Texians,

In searching the internet, I found a fascinating study Extremist Group Study .The research was done at the University of Arizona. They are attempting to identify the "dark net". It was funded by the Department of Homeland Security with assistance from the SPLC and the CIA. To start out with they used the SPLC to identify the groups and websites they investigated using several types of analytical tools.

While analyzing, they used hyperlink cues "..to confirm our initial manual site classification according to the SPLC categories". When I took research we were taught to let the findings tell you what truth is not classify your findings according to your expectations. I guess if you fund the research, you get some say so in the outcome. In graduate school a learned professor advised me to always look at who pays for the research because it will tell you what they will find. They also watered down the reliability numbers to "acceptable" levels rather than report on whether or not there was something significant.

What did they find? Well, "…there were only a few links between the neoconfederate cluster and the Christian Identity and white supremecy/neo-Nazi clusters." Keep in mind the associations are what the deem as "acceptable", NOT statistically significant. What links they found were weak. "…the link between the www.texasls.org and www.americanpatrol.org reflects a common interest in "protecting" the southern border and a common bitterness toward Hispanic illegal immigrants."

Think about what they are saying, the LOS and Texas LOS are associated with hate groups based on wanting to protect the borders and disliking criminal activity. I recall that the Bible mentions something about people who call good evil and evil good. With this kind of definition, the SPLC desires to condone criminals and considers it ‘hateful’ to protect the private property of this nation. There are some things that are just plain wrong, including condoning criminal behavior and not protecting one’s home.

Although the study contains some graphics due to the way they are laid out create an implied visual connection, their findings do not support what the researchers were looking for.

Bottom line. 1) Research does not support the claims of the SPLC that the LOS is a hate group, even when the SPLC helped with the research. 2) The "real" hate group is the SPLC based on its desire to harbor criminals, restrict free speech, and deny people the ability to protect their own homes. 3) Even with help of Homeland Security and the CIA, there is NO support for claims that the LOS is a hate group. 4) The only association the research found was because they "watered down" the statistics.

Despite these findings, the recent SPLC "hatewatch" update on their site documents the involvement of the LOS at the secessionist meeting in Vermont. (I would provide you with a link, but I do not want to associate with HATE groups).  I appears that for the SPLC facts are inconvenient things.   

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