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Mark Potok

Mark Potok

Posted: September 19, 2008 05:57 PM

Racism at Root of Nativist Movement


The leaders of the anti-immigration movement in the United States have long claimed that they are not motivated by racism.

But a new report by the Southern Poverty Law Center reveals that John Tanton, the architect of the movement and founder of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), has a more than 30-year history of racial extremism.

Based on Tanton's personal correspondence, lodged at the University of Michigan's Bentley Historical Library, the report shows that Tanton has been in the midst of the White nationalist scene for decades. He has corresponded frequently with leading white nationalist thinkers, race scientists and Holocaust deniers. He encouraged a major donor to read the work of a radical anti-Semitic professor to "give you a new understanding of the Jewish outlook on life." And he suggested that the board of FAIR, on which he sits, discuss the professor's theories on the Jews.

Tanton's organizations have been high-profile players in the immigration debate. FAIR officials, for example, have testified numerous times before Congress. The organization is listed as a hate group by the SPLC.

Other groups founded by Tanton include the Center for Immigration Studies, a group whose studies are often quoted by the media, and the Restrictionist NumbersUSA. Despite the veneer of respectability presented by these groups, it's difficult to misconstrue Tanton's words in a Dec. 10, 1993, letter to Garrett Hardin, a controversial ecology professor.

"I've come to the point of view that for European-American society and culture to persist requires a European-American majority, and a clear one at that," Tanton wrote.

On Jan. 26, 1996, he wrote Roy Beck, head of NumbersUSA (and then an employee of Tanton's foundation U.S. Inc.), questioning the ability of Latinos to govern California.

Tanton wondered "whether the minorities who are going to inherit California (85% of the lower-grade school children are now 'minorities' -- demography is destiny) can run an advanced society?"

Tanton and FAIR often assert they are being unfairly attacked by their critics, but Tanton's own words offer the strongest evidence to the contrary.

The leaders of the anti-immigration movement in the United States have long claimed that they are not motivated by racism. But a new report by the Southern Poverty Law Center reveals that John Tanton...
The leaders of the anti-immigration movement in the United States have long claimed that they are not motivated by racism. But a new report by the Southern Poverty Law Center reveals that John Tanton...
 
 
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07:56 AM on 10/02/2008
The SPLC is a self-appointed "hate watch" group that has no mandate and receives no supervision or oversight from any independent regulatory organization. It was founded in 1971 by direct-mail marketing mogul Morris Dees, who was inducted into the Direct Marketing Association's Hall of Fame in 1998 for his marketing prowess. (http://www.the-dma.org/awards/hof/HOFPastInductees.pdf)

In a March 2008 webcast, Mr. Potok summed up the SPLC’s definition of what exactly constituted a “hate†group by stating that “…a “hate group†has nothing to do with criminality… [or] potential for violence...†Rather, as Potok put it, “It’s all about ideology.†Basically, "hate crimes" are "thought crimes". (http://www.splcenter.org/news/item.jsp?aid=301)

The SPLC claimed over $200 million in its Endowment Fund last year (http://www.splcenter.org/pdf/static/SPLCfinancial2007.pdf), making it one of the most profitable non-profit organizations in the country. The top four officers of this "charity", including Mr. Potok and multi-millionaire Dees, earn a combined salary of well over a million dollars a year. It is therefore necessary to maintain a constant fear campaign, which for PR professionals like Mr. Potok and direct marketing Hall of Famer Dees, is all in a day's work.

Basically, if you made millions by finding "hate" it would behoove you to find it behind every rock and tree. Being the sole arbiter of "hate", designating it by decree, without any oversight, review or regulation, doesn't hurt either.
08:48 AM on 09/20/2008
Yes, there is hate and racissm associated with the issue of illegal immigration. But the hate is not generated by US citizens - the hate is borne by citizens of countries like Mexico. Hate is borne by Hispanic supremacy groups like La Raza "The Race", MEChA, LULAC, MALDEF, CHIRLA, ACORN, CASA, El Pueblo, La Voz de Atzlan, Zapatista Army of National Liberation and Mexicanos Sin Fronteras (Mexicans Without Borders) that believe they are superior to the hodgepodge of other races that have melted together successfully in the US. Furthermore, the aforementioned supremacy anarchist groups are aided, abetted and promoted by the ACLU and the SPLC.

Keep the hate and racism out of our country, as it has no place here. When, and only when, people are forced to abide by our laws and enter America by LEGAL means ONLY, will they ever be worthy of residing here and be considered for citizenship.
08:46 AM on 09/20/2008
Website In Honor Of Dr. John Tanton

There’s a new website on Dr. John Tanton, at johntanton.org/. If you’re not familiar with Dr. Tanton’s life and work, the website says briefly that:

John H. Tanton, M.D. is publisher of The Social Contract, and served as editor for its first 8 years. He is a retired eye surgeon whose boyhood on a farm made him into an ardent conservationist and advocate for the environment. His conviction that continued human population growth was a large part of the conservation problem led him to chair the National Sierra Club Population Committee (1971-74), and to the national board of Zero Population Growth (1973-78, including a term as president from 1975-77). In 1979, as immigration grew to be the significant part of the U.S. population problem, he organized the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) based in Washington, D.C. He is the author of numerous articles, editorials and opinion pieces, many of which can be found by searching under his name in The Social Contract archives.

Of course, there people are only familiar with Dr. Tanton’s work because they’ve read attacks on him. He’s been targeted by Linda Chavez and the SPLC among others, who complained about a memo he wrote about population demographics...

for entire article: http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2008/09/19/website-in-honor-of-dr-john-tanton/
09:11 PM on 09/19/2008
If Latinos see anti-ILLEGAL sentiment as anti-LATINO, then that is one large confused segment of society.

The sentiment has nothing to do with LATINO but does have everything to do with ILLEGAL with no regard to your skin color, creed, nationality or culture. Illegal immigrants are comprised of many nationalities. It is true, though, that 75-80% of illegal immigrants are Hispanic, which is due largely to Latin America’s proximity to our borders. If these Hispanics that cry racism because the vast majority of Americans are against ALL illegal immigration want to feel "less persecuted", stop illegally entering our country. By doing so you will have removed yourselves from the equation and issue. However, you will still see most Americans against ALL illegal immigration, with no regard to race, culture or ethnicity.

ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL and nothing changes that fact
06:08 AM on 09/20/2008
Being married to a 3rd Generation American of Mexican descent, I see that some of this non-racist, atruistic opposition to ILLEGALITY is a thinly veiled contempt for Latinos in general.

My partner has been told more than once to go back to where he's from - which would mean moving from Texas to Colorado ...
09:10 PM on 09/19/2008
Those of us who oppose illegal immigration are tired of hearing about what bad citizens we are. Since when are individuals depicted as obstructionists, isolationists and racist because we expect laws to be followed, not ignored.
07:44 PM on 09/19/2008
The nativist movement might be anchored in racism, but by and large, most people simply want the rule of law to be followed. I am not anti-immigrant, I am simply anti-illegal immigrant. I also do not buy the argument that no person is illegal. While their personhood is not in question, their behavior is and continues to be illegal as long as they bypass our laws.
06:36 PM on 09/19/2008
since you're on the subject .... I don't understand the concept of "anchor babies".

Can someone explain why an illiterate pregnant Mexican woman, (or as far south as Nicaragua or Guatamala) can sneak or be helped to cross the Rio Grande over to El Paso,

Goes into labor,... rushed to the Public Hospital in a free ambulance, has a free delivery, and gives birth to an American Citizen. God help the HOSPITAL if the baby has a medical emergency. $15,000. turns into $1,500,000.

The baby will be footprinted and issued a US Social Security card before it stops crying. I think the baby should stay a Mexican. Sarah, can you fix this?
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IslandGyal
07:45 PM on 09/19/2008
plebeianswillrevolt,
American egotism at work; a person born in any other part of the world to an American parent is still an American. IF it's good for the goose it's good for the gander; any ONE born on the soil of the United States is an AMERICAN!

Get to f*uck over it!
11:40 PM on 09/19/2008
And that means nothing, IslandGyal.

American is one of the FEW countries in the world that has birthright citizenship. In that respect, I wish we had the sense of other countries. It's ridiculous that 8-months-pregnant women are swimming across the Rio Grande and WE'RE left paying the bill for their kid.
09:43 AM on 09/20/2008
"a person born in any other part of the world to an American parent is still an American."
"any ONE born on the soil of the United States is an AMERICAN!"
Good for the goose? Where's your logic?
If an American gives birth in another country, that child is an American, then why should a Mexican give birth to a U.S. citizen and not a Mexican?
07:54 PM on 09/19/2008
You are right. To become an American citizen that baby should have to go through the same process that you had to. Oh, wait. I forgot. All you had to do was to be born here.