PROF. JACOBSON: SPLC’s Democratic Party Mission. “The Southern Poverty Law Center issued a misleading and politicized report on hate groups for the purpose of smearing those who oppose Democratic Party plans to expand government. This has become an all too common SPLC tactic, and is a disgrace because there was a time when SPLC actually went after hate groups rather than simply putting the label ‘hate group’ on law-abiding political groups which happen to oppose SPLC’s fundraising base.” Back in 1995 I was on MacNeil/Lehrer with Morris Dees and had to chide him about his use of the Oklahoma City bombing to smear gun-rights activists, libertarians, etc. Alas, things haven’t improved.