14 May We’re Under Attack
I need your help by signing the enclosed “Citizen’s Demand for Congressional Investigation of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).”
Let me explain.
The American Policy Center (APC) and I have been openly attacked by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Normally, that would not be a big deal.
SPLC has a long history of attacking organizations and individuals who defend the Constitution and oppose big government programs.
They regularly accuse us of racism and hate because we want to stop the massive growth of government and the wasteful spending programs that are bankrupting our country.
I get used to such attacks. It’s what they do to try to discredit us.
But this time the attack is different. It truly frightens me because the outcome of this new SPLC attack against APC and me could result in government investigations, the banning of my ability to travel, or even the destruction of APC.
Here’s why I’m concerned.
The Southern Poverty Law Center sent an undercover informant to attend APC’s Freedom Action National Conference held at Valley Forge, PA. That informant then issued an attack on me and APC, saying that the speakers at our conference were “united by rage” against the federal government.
The headline on the SPLC article about our conference read: “Patriot Rhetoric Becomes Increasingly Violent.”
Taken out of context were quotes by some of our speakers, including Sheriff Richard Mack and Constitution expert, Michael Badnarik.
The report did everything possible to paint APC as a dangerous, radical fringe group intent on overthrowing the US Government.
They even took a very classic line by APC advisor and former Pennsylvania State Rep. Sam Rohrer. He said, “There is a time to pray and a time to fight. And I think the time has come to fight.”
Of course he meant political action – not physical war against the government.
Not a single speaker at our conference advocated or even believes in violent action. I know all of the speakers – I hand picked every one and I know what they believe and what they advocate.
They, like me, passionately believe in the founding principles of this nation. And we intend to defend them – but we intend to do that in the political process.
Have you ever seen one single word written by me that advocates violence? Of course not – because I have never done it. I am opposed to any kind of silly rhetoric calling for violence – it would be an incredibly stupid thing for our side to do. I have said so at any meeting or on any radio show where it is even suggested.
I believe the dumbest thing our side could ever do is perpetrate violence against the government. To do so would mark the end of our ability to speak out. It would be the destruction of our movement.
When I talk to audiences or write articles and refer to our efforts as a “fight” – I am talking about “Political Action in a “War” against “POLICY.” Nothing more.
But the SPLC has twisted those words to make it sound like my conference at Valley Forge was a hot bed of hate, ready to explode in violence across the country.
Such a report can have dire consequences against me and APC.
And here’s why.
The Southern Policy Law Center is working directly with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to define domestic terrorism and to pinpoint potentially violent groups that fit that description.
In 2009, the DHS issued several reports, both written with the help of the Southern Poverty Law Center. One was entitled “Right-wing Extremism.” That report targeted groups like those which fight to stop abortion and illegal immigration as hate groups and potentially violent terrorist groups.
But in fact, the report was even worse as it also targeted people who are concerned over our bad economy, oppose the creation of a North American Union, oppose same-sex marriage, stockpile food, fear communist regimes and oppose loss of US jobs to overseas nations. These people, said the DHS, are potential terrorists.
How many of these include your beliefs? Do you consider yourself to be a terrorist? Of course not. And neither do I.
In addition, the Missouri state Fusion Center (a coalition of Federal, State and Local police agencies organized to respond to terrorist attacks) produced its own report on potential terrorists that included people who voted for Ron Paul.
Again, the Southern Poverty Law Center helped to prepare that report.
These reports were sent to law enforcement agencies across the nation. Police were alerted that these people were possibly violent.
So those on the list could be put under surveillance, restricted from travel on airplanes, and even have their personal financial records checked.
In fact, that is one of the reasons why early reporting of the Boston Marathon bombing hinted that it was done by right wingers.
In fact, one reporter, David Sirota, said, “If you care about everything from stopping war to reducing the defense budget to protecting civil liberties to passing immigration reform, you should hope the bomber was a white domestic terrorist.”
That rhetoric is straight out of the SPLC. Truth means noting anymore – just their political agenda.
And it’s why there was a deadly attack at the Family Research Council last year. They were targeted by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a dangerous hate group because they oppose abortion.
That’s how dangerous the Southern Poverty Law Center is to freedom.
Now, clearly, with its most recent attack, SPLC has targeted me and APC. They have gone beyond mere criticism of our policies to attempting to make us appear violent and dangerous.
The result could be the destruction of APC – clearly that is SPLC’s goal. APC could lose its tax-exempt status. I could be banned from boarding air planes to travel to speeches and conferences. With the government now moving to take over the internet, there is a very real possibility that APC could lose access – and that would silence me for good.
That’s why I can’t ignore this attack. I must fight back.
And that’s why I’m demanding that the US Congress closely investigate the Southern Poverty Law Center and its ties to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Why does this agency of the federal government allow a private group to have such powerful input into its investigations and official reports?
Does the government pay SPLC from our tax dollars?
Who is responsible?
SPLC is a dangerous group, guilty of the hate it claims to fight. It is trying to take away the Constitutional rights of Americans to hold opposing views. It seeks to destroy any debate or opposition to its ideas.
That wouldn’t be a threat to you and me, except for the fact that SPLC is so closely tied to one of the federal government’s most powerful (and in my view) dangerous agencies – DHS.
And that’s why Congress must investigate those ties and SPLC’s influence over government policy.
Please, it is urgent that you sign the enclosed “Citizens Demand for Congressional Investigation of the Southern Poverty Law Center.” Please sign it today!
I must have thousands of these petitions to force Congress to take action!
Second, APC needs to be strong to stand up to SPLC and its rich war chest. I need to be able to counter their attacks against APC.
I desperately need your financial support. Please help me with a contribution of at least $25. That will help me get more Citizen’s Demands for Investigation printed and mailed to more Americans across the nation. It’s the only way we have to bring enough pressure on Congress to act.
The SPLC has targeted every patriotic American in the nation just because we want to see the US Constitution recognized as law of the land. Those Americans need to know they have been targeted.
I need to reach them to counter this monster that threatens our freedom. I can do it only with your financial support. Please help.
Whatever you can send, please do it today. It’s vital that Congress act immediately to stop the threat of the SPLC once and for all.
Click here to sign the Citizen’s Demands for Investigation
Sincerely,
Tom DeWeese
President
P.S. Joe Farah of World Net Daily (also attacked by SPLC) said “The SPLC is a marginal fringe-extremist organization that establishes its own credibility and fund-raising base by attacking others as marginal, fringe and extremist.” The question that must be answered is why the Department of Homeland Security is working with them to make those attacks legitimate. Help me stop them!
