Political bias is the only possible explanation for the MSM's reliance on the press releases from the SPLC. Whenever I see a reference to SPLC research without some skepticism I typically dismiss it as probably misleading and possible false.
So it's refreshing to see "Fake News From the SPLC -- A church fire started by a congregant isn’t an example of ‘hate.’" in the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Here's the paywalled link. There Jeryl Bier describes a case of church arson described by the SPLC as a hate crime. But there's much more to the story. Here's Mr. Bier:
But the SPLC:s "harbinger" turned out to be fake news. Three weeks after the center issued its report, police arrested a member of the vandalized church, Andrew McClinton, and charged him with arson. According to the Washington County Circuit Clerk's office in Greenville, Mr. McClinton has been indicted and is awaiting a trial date. The state fire marshal told the Associated Press in December he did not believe the incident was just the crime was "politically motivated."
Although the December 2016 arrest was widely reported at the time, the SPLC did not update or correct its report until I called it to their attention this week.
The SPLC enjoys labeling innocent people as members of hate groups, but it looks as if the SPLC is itself a hate group.
------
1:40 PM 10/14/2017
Comments