The U.S. Justice Department announced the opening of a new office aimed at tracking domestic terrorism and coordinating investigations with various pertinent parties – but it's their planned partner in the endeavor that could set conservatives' teeth on edge: the Southern Poverty Law Center.
"We've been pushing for something like this for quite a few years," said Mark Potock, with the SPLC, Breitbart reported. "We feel like it's very much a step forward, although we'll have to see how it plays out."
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The new office was billed by John Carlin, assistant attorney general, as a "main point of contact for U.S. attorneys working on domestic terrorism matters" in comments delivered at George Washington University, Breitbart reported.
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He went on: "The new DT Counsel will not only help ensure that DT cases are properly coordinated by will also play a key role in our headquarters-level efforts to identify trends to help shape our strategy, and to analyze legal gaps or enhancements required to ensure we can combat these threats."
WND reported extensively on the mystery surrounding this new office and new domestic terror chief here.
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But his reference to the outfit's new partner could prove alarming to those on the political right. Carlin said the feds were joining with SPLC, due in large part to the nonprofit's history of watch-dogging "hate groups."
The SPLC has been dismissed and condemned by conservatives, Christians and traditional family groups as a partisan hatchet group. One example: The group listed the traditional, Christian-based Family Research Council as a hate group because of its biblically based views of homosexuals and the LGBT community.
That information was used by Floyd Corkins II as he prepared for and attempted to carry out a mass murder at the FRC three years ago. He was subdued by a security guard at FRC's offices after he started firing his gun, and he's now serving a prison term for domestic terror, having linked the SPLC to his actions in court.
The SPLC also, earlier this year, labeled Dr. Ben Carson, a "hater."
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"As our society became more politically partisan, SPLC cemented its position as speaking for those with progressive political and social attitudes. Rather than developing into an objective clearinghouse for the identification of hatred – no matter where the source of that hatred may develop – SPLC has become a useful organization for progressives to legitimate their battle against conservatives. Since conservative Christians are categorized as opponents there is little, if any, incentive for SPLC to recognize hateful expressions against Christians, because doing so actually works against the social vested interest of the group," said George Yancey, professor of sociology at the University of North Texas, in a 2014 study published in the journal Academic Questions and cited by the Christian Post.