Talking About the SPLC on Public Radio

Jesse Walker discusses political violence on KPCC.

I'll be on Larry Mantle's show Air Talk on KPCC very shortly -- 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern -- to talk about the Southern Poverty Law Center, political violence, and related subjects. You can listen live here -- or, if you live in the Los Angeles area, you can tune in at 89.3 FM.

Update: A recording of the program has been posted online.

Comments

[RyanXXX]

Call them out for what they are, Jesse. Don't give them any concessions

[Eduard van Haalen]

Listening to Poor-Talk - FRC can't believe their own statements!

[Eduard van Haalen]

The interviewer at least understands the issues.

Holy shit, Poor-Talk is doing the Nazi equivalences!

[Jeff]

Although he did just say "some guy living in middle America" like it was a disparaging description of a person.

[Mike M.]

What did he say, I didn't get a chance to hear it.

[Jeff]

Basically, "Nazis! Derp!" Same as always.

[Mike M.]

Heh, it figures.

And speaking of "Nazis, derp!", at the risk of pissing of Episiarch again, I still haven't seen "Tonio" post anywhere here at Reason in the last 48 hours or so. And that still strikes me as kind of odd.

[HazelMeade]

I encourage you to bring up this article:
http://www.splcenter.org/blog/.....-loughner/

In which the SPLC links Loughner to the "right wing" on the basis of his book list including the Communist Manifesto, Ayn Rand, and One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest.

The SPLC really needs to be a little more responsible with it's rhetoric.

[Brutus]

That doesn't work as well in the fundraising, Hazel, and Morrie needs a new pair of shoes.

[Eduard van Haalen]

"Finally, I think Loughner's reading list, although it included children's books and a few classics, had an underlying theme ? the individual versus the totalitarian state. Certainly, that's the explicit central theme of Ayn Rand's We the Living and Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm, among others. I would argue that that's the way Loughner seems to be reading The Communist Manifesto and Hitler's Mein Kampf ? as variants of a kind of generalized 'smash the state' attitude."

Yes, that is perfectly logical and not in the least crazy.

[Franklin Harris]

Debate topic: Are NPR listeners a hate group?

[Jeff]

Are they even a group?

[Eduard van Haalen]

A herd of independent minds.

[Brutus]

"Yes, we are all individuals!...We are all different!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXcGF2qv2CY

[ClubMedSux]

More like a hated group.

[Mike M.]

For what it's worth, even the Washington Post's Dana Milbank, who is hardly some Bible-thumping far right winger, says that SPLC is going too far in calling the FRC a hate group. And seriously, kudos to Milbank for having to guts to say that to his fellow libs.

[Eduard van Haalen]

"this shooting should remind us all of an important truth: that while much of the political anger in America today lies on the right, there are unbalanced and potentially violent people of all political persuasions. The rest of us need to be careful about hurling accusations that can stir up the crazies."

Perhaps - though it's overstated (so he can blame the Right for the next shooting of a leftist?)

"Gays and lesbians are winning the fight for equality by example and persuasion. Those who support gay rights will gain nothing by sticking inflammatory labels on their opponents, many of whom are driven by deeply held religious beliefs."

I disagree - demonizing opponents is a key element of the gay-rights strategy, designed to wear down potential resistance by making opponents prove they're not haters and Klanspeople. This isn't simply one regrettable element of gay-rights strategy, it's an integral part of it.

[Mike M.]

I agree that "Nazis, derp" seems to be a pretty significant part of their strategy. And not only is it regrettable, it's reprehensible to make that kind of comparison, and it very nearly led to a major tragedy a couple of days ago.

[The Late P Brooks]

Shorter SPLC: "If you're not with us, you're a terrorist!"

Right?

[Mr. FIFY]

"...you're a terrorist AND a racist!", P.

[HazelMeade]

To the SPLC, anyone who talks about smaller government is automatically some kind of racist militia freak.

[Brian from Texas]

I'm no particular fan of the SPLC myself, but much of what they say about the Family Research Council is accurate. They do go around calling ALL gay people child molestors despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.