Rep. John Campbell (CA-48) has signed on to a "birther bill" which would require a Presidential candidate to produce their "original birth certificate." Southern Poverty Law Center (SLPC), a group which has scored a number of legal victories against hate groups, has been tracking "birther" groups on their Hatewatch blog.
On a recent edition of Hatewatch, a report from the Santa Fe Reporter talks about the growth of white supremacists groups during 2009:
It's the worst of times for the white pride movement.
In January, the nation's mixed-race President, Barack Obama, was sworn in. In July, that President publicly scolded a white police officer for arresting an African American Harvard professor. And in August, the US Senate confirmed that President's pick for the Supreme Court: the first Latina judge to sit on the panel.
Yet, 2009 my be also be the best of time - at least for recruiting. The national climate is spurring racist organizations to regroup and reinvent themselves by latching on to "birther" conspiracy theories, homophobia and immigration fears, while promoting new philosophies of semi-tolerance and non-violence.
John Campbell has openly promoted his "birther" views. Time will show if John Campbell pushes on to become closer to groups which are more open in their hate, like white supremacists and neo-nazis.
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