I’ve debated with myself and others whether I should even address this topic, but I’ve decided that in the end it will be good for us to get everything out in the open and expose it to the light.

The story is this: a civil rights organization called the Southern Poverty Law Center has recently classified one of Memphis’ local radio programs as a “hate group.” The Center’s Intelligence Project also plans to add the radio show’s website to its annual hate watch list.

An article by the Commercial Appeal last week did not explain why the program had been labeled a hate group by the Center, leaving us with only a vague guess as to what might happen on the program, aside from the following sentence:

On Monday, Cesspool carried a live report from the American Renaissance Conference in Washington, described by the Washington Post as a hate gathering with suits and ties.

The CA also mentioned the hosts’ status as “honorary Memphis City Council members,” a designation provided by City Councilman E.C. Jones.

On Sunday, the CA followed up with a column by Wendi Thomas and a political cartoon by Bill Day (click image to enlarge):

I tuned in to hear it for the first time on Monday night. (more…)

The SRLC and the Future of the Republican Party

This morning, Senator Bill Frist took a number of questions during a conference call with members of the Tennessee Press. Those participating were the Main Street Journal, the Commercial Appeal, the Associated Press, Chattanooga Times-Free Press, and The Tennessean.

The Senator emphasized the importance of the SRLC as a time to bring the Republican Party together to “examine basic principles” and to reaffirm “transparency and accountability.” I asked the Senator what core principles he felt the Party would be focusing on in the upcoming elections. He mentioned two: sky-rocketing health care costs and regaining fiscal restraint in government spending.

Much has been made of the high marks Rudy Giuliani has received in a number of polls over the last couple weeks of potential Presidential candidates. I asked the Senator if he thought there was a “social rift” in the Republican Party, with such high-profile leaders such as Giuliani, McCain and Schwarzenegger whose stance on abortion has been brought into question (in fact, Giuliani is openly pro-choice). He explained that the Republican Party was a broad Party and inclusive of a number of views. I asked if the Senator would support a pro-choice candidate. He indicated he would; however, he also mentioned that his hope was for a pro-life candidate and that abortion should not be the litmus test for a qualified candidate.

Answering a final question about the Internet, Senator Frist emphasized the “revolutionary role” that the Internet and blogging will have on the future of news media. He welcomed this new media outlet, saying the Internet only increases the responsibility politicians have to the public they serve.