The SPLC Crosses the Line with Their Latest Smears

The smears and innuendos by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that I’ve noted before in SurvivalBlog ^[1] are continuing. Take a few minutes to read this new article on the controversial Citadel project that appeared in the Summer issue of the SPLC’s magazine, and at their web site, titled: Behind the Walls ^[2]. It was written by Spokane region journalist Bill Morlin ^[3]. The SPLC is famous for cleverly using loaded words, half-truths, and guilt by association to attempt to destroy the reputations of conservatives. This latest article is no exception.

Take note of the numerous conclusions that Morlin draws just from the “bizarre” comma in my name. The seven years of archives of SurvivalBlog (the equivalent of 7,000+ pages) don’t back up his assertions. To characterize my blog as a “sovereign citizen” blog is patently false. I write a family preparedness blog, not a “sovereign citizen” blog. The Sovereignty movement has only been mentioned in passing in my blog, and even then that came in the form of a few articles and letters from readers, rather than articles that I wrote myself. In fact, my most recent refutation of the legal maneuverings by some in that movement (in a reply to an April, 2013 letter ^[4]) included this warning on jurisdictional challenges: “So no matter where you go in the 50 States, you are likely to end up in the court system at some point in your life, and 99 times out of 100 you will lose, and this is regardless of how many precedent cases you cite.” That hardly sounds like an enthusiastic supporter of Sovereign jurisdictional claims, does it?

Again, read the nearly eight years of archives of my blog. (They are full searchable, by keywords.) See for example, what articles and letters come up when you enter the search phrase “Sovereign and Citizen”. ^[5]) That handful of mentions is statistically insignificant, out of more than 18,150 SurvivalBlog posts. And those few mentions hardly constitute a ringing endorsement of the legal tactics or the leadership of the Sovereignty movement. It is abundantly clear that nearly all of my blog is concerned with practical preparedness. Granted, I do discuss the Right to Keep and Bear Arms regularly, but only because that right is fundamental and crucial to family preparedness. I am not known as someone who dwells on Sovereignty issues. Mr. Morlin’s assertion on this count is downright libelous. (And, by the way, only the truth is a defense, in libel cases.)

Also take particular note of Mr. Morlin’s outright lie in claiming that I advocate a “fortified” American Redoubt ^[6]. Please show me, Mr. Morlin, anywhere in any of my blog posts where I have ever advocated “fortifying” the American Redoubt states. Quite on the contrary: I have written that the Redoubt movement has political and social goals, through a gradual demographic shift, via in-migration. Since it has no connection with my writings about the Redoubt relocation concept, I believe that the author’s choice of word “fortified” was designed to subtly link me to Kerodin, et al.

The SPLC also uses the classic tactic of guilt by association. (Or in my case, guilt by lack of association, with Kerodin and the Citadel project planners.) Note that in this latest article, Morlin had the temerity to include a photo of rancher/homesteader/blogger Patrice Lewis ^[7]. What was the crime or conspiracy that put her on Morlin’s radar? It was in fact criticizing the Citadel concept, just as I did. And his photo caption referred to her as a “Far right blogger.” Well, I suppose that from the gauche perspective of SPLC “activists”, anyone to the right of the MSNBC Democrat cheering section would be considered “far right”.

I’m hereby putting Bill Morlin on notice: You have 30 days to print a retraction. You have unfairly and dishonestly besmirched my name. You need to answer for that, either in the court of public opinion, or in a court of law.

An Update: Patrice Lewis just posted some commentary ^[8] on Morlin’s disparaging remarks.