a well-earned reputation.”

      I agree: They earned their horrible reputation, and they earned it well.

The SPLC is just another organelle of the Collective, as the NAACP or any number of other erstwhile good or even noble organizations have become.

They are themselves purveyors of hate.

    I’ve always suspected the SPLC, but they finally and completely “jumped the shark” when the included Malik Zulu Shabazz, the head of the NBPP (New Black Panther Party), in a recent list of “30 New Activists Heading Up the Radical Right“.

    Obama at one time had hung out with the NBPP. “Right Wing” .. don’t make me laugh. SPLC has no credibility.

I find it incredibly arrogant that an organization can define another group as “hating” because of their religion or the belief they embrace. Especially when that group has never injured or oppressed another person during its existence. Just like “anchor babies” has been redefined, so has the term “hate” been given a new defintion by the SPLC. Hate means anyone who disagrees with them. I can hate the vice without hating the person but the SPLC personalizes it. I wrote them this evening and registered my disgust with their way of thinking.

SPLC was NEVER good or noble. Check out Morris Dees, his outlook, and his tactics.

BannedbytheGuardian | August 15, 2012 at 9:57 pm

The actual name gets me. Southern Poverty Law (centre ).

I had it that there is a decided move to the south by both blacks & whites.

IBlacks (& descendants ) who left for the industrial north in the 1930-70s have been flowing back steadily.

Whites are rushing across from California to Arkansas & down to Texas . Blacks were pushed out of New Orleans by hurricane Katrina but they went to Texas & regional LA . None went north.

Wages are lower but costs are also. The weather is warmer & the food better.

Now I am off to hear some Dixie & Swannee llyrics by northern exiled blacks from the early 20th century. They had dem blues.

Senator Blutarsky | August 15, 2012 at 10:02 pm

It seems like the left has really lowered the bar on what constitutes hate and bigotry. Back in the day, you had to actually, you know, hate people, and maybe even oppress them for good measure. Now all you need to do is fail to offer your full-throated support for gay marriage and you’re the moral equivalent of Bull Connor (which party did he belong to again?). Bigotry just ain’t what it used to be:

http://senatorjohnblutarsky.blogspot.com/2012/08/bigotry-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be.html

SPLC tactics = Liberal McCarthyism

Truth is absolutely irrelevant to these people.

What only matter to them is keeping their grip on the waning power of race-baiting.

Screw ’em. Let them just die on the vine.

Why do they have an entire law center dedicated to “Southern Poverty?” I mean isn’t there enough poverty in the south? Why do they need a whole law center to create more poverty?

Maybe we could pay these dimwits to move to New York City and open the “Northern Poverty Law Center.” Seems like we should be neighborly and share a bit.

Is there a “Southern Wealth Law Center” somewhere?

santorum splc. splc is an idiot group. if you site an idiot group you’re an idiot. google splc idiot group. screw them.

SPLC defines ‘Anti-Gay’ as hate, straight up (pardon the pun). Supporting traditional marriage pretty much means you don’t support gay marriage. Therefore, failure to support = ‘Anti-Gay’ = HATE, no matter whether done as a matter of conscience based on religious beliefs, whether or not any overt act of violence against any individual has ever been committed. Such is SPLC logic, at least as it applies to gay marriage. This is ‘thought police’ stuff, demonizing differing ideas and opinions – in the name of diversity.

They also have a cute category called ‘General Hate’, and many entities labeled as ‘Anti-Muslim’ (including Pam Gellar, of course), but try as I might, I can find no ‘Muslim Fundamentalist’, ‘Jihadist’, or ‘Anti-Christian’ hate groups. I guess they don’t exist. They pad their numbers by including trivial ‘right wing’ groups of miniscule membership. They do list the Nation of Islam & NBPP as hate groups, give ’em that – but under the hate category of ‘Black Separatist’, much less threatening a label than ‘Anti-Insert-Favored-Group-Here’. Christians stopped burning witches hundreds of years ago, while Muslims continue to persecute women and LGBT’s to this day and get an apparent pass from SPLC.

Here’s the Mission Statement which earned FRC the ‘Hate Group’ label:

“Family Research Council (FRC) champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilization, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society. FRC shapes public debate and formulates public policy that values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family. Believing that God is the author of life, liberty, and the family, FRC promotes the Judeo-Christian worldview as the basis for a just, free, and stable society.”

Scary stuff, huh?

Closing question: Have you ever heard of a hate crime committed by a Radical Traditional Catholic?

    VetHusbandFather in reply to Daiwa. | August 15, 2012 at 11:33 pm

    Closing question: Have you ever heard of a hate crime committed by a Radical Traditional Catholic?

    Ha ha! I love it!

Farah at WND has written a bunch on them too.

DINORightMarie | August 15, 2012 at 11:32 pm

I find this very 1984-Orwellian.

Is there any recourse for a group put on such a “black list” that defames or damages the group’s name and/or reputation?

I am not implying that the SPLC’s categorization of FRC is excuse, cause, or in any other way related to today’s shooting, but does it take that level of connectedness for a group to take another to task – even sue – for defamation?

Just wondering. Law suits are not desirable, but often they are needed to preserve reputation, as well as to deter such outrageous, damaging, defaming labeling.

Hate groups, based on their public actions:

NAMBLA
GLAAD
NOI
NBP
CODE PINK
MSA
ISNA

Orthodox Christian organizations, based on their public acts, are not hate groups.

TeaPartyPatriot4ever | August 15, 2012 at 11:47 pm

The forces of evil will forever disguise and hide their true nature of politically motivated hatred, via venomous projectionism- the kind that Hitler used and perfected against the Jews in the 1920’s and 30’s.

The message of their projected hate will just fuel the fires of the ignorant who become pitch fork wielding mobs in the streets, in govt, in society until it ends in another Holocaust.

Good people will know this hate filled lie when they hear it and see it. Of course, it is the naive and indifferent that are most susceptible to this vile hate filled projectionist propaganda, in all areas of public societal life.

No matter who says it, it is what it is, and the truth about what the message says, says everything about the messenger who says it.

People must stop sticking their heads in the sand and pretend that evil is always somewhere else, instead of right in front of their eyes and ears. This kind of indifference and cowardice upon the people to stand up and be heard in a nation is what allowed Hitler to rise in.

Thus good people must rise against it, condemn it, and denounce those who proliferate it, promulgate it, disseminate it, and expose it for what it is, the politically motivated hatred and intolerance disguised as the self-righteous indignation, when in fact it is the opposite, to create a toxic poisonous atmosphere upon their innocent victims. This is exactly how Hitler and the Nazis’ destroyed the Jewish population, and other such undesirable people in Europe.

Evil is as evil does. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

Remember that the SPLC is a group of people with opinions….opinions. Nothing more.

These opinions say more about them than they say about that on which they opine. Not to be taken seriously by anyone except themselves. Why anyone pays any attention to these folks is a mystery. We are smart enough to do the research and make up our own minds.

I mean, aside from the fact that they are liberal tool, why even think about them. They are to be dismissed as irrelevant.

    n.n in reply to vndk8r. | August 16, 2012 at 7:26 pm

    Their topic “expertise” is officially recognized by the US federal government. This recognition grants them an influence not commonly enjoyed by other citizens and cooperatives.

[…] Jacobson shines a light on the cockroaches at the Southern Poverty Law Center. […]

I suspect the hate started with the Clinton impeachment. The start of Move on . Org. Next the 2000 election where they learned of the Electoral College. Thru these 2 Constitutional provisions they had never before even thought thru nor considered the Constitution nor how it could thwart their wishes. Then they get the 1st black president with a dem congress elected and they think finally they can do as they please. That we understand the Constitution and use it to thwart their wishes turn them to hate both.

Well, it was only a matter of time until someone wrote this parody:

“Biden, Amos & Andy:”

http://thefinereport.com/2012/08/biden-amos-andy/

The SPLC does have a very thorough team investigating violent and radical organizations of all stripes.

Since when? What would make you believe such a thing?

They have a well-earned reputation.

Do they? When was it earned? If it was, it must have been before my time, but you know what? I don’t believe you. I don’t believe that it was ever earned. Why should I? I see how it is now, a completely useless pack of vicious liars, who simply make up “hate groups” that don’t exist, and yet people speak highly of it. So why shouldn’t I assume that the same was true in the golden olden days, that mythical past when it supposedly did good work? We know that Walter Cronkite was as big a liar and traitor as Dan Rather, he just never got caught; so why shouldn’t I assume the same is true for Mo Dees?

I just finished serving on a jury with an older woman who absolutely believes in the SPLC. I tried to tell her about how Prof Jacobson exposed their fraud in Rhode Island, but she refused to listen. When I warned her about their finances she did say she doesn’t give them any money.

Your article inspired a Photoshop, here:
http://saberpoint.blogspot.com/2012/08/hate-watch-photoshop.html

Everyone feel free to repost.

well documented prof

need to spread this around

Bitterlyclinging | August 16, 2012 at 7:36 am

There’s a TownHall article out discussing the similarity of Barack Obama’s campaign to George McGovern’s in 1972 in which the Liberal elements then, that had seized control of the Democratic Party, during and immediately after the Chicago Convention Riots in 1968 were determined to impose their new morality upon America in order to better accomodate their lifestyle. Mr Obama has picked up that 1972 campaign baton, or more correctly, campaign cudgel, again this year, determined to impose that new morality upon all Americans along with his shared prosperity in which all members of the Collective work, not exclusively for themselves as before, but for the good of the entire Collective. It makes little difference to Mr Obama and his Liberal base whether they be imposed under pain of a jail term or at the point of a gun. Mr Obama’s Liberal base, whenever and wherever they be found will gladly pick up their cudgels in a collaborative effort to level every mountain and fill every valley in order to make straight the way of their Chicago Jesus.

#ChicagoValues gives cover to hate

MaggotAtBroadAndWall | August 16, 2012 at 8:44 am

Dees best skill and purpose in life is seperating liberals from their money. And because there are a lot of very rich homos, Dees moved from racial civil rights to homo civil rights.

Former Dees associate, Stephen Bright, said he could not accept an invitation to honor Dees at the Univ. of Alabama because he now considers Dees a fraud and a con man.

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/11/hbc-90001573

Dees biggest focus has been on eliminating his own poverty, as these 60 pictures of his lavish mansion illustrate:

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DS&Dato=20100325&Kategori=LIFESTYLE04&Lopenr=3250804&Ref=PH

    MaggotAtBroadAndWall in reply to MaggotAtBroadAndWall. | August 16, 2012 at 8:53 am

    Clarification: Saying Mr. Bright is a former associate of Dees may be too strong. What I should have said is that they were both active in the civil rights movement to end racial discrimination.

SPLC: The “Poverty Law” in the organization’s name stands for the type of bankrupt justice they represent. These “hate watchers,” these PC supremacists are no different than the skin head groups who stir up hatred and rancor towards others. SPLC does not serve the common good. SPLC does not love its neighbors. Those who fund SPLC aid and abet hate.

The perverse acrimonious “social justice” promoted by SPLC is indicative of the antipathy and spirit of lawlessness now more pervasive in our society under the likes of AG Eric Holder.

I wonder if there is any way to trace the change in tone and the mission creep to a change in staff?

It might be enlightening to find out what some of the original people in this organization think of its current activities.

“Groups which support retaining the definition now are hate groups”

Poor things. Jacobsen admitted that “I don’t know much about them” – but he will say that they have been labeled as hate groups only for opposing gay marriage. Of course, he could have just read the reports on these organizations, but that would get in the way of attacking an organization he despises. Can’t have that.

Family Research Council:
– Lobbied against a House resolution opposing the Uganda bill to kill gay people
– Wants to “export homosexuals” from the US (Peter Spriggs)
– Supports the criminalization of gays (Peter Spriggs)

American Family Association:
– “[h]omosexuality gave us Adolph Hitler, and homosexuals in the military gave us the Brown Shirts, the Nazi war machine and 6 million dead Jews”
– Bryan Fischer supporters “Underground Railroad” to kidnap the children of gays and lesbians.
– Fischer has described Hitler as “an active homosexual” who sought out gays “because he could not get straight soldiers to be savage and brutal and vicious enough
– He proposed criminalizing homosexual behavior in another 2010 blog post and has advocated forcing gays into “reparative” therapy.

Very charming organizations. No haters, but lovers! Obviously, this is just about gay marriage. What has the world come to, that one can’t even advocate international kidnapping without being labeled a hater. Pure persecution!

Now let me see how long Jacobsen will let this bit of truth-telling stand.

    G Joubert in reply to Exposer. | August 16, 2012 at 12:38 pm

    Hate much?

    Milhouse in reply to Exposer. | August 16, 2012 at 6:38 pm

    The FRC did not support the Uganda law, and did not oppose a Congressional resolution condemning it. It lobbied to remove language that would have had Congress state that homosexual conduct is internationally recognized as a fundamental human right.

    Having caught you in one lie, I haven’t bothered investigating the rest of your claims. But it is not “hate” to want sodomy made illegal, as it was for almost all of the history of the USA.

[…] “racism” and “hate groups”. As Professor William Jacobson points at Legal Insurrection, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has done just that: As long-time readers surely know, I have examined the pernicious methodology of the Southern […]

[…] Writing at his Legal Insurrection blog, Professor William Jacobson has a must read for gunnies, as he lays it on the line about that curious entity; a for-profit hate group, the ‘Southern Poverty Law Center.’. […]

Henry Hawkins | August 16, 2012 at 11:27 am

Groups like SPLC, NAACP, Rainbow Coalition, Rev Al, etc., are nothing but shakedown specialists. Change your ways to our ways or we list you as a hate group, racist, etc. Give money to our causes or we list you as a hate group, racist, etc.

These groups are the Social Mafia: “Nice organization ya got here. Be a shame if anything happened to it. We can protect you, ya know..”

Years ago (2009) I stopped subscribing to their newsletter ‘Hatewatch Headlines’; they went from a fairly reasonable organization to naming everything and everyone they don’t like as a ‘hate group’. I still have a few copies of ‘Hatewatch Headlines’ around, they provide me with some humor from time to time. And, no, I never gave them money.

SPLC denigrates individual dignity when it extrapolates culpability and treats individuals as a collective. It undermines the viability of society and humanity when it supports normalization of behaviors which constitute evolutionary dysfunction. They are fanatics and in their regular business commit human and civil rights violations. Unfortunately, their corrupt model is acknowledged and accepted by the government.

By the way, do they also support the elective termination of developing human life (i.e. abortion)? That particular behavior devalues human life. If so, then that would be three strikes against their business model.

Keep it up with the slavering screaming about “hate.” You’ll make it as close to meaningless a term as you have “racism,” and by October “HATERS!” will be just another cheap punchline used by late-night comedians.

[…] Apparently the DCist is eager to follow in the footsteps of the hate-inciting Southern Policy Law Center. […]

[…] months. Mariner describes Corkins as “kind, gentle and unassuming.” William Jacobson of Legal Insurrection has been following the Southern Poverty Law Center, which raises millions and pays its leadership […]

[…] SPLC’s hatewatch gives cover to hate […]

[…] SPLC’s hatewatch gives cover to hate […]