Critics: SPLC targets, demonizes conservative groups

[jpak]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Sissyk (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Washington Post

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Many consider The Southern Poverty Law Center’s annual list of U.S. extremist groups an authoritative glimpse into racist and anti-government activity, but some of its targets contend the civil rights advocacy group is actually focused on silencing conservative viewpoints — sometimes with serious consequences.

The Family Research Council blames a 2012 shooting at its Washington, D.C., headquarters on its inclusion on the SPLC’s hate-group list. The council’s website says its mission “is to advance faith, family and freedom in public policy and the culture from a Christian worldview.”

Last June, SPLC’s Hate Watch blog featured two Anniston, Alabama, police officers who had been involved with the League of the South, which defines itself on its website as a “Southern Nationalist organization whose ultimate goal is a free and independent Southern republic.” The SPLC defines the league as a racist neo-Confederate organization. One officer resigned and the other was quickly fired.

SPLC officials “have got an opinion like everybody else does and that’s all it is, is an opinion about ideology,” the fired officer, Josh Doggrell, said outside his home, where a sticker on the mailbox reads “SECEDE.”

<more>

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/critics-splc-targets-demonizes-conservative-groups/2016/02/18/44f7203a-d61f-11e5-a65b-587e721fb231_story.html

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Sooooo.... Hate groups don't like being called hate groups? nt

[bemildred]

2. Good. Attack and demonize the heck out of them. nt

[Earth_First]

3. When your core beliefs are based on predjudice towards race, gender/sexual identity, ethnicity, etc.

...and you associate in an organized manner with those with similar ideologies, don't be surprised when you are classified as a hate group...

[Glorfindel]

4. They make demons of themselves...the SPLC just points them out

There's nothing like a little light to send the cockroaches back into hiding.

[AllyCat]

5. Because so many conservatives are racist, this isn't particularly surprising.

[Gothmog]

6. It looks like it is time for another donation to the SPLC

[valerief]

7. I don't spend much money on amazon, but for those of you who do, please, consider using

smile.amazon.com and setting up Southern Poverty Law Center as your charity.

It's just like using the regular amazon.com, except 1/2% of your bill goes to your designated charity when you use the smile version.

[ShrimpPoboy]

13. We use amazon a lot and my folks do too

But have never heard of this. Definitely going to look into it. Thanks.

[valerief]

14. Great! There are a lot of default charities amazon lists, but you can type in your own.

I typed in Southern Poverty Law Center.

[Odin2005]

8. Bunch of whiners.

[Android3.14]

9. Critics unhappy SPLC keeps doing its job

Just tightened that headline up a bit for you, Washington Post.

[Solly Mack]

10. lol

A little hate, a little whine, and some more hate.

[jtuck004]

11. Did he have to take off his hood to do an interview, or just talk through the holes

in the pillowcase?

[blackspade]

12. Extremist critics can fuck off.

Dear conservatives,
You know what? When you are bunch of racist anti-government reactionaries you're going to get called out by the SPLC.
Tough shit. The consequences are not from the call out, it's from the the public getting wise to your fucked up ideology.

[ShrimpPoboy]

15. It's fair to ask how the SPLC classifies groups

But every time I've looked at their lists and reasons I've never found cause to disagree.

Maybe the people complaining need to examine their beliefs and who they associate with and ask why others would consider them to be hateful, racist, etc. I guess it's just easier to blame partisan politics than to question one's generations-old beliefs, traditions and systems.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. If the group in question espouses racism, misogyny, sectarian bigotry, homophobia

to the extreme of excluding targeted minorities from civic or cultural life, then the group is a hate group, period. Such a view is far right wing, not conservative.

The Family Research Council will just have to deal with it. I hope the police caught the gunmen.

[lark]

17. Of course the RW tealiban disagrees.

It's OK for them to get people killed at Planned Parenthood, how could they have stopped that? But are blaming SPLC for murders at their place. Typical lack of logic or consistency. As my mom always said, the hit fog yelps loudest. Hear the beasts howl.

[Sissyk]

18. Locking as analysis.

Please consider reposting in another Forum.

Thank you.