SPLC: Family Research Council License-to-Kill Claim ‘Outrageous’

SPLC ^ | August 17, 2012 | Mark Potok

[Republican Wildcat]

Yesterday’s attack on the Family Research Council and the shooting of a security guard there was a tragedy. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) deplores all violence, and our thoughts are with the wounded victim, Leo Johnson, his family and others who lived through the attack.

For more than 40 years, the SPLC has battled against political extremism and political violence. We have argued consistently that violence is no answer to problems in a democratic society, and we have strongly criticized all those who endorse such violence, whether on the political left or the political right.

But this afternoon, FRC President Tony Perkins attacked the SPLC, saying it had encouraged and enabled the attack by labeling the FRC a “hate group.” The attacker, Floyd Corkins, “was given a license to shoot an unarmed man by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center,” Perkins said. “I believe the Southern Poverty Law Center should be held accountable for their reckless use of terminology.”

Perkins’ accusation is outrageous. The SPLC has listed the FRC as a hate group since 2010 because it has knowingly spread false and denigrating propaganda about LGBT people — not, as some claim, because it opposes same-sex marriage. The FRC and its allies on the religious right are saying, in effect, that offering legitimate and fact-based criticism in a democratic society is tantamount to suggesting that the objects of criticism should be the targets of criminal violence.

[Republican Wildcat]

Regardless of whether or not Mr. Perkins' comments were valid, there's so much hypocrisy in this it is mind blowing given the rhetoric of this organization and other liberals in the past. Of course the media and left wing pundits' silence over this is defining - there is a far greater connection in direct attacks against this organization vs. Sarah Palin merely advocating for the victory of certain candidates in elections over others somehow equating to inspiring people (for reasons we later know had nothing to do with elections) to commit murder. In this case the perp has admitted to being influenced by the left wing rhetoric attacking this organization. Ultimately, they certainly are not responsible for the individual choice of this gunman, but the hypocrisy of these organizations and leftists is extraordinary as there is an actual claimed connection to the negative rhetoric directed toward this organization vs. no evidence at all of a connection to other incidents that get blamed on conservatives as part of the news cycle.

[Steely Tom]

“That’s outrageous!” is not a denial.

[Bernard Marx]

Mark Potok is a Left Wing terrorist and the SPLC is a terrorist organization-for-profit. Like all Marxists Potok untruthfully accuses the opposition of doing exactly what he and his group are in reality doing.

The lies spread by the SPLC are horrendous. Find out what Pamela Geller thinks of Potok and his rabid organization here:

SPLC Hate

Here's Alex Jones's view: SPLC

One of the best take-downs of the SPLC is here:

SPLC Fundraising Racket

[nickcarraway]

Sounds like they agree with John Boehner.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

The SPLC does some good research on the extreme Right but it deliberately turns a blind eye to the extreme Left. Ever see anything about Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, The New Black Pathetic Panther Party, the CPUSA, Democratic Socialists of America, Van Jones and STORM, Bill Ayers?

Nah, not a chance. There is not threat from the Left (old Moscow line).

[AwesomePossum]

Shoe on other foot owie..........

8:}

[piasa]

For a group that’s supposed to be against violence the SPLC’s one time president Bond didn’t seem to have a problem with the rioting at the democrat convention in 1968 Chicago.

[GOPJ]

It's political. The SPLC people are actively going after Christian Conservatives. And yes, they might get some legitimate horrors - like crazy antisemitic skinheads... That's fine. But they've decided to pretend a skinhead is the same as a person who believes in traditional marriage.

That's NOT fine.

Someone needs to take a long hard look at the stuff they're putting out.

[livius]

I read in an earlier thread on the SPLC that they actually have a contract with the Federal Government to “identify and track” what they decide are “hate groups.”. As a private security organization, they apparently have more legal leeway in monitoring these groups than does the government.

They are very generous with the term “hate group” when it applies to anything conservative, have no interest in left-wing organizations or black anti-white groups...and they supposedly have a contract with the US government to do this? Not good.

I think this needs to be investigated.

[SuziQ]

"The FRC and its allies on the religious right are saying, in effect, that offering legitimate and fact-based criticism in a democratic society is tantamount to suggesting that the objects of criticism should be the targets of criminal violence."

SO how does it feel when YOU are the subject of that 'hater' accusation, SPLC?

[Gene Eric]

>> For more than 40 years, the SPLC has battled against political extremism and political violence.

But is never short on the incendiary rhetoric that might compel the kind of extremism it claims to denounce.

You’re not the virtuous objector you pretend to be, Potok.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Hmmm, the SPLC labels the Family Research Council a hate group. Then they define this smear as a "offering legitimate and fact-based criticism in a democratic society is tantamount to suggesting that the objects of criticism should be the targets of criminal violence."

Friedrich von Hayek in his "Road to Serfdom" identifies a signature of totalitarism as changing the meaning of words. Smear = legitimate criticism. This says more about the SPLC than it does the FRC.

[SECURE AMERICA]

When you label a group that supports marriage and morality as a hate group to appease your homosexual friends then you are responsible for the hatred towards them that follows..

[Caipirabob]

SUE THE SPLC INTO THE GROUND!

[MrB]

The SPLC is sure quick to label anyone they don’t agree with as a “hater” or a “hate group”.

I, having as much authority as the SPLC to make such a designation, declare the SPLC to be a “hate group”.

[penelopesire]

That is what I hope FRC will do. This hack organization needs to be thoroughly and soundly discredited.

[Stegall Tx]

...Ever see anything about Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, The New Black Pathetic Panther Party, ... .

Actually, they do list the New Black Panther Party as a hate group on their web site.

New Black Panther Party

[Stegall Tx]

While I agree that they tend to indiscriminately include conservative groups in their "hate group" list, they do actually track real hate groups from all over the political, racial, and religious spectrum. Check their web site for the list of organizations they actually track.

I may disagree with some of their choices, but they do actually identify a lot of bad guys for legitimate reasons, and someone needs to do it.

[expat2]

They did contribute to an ugly environment which ‘gave license’, but the homosexual groups were the worst offenders.

[devolve]

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MORRIS DEES - SPLC attorney/official:

Morris Dees — Child Molester, Pervert, and Liar?

http://www.zianet.com/web/dees1.htm

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