I’ve always thought of the SPLC as a respectable and respected organization with a good track record for keeping tabs on hate groups. Somewhat similar to the Anti-Defamation League, though its roots are black rather than Jewish. But every once in a great while I come across this sort of thing:
RationalWiki (the credibility of which may be debated in another thread) notes that some progressives have their own criticisms of the SPLC, but they’re fairly mild.
Does anyone care to make a case that the SPLC is one of the most biased, most wacky organizations to exist?
Those are fair criticisms, but yes, minor. In the past they’ve focused on some groups that seemed somewhat harmless at first but later showed their true colors. SPLC has a large database of people involved in hate groups and they may identify an organization based on it’s membership instead of its stated purpose. If they have got in wrong once in a rare while it’s hardly a reason to label them as extremist or whacko.
On a side note, what’s the deal with the name? “Poverty law” doesn’t seem to have much to do with their stated goal of identifying and litigating against hate groups.
“We are grateful that you have devoted your life to combating anti-Semitism and supporting the State of Israel. We wholeheartedly support your efforts to eradicate anti-Semitism, including its historic antecedents in the Christian community. We especially appreciate your extraordinary efforts to rally so many in the Christian community to stand with Israel.”
His criticism is tepid at best. He is hardly condemnatory of Hagee. Hagee is a dangerous lunatic and Foxman is coddling him as this serious respectable figure in the Christian community. He’s not. My point stands: the SPLC is way more strident in their criticism of Christian Zionist nutters than the mollycoddling ADL.
Great exposé on Anti-Muslim hate groups from the SPLC here:
If you want to know anything about a racist group, you ask the SPLC. You can ask the ADL, too, but they have more of an axe to grind.
I think the SPLC has done itself something of a disservice by expanding its definition of “hate group” to include non-race-related hate (for want of a better term). Focus on the Family is certainly a hate group, but there are lots of other organizations that track anti-LGBT groups (or can).
I’ll let you read the dates on the two stories and ponder the meaning of “is.” In the meantime – what does the ADL have to do with this at all? Why is your response to “why do conservatives dislike the SPLC” shouting about a Jewish group?
ADL was mentioned by the OP. It constantly comes up in comparison to the SPLC. Just Google the two names.
And yeah, given my letter is direct written correspondence between Hagee and Foxman, it’s quite relevant. I never said it was related to the right-wing puff piece you linked to.
That the ADL condemned Hagee is a fact, not a “right wing puff piece,” and an easily discoverable piece of info contra to your assertion that they “give him a pass.” FYI, *Times of Israel *is generally considered a left-leaning, anti-settlements paper, but I know to you it’s all just Jews = Bad.
He condemned the comment, not the man. Hagee deserves total condemnation as a lunatic, bigoted cretin, as any civilized person would do. Instead of doing so, Foxman praised him as an important figure in leading the fight against antisemitism and gave him great legitimacy by doing so. Making bedfellows with that sort is incredibly stupid. The SPLC never does this. The ADL does.
The article is indeed a right-wing puff piece, because it breathlessly reports Ted Cruz’s claims about Iran with no counter or critical comment.
Surely comments like this violate forum rules? The constant insinuation that I am a rabid Jew hater for making extremely mainstream, common criticisms of right-wing Christian Zionists should stay in the BBQ pit.