CNN already understands why the Family Research Council (FRC) was labeled a "hate group" by the liberal Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). On Saturday, CNN gave more credibility to the SPLC as anchor Randi Kaye cited the group as a credible source on "hate groups" in the U.S. right after quoting their explanation for the FRC's "hate group" label.
"Statistics show hate groups are on the rise in this country. The Southern Poverty Law Center counted more than 1,000 known hate groups operating in the U.S. last year, and the FBI reported nearly 7,000 hate crimes," reported Kaye during the 10 a.m. hour of CNN Newsroom. [Video below the break. Audio here.]
First, Kaye had aired the FRC's Tony Perkins lashing out at the SPLC for their "reckless" use of the "hate group" label, thereby giving last week's FRC shooter a "license." She then quoted the SPLC's response of why they said the FRC was a "hate group."
That was followed by CNN's report on white supremacists in the military. "Just take a look at this chart, it shows really what we're talking about, hate groups in America in the last decade," Kaye cited the SPLC's research. "You see it right there, a disturbing trend, which is why we're putting 'Hate in the U.S.A.' in focus this morning."
A transcript of the segment, which aired on August 18 on CNN Newsroom at 10:14 a.m. EDT, is as follows:
RANDI KAYE: The man accused of shooting a building manager at the Family Research Council in Washington will not be released on bond. Instead, he'll be given a mental health evaluation. But there's an interesting debate going on right now, who is to blame for Wednesday's shooting. Here's what the head of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, had to say.
(Video Clip)
TONY PERKINS, president, Family Research Council: Corkins was given a license to shoot an unarmed man by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center that have been reckless in labeling organizations hate groups because they disagree with them on public policy.
(End Video Clip)
KAYE: [The Southern] Poverty Law Center calls Perkins' accusation outrageous. The group released a statement, saying in part, "The SPLC has listed the FRC as a hate group since 2010 because it has knowingly spread false and denigrating propaganda about lesbian, gay, and bisexual people – not, as some claim, because it opposes same-sex marriage."
The attack at the Family Research Council wasn't just a random act of violence. You'll recall just two weeks ago, a lone gunman went on a shooting spree at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, killing six. We later learned that gunman, army veteran Wade Michael Page, was a white supremacist. Statistics show hate groups are on the rise in this country. The Southern Poverty Law Center counted more than 1,000 known hate groups operating in the U.S. last year, and the FBI reported nearly 7,000 hate crimes.
Just take a look at this chart, it shows really what we're talking about, hate groups in America in the last decade. You see it right there, a disturbing trend, which is why we're putting "Hate in the U.S.A." in focus this morning. This hour we want to discuss the presence of white supremacy groups on our military bases. Some say it's more prominent than you might think.
