10 May 2013

That white nationalist guy in Whitefish

Whitefish received some unwelcome publicity last night when Rachel Maddow revealed that the town is home to the National Policy Institute, oxymoronically described by the Wikipedia as a “white nationalist think tank.” Maddow linked the NPI, and its leader, Richard B. Spencer, who migrated to Whitefish from Augusta, Georgia, to Jim DeMint’s Heritage Foundation, a leading anti-immigration reform organization.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center:

Richard Spencer of the white nationalist National Policy Institute also plugged for a white homeland. Spencer argued for “peaceful ethnic cleansing,” a process he did not explain, that would clear parts of North America for Caucasians and suggested that the new state welcome white refugees from Europe. Spencer advocated a “sort of white Zionism” that would infuse whites with the dream of such a homeland just as Zionism helped spur the creation of Israel. “It is perfectly feasible for a white state to be established on the North American continent. Action is the easy part,” Spencer opined, adding, “I have a dream.”

If you suffered from hypotension before reading that, you probably don’t now.

Some quick thoughts:

Spencer’s beliefs and propaganda are reprehensible, but legal. He’s exercising the same First Amendment rights that we have.

He’s obnoxious, but probably not politically dangerous. White nationalists talk mainly to each other. And fight with each other. White nationalism is much more a cult than a movement.

Let’s not give this gentleman more publicity. That’s what he craves. It strokes his ego and helps him market his videos and conferences.

Spencer’s propaganda is slickly produced. I’m reminded of an old Mitchell Trio song.

If Spencer wants to self-deport from Whitefish, no one should stand in his way, but demanding that he leave would be an admission of fear that the good citizens of Whitefish are moral weaklings who could be corrupted by his ideas.

That’s it for this week. See you Monday.