SPLC names Sen. Rand Paul a "radical extremist" in latest newsletter

[Mini-Me]

To me, it's perplexing that people still think "radical" or "extremist" is a very cutting insult. The terms are neither positive or negative in and of themselves; it all depends on what they're being used to modify. For example, there are "radical humanitarians" and "radical sadists"; though both groups can be described as "radical" in some way or another, they have little in common beyond being among the most passionate proponents of their respective worldviews. Even "radical extremist" is essentially useless as any kind of meaningful dismissal of somebody's ideas, because it's just the same concept repeated twice, as if throwing a few more syllables in there adds any weight to their argument

That's why, when somebody calls me a "radical" or an "extremist" without elaborating further, I find it hard to get mad, and tend to just laugh it off. Oh really...I believe in... something.... too much for your taste? How awful!!!

If you think radical isn't BAD, you must be a radical.,.I mean extremist...RADICAL EXTREMIST NAZI ZOMBIE ROBOT FROM HELL!

I definitely agree with you about the use of the word "radical." The word "extremist" can carry connotations of violence though, since it's often used to indicate that someone is willing to go to extremes (force and violence) to implement their ideas...you know, like statists. (You've probably seen me post that article before, but I just love it so much.)

 

[Ethek]

I am not surprised at all.

 

[Cowlesy]

Remember when they did the "Meet the Patriots" group and had Andrew Napolitano, Beck and a few others on it, and then they took it down?

Hope they have the stones to stick by their report this time.

I wonder if we can get Rand to launch an investigation into the SPLC and it's tentacles into the government. That would be interesting. I bet Darryl Issa would be onboard.

What do you think, time for a Congressional investigation of the SPLC?

 

[sailingaway]

I went to the SPLC web site once, and looked up their definition of a hate group, because it seemed like the people they tagged as hate groups were pretty innocuous. I determined that by their definition of a hate group, they, themselves were one.