The Southern Poverty Law Center this week added the Federation for American Immigration Reform to its list of hate groups, citing the immigration-control organization as a purveyor of "hate" and "extremism."
The self-proclaimed watchdog group says FAIR's opposition to illegal immigration and calls for a slowdown in legal immigration have less to do with policy and are "rooted more in its anti-Latino and anti-Catholic beliefs."
SPLC's main evidence is FAIR's founder and current board member, John Tanton, has long been listed on its hate list.
What is really appalling to SPLC, it seems, is that FAIR helped defeat President Bush's immigration bill earlier this year, and despite SPLC's opinion of the group, reporters still call FAIR for comment:
"In just the first 10 months of 2007, the group was quoted in mainstream media outlets nearly 500 times with virtually no mention of its more unsavory aspects. Stein was featured on CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight" at least 12 times in the same period, along with countless appearances on other television news shows."
— Stephen Dinan, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (4)
I gave up on the mainstream environmental groups many years ago because they would not even recognize that immigration-driven population growth is a danger to the environment. I joined FAIR because they address this problem head-on. I just don't want the overcrowded mess that America is rapidly becoming. We are not obligated to go that route and we have every right to say no. FAIR speaks collectively for people like me.
Posted by James | December 12, 2007 12:58 PM
Political correctness has a very anti-democratic side. People with legitimiate concerns about immigration are inhibited from speaking out. FAIR gives a voice to these people.
Posted by James | December 13, 2007 7:52 AM
The SPLC is an extremist left-wing group and I don't understand why the MLM should give them any credence whatsoever.
Just look at the diatribes in their direct mail fundraising appeals and you's see that they see a hatemonger under every bed.
If anything, FAIR was always on the more moderate side among immigration control groups and its efforts over the years have been kind of lackluster.
Posted by politwriter | December 23, 2007 12:27 PM
FAIR's primary concern is 'population growth control.' It's just that 'illegals' are the easiest target to address, then they want legal immigration curtailed to pre -1965 levels. After that, according to founder John Tanton, Christians in particular Catholics should be addressed for their reproductive ways.
Posted by Martin | January 4, 2008 10:54 AM