Slate examines the sorry tale of another American institution in decline:
… Membership totals are hard to track, because the Klan doesn’t willingly release member lists. Over the long term, the KKK is clearly contracting, since its rolls have shrunk from millions in the 1920s to between 3,000 and 5,000 today. But no one knows how membership has changed in the last few years.
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Klan-watchers, however, suspect that the nation’s oldest domestic terrorist organization is indeed struggling to keep pace with other racist hate groups. Young racists tend to think of the Klan as their grandfathers’ hate group, and of its members as rural, uneducated, and technologically unsophisticated. The Klan doesn’t seem to have used the web and social media as well as its competitors. The group’s failure to effectively deploy technology is a bit of an irony, since one of those newfangled motion pictures, The Birth of a Nation, launched the KKK’s second era in 1915.
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The Klan’s history of violence is another challenge to recruitment. The organization will always be associated with the lynching of innocent African-Americans in the 20th century, which puts off more moderate racists.
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The KKK is also suffering from a proliferation of competitors. People who wanted to join a white supremacist movement back in the 1920s didn’t have a lot of choices. Today, there are countless options, enabling an extremist to find a group that matches his personal brand of intolerance. The more extreme groups in the burgeoning patriot movement cater to anti-Muslim, homophobic, and xenophobic sentiment, with less animosity toward African-Americans and Jews. Aryan Nations offers a heavy focus on Christian identity. Some groups preach more violence, while others offer a veneer of intellectualism. American Renaissance, for example, caters to “suit-and-tie” racists, offering pseudo-scientific papers on white supremacy. The group even holds conferences at a hotel near Dulles airport in Virginia…
Also — true story! — Fred Phelps’ Westboro-Baptist family cult picketed a Rick Santorum event. Top WaPo comment:
Gawd, that’s awesome. They were made for each other. I can just imagine Fred Phelps and Rick Santorum exchanging the passionate kiss they’ve always dreamed about. Afterwards I guess they’d have to light each other on fire or something.
Yeah, and you thought the ‘pink slime’ discussion was gross and uncivil…
BGinCHI
Good coincidence. Just watched the “Clayton Bigsby” sketch from The Chappelle Show (season 1, episode 1: streaming on Nextflix!) again last night. Damn funny stuff.
If you’ve never see it, do yourself a favor.
Amanda in the South Bay
For example, they could join the Republican Party.
Commenting at Ballon Juice since 1937
Just In case you haven’t seen this yet : Defend Rush
Commenting at Ballon Juice since 1937
@Amanda in the South Bay: If there’s not a app for that, there should be.
(Finding the extermist party, that is, not joining the GOP)
Raven
I went to a Westboro counter event in Savannah last year and the best sign was “God Hates Your Outfit”!
David Koch
The Klan needs to redesign their uniforms. Something that makes them look cool with today’s youth.
They could also rebrand with some commercial tie-ins with Nike, MTV, and Playstation. Perhaps a new video game, “Grand Theft Auto – Knight Riders” and a realty show, “The Real Housewives of the KKK”. Also, hire a celebrity spokesperson, like Mel Gibson.
debg
I’m wondering if commenters on the WaPo story were Kansans. Even Kansans find Phelps and his crew disgusting (and embarrassing). They just want him to go live in another state.
dmsilev
So many straight lines, so little time (seriously; I should be working right now…). I’ll settle for one:
Paging Andrew Sullivan. Andrew Sullivan, please pick up a white courtesy phone.
Amir Khalid
Another historic organization fallen by the wayside. I haz such a big sad for the Ku Klux Klan.
Raven
@David Koch: In the Winder, GA xmas parade about 25 years ago they had a float that had a “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” theme. A little Klan jocularity!
me
No love for the Krusty Komedy Klassic?
dr. bloor
As the Klan’s history of violence puts off “moderate racists?”. Looks like Bobo has another demographic group to chat with at Applebee’s.
BO_Bill
Everybody knows that race is a social construct.
Brachiator
The Klan is in decline, but hate crazification is up.
I blame the Internets.
BGinCHI
@BO_Bill: Yep, exactly right. Constructed by racists to dominate minority populations.
Bob, tell BO Bill and the studio audience what he’s won.
Mnemosyne (iTouch)
In similarly hopeful news, Cracked.com has the story of how the Million Moms were totally pwned by freakin’ Archie Comics:
http://www.cracked.com/blog/how-archies-gay-friend-proved-internet-can-do-good/
General Stuck (Bravo Nope Zero)
Who needs the KKK when you have The Tea Party, and its mothership, the GOP. The kluckers are idiots, as are most of the white supremacist groups. What we should be worried about are more mainstream institutions becoming congealed around the concept of political resistance at the state level, and a SCOTUS syncronised with the GOP, more inclined toward hyper federalism to create state enclaves of nutters with the force of law to dissent from the country at large. We will know more of this when a number of long time stare decisis cases reaches the supreme’s on things like the commerce clause, abortion, and religious autonomy from rule of law. It is really all they have left to maintain anything near the status quo, which even that they are rebelling from. And should be why, liberals and dems should focus on keeping the senate out of their hands in the near term, when several of the wingers on the court could drop dead any day. Or, for that matter, the liberal justices as well.
It could go either way, and clean those tin foil hats. Mine is being reinforced with anti wingnut gibberish panels, as we speek :-)
It’s Saturday Night At the Apocalypse Theater, turn forward those clocks, and pop up some corn.
Yutsano
@BO_Bill: You’re no fun when you’re phoning it in.
Meet-up. Tonight. 6 PM. Sazerac Restaurant. Downtown Seattle. There will be liveblogging.
BGinCHI
I’m going to be curious to see how it goes in 2016 when Sherrod Brown runs for Prez, wins, and the ‘nuts have to attack a white guy. Wonder what they’ll do?
Just Some Fuckhead
I went with the Baptists.
Raven
@BGinCHI: The same thing they did to Clinton.
beltane
Right-wing racism? There’s a pill for that http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/10/1073142/-Cure-for-Racism-Found?via=siderecent
No word on IQ enhancement pills however. The stupid shall always be with us.
cathyx
@David Koch: Maybe something hip hop style.
Gex
Conservatism is, if nothing else, a defense of existing institutions.
Brachiator
This just in. Santorum Cleans up with the Krazies in the Kansas Caucuses
A caucus win is not as big as a primary, but it is good for bragging rights.
BGinCHI
@Raven: As long as he doesn’t fuck an intern or shoot his wife’s lover, he’ll be fine then.
Belafon (formerly anonevent)
@BO_Bill: Yeah, if there were no people around, we probably wouldn’t be racist. Still doesn’t make it OK.
General Stuck (Bravo Nope Zero)
After reading this campaign like ad/article, FOR OBAMA, maybe, er hard to tell. I had to double take where it came from. National Review. And wondering if they have are growing magic mushrooms in the basement.
Thank God for gridlock? This shit is deep. So they are saying wingnut obstruction is what has caused the econ recovery? Talk about kissing that chicken before a roll in the coup.
Martin
@David Koch:
I agree this is a serious marketing problem. The KKK should hire the agency that did the Miracle Whip campaign. Nothing says hip and exciting like fake mayonnaise. They could come up with an iOS app like grindr. I doubt ‘niggr’ has been taken. That’ll buy them some serious social networking cred, help them connect with other members, that kind of stuff.
The video game is a no-brainer. I think take something like Left Behind: Eternal Forces, but instead of battling the non-Jesus selected, just make them all brown. Easy conversion. Do some in-game purchases to raise money – pipe bombs for the MLK parade mission, etc.
And Rush need the ad support, so maybe a tie-in with him. Should be a natural fit.
Maude
@General Stuck (Bravo Nope Zero):
That is a truly stupid piece of writing.
If McCain were prez, what then?
BO_Bill
Hey Yutsano, we’re not far apart! With the proper incentives, I am sure that I could learn and grow as an individual. However, many caring and peaceful Democrats monitor these conversations and I have people who depend on my continued health and subsequent income.
General Stuck (Bravo Nope Zero)
@Maude:
Sarah would by now have poisoned his grumpy ass and nuked Katie Couric.
Jewish Steel
I lol’d here.
Davis X. Machina
@Amanda in the South Bay: Thread ended here. The rest of you comment zombies, git!
Joseph Nobles
This is actually not true. The Klan was one of dozens of 100% Americanism/national preparedness groups in the 1920’s. What none of the others had was a masterpiece of film art for a recruitment informercial: Griffith’s “The Birth Of A Nation.”
But it was such a swift and total victory that the Klan also got the lion’s share of the pushback. In Alabama, once the planters and industrialists realized the Klan was no longer a support element for their power but was actually threatening it, they made moves to get the membership lists released. Membership plummeted.
General Stuck (Bravo Nope Zero)
@Davis X. Machina:
Yup, she got there first.
asiangrrlMN
“More moderate racists.”
::Sigh::
Jewish Steel
@asiangrrlMN: Great minds, asiangrrl!
Martin
@asiangrrlMN: What? Look, just because I want you to die a horrible death doesn’t mean I’m committed enough to actually kill you. See, I’m a moderate.
RAM
@Jewish Steel: Indeed. It was a good thing I wasn’t drinking anything when I read it. But then I figured circumstances suggested it was a good idea to do just that. Which I did. One more bottle of Negra Modelo bites the dust…
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: I don’t hate blacks all the time, I’m a moderate racist! I only hate them on the weekends! That’s moderation fer ya!
Mike in NC
Sounds like a perfect venue for Perfesser Gingrich. He even lives in McLean!
BGinCHI
@Yutsano: It’s just like a moderate homophobe: they wait until after the same-sex wedding to beat the shit out of the groom and groom/bride and bride.
Catherine
Yeah, another one bemused by the “more moderate racists” line.
Amir Khalid
@asiangrrlMN:
You know, the genteel ones, who don’t go for crass stuff like bed-sheet costumes and low-tech lynchings.
Davis X. Machina
@Mike in NC:
And high-thread-count organic percale sheets.
CarolDuhart2
Wine and cheese parties where folks read and discuss Mein Kampf. Swastika tie and lapel pins. Custom tailored Klan robes. The “we don’t provoke violence, you understand, but sometimes folks have it coming” crowd.
We won’t start it, like our low-bred cousins, but if opportunity presents itself, well…you know.
Yutsano
OT: Inslee grows a brain.
I hope he gets to hammering the fuck out of the fact that McKenna is a totes teabagger now. Even though I’ve caught him trying to act all moderate and shit.
scav
Maybe the moderate racists are just the ones stuck in FYWP.
piratedan
“I’m not a racist, but I DO employ racist henchmen….”
David Koch
@Martin: They also need a slogan. “The KKK — I’m Lovin It.”
Plus, an Aryan dating site fronted by Steffi Graff.
And most importantly, and new bitch’n logo. http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2691/kkklogo7ec9ec97a0seeklo.gif
TheColourfield
it”s an open thread so what the hell
SUCK ON IT DOOKIES
(Sorry Zandar)
BGinCHI
@David Koch: KKK: You Deserve a Break (arm, leg) Today
Martin
@David Koch: Need someone a bit hipper – I’d go with Jesse James.
piratedan
@David Koch: maybe they could adopt: “Haters gotta hate!” as their new slogan or “equal Opportunity haters”
asiangrrlMN
@Jewish Steel: ::terrorist fist jab::
@Martin: You’ll just past laws to make life hell for POC!
@Yutsano: You have to pace yourself with the hatred. It’s hard stuff.
JPL
The Post seems to be cleaning up the comment section. I did think this was clever.
MikeJ
@Yutsano: I think he waited just to forgo the special election. Had he quit earlier there would have been a special election to replace him, now the special election is actually held on election day in November. There’s no sideshow campaign , and it saves the state some money too.
The interesting thing is that the special election is to decide who holds the seat from November to January. That election will take place with the current CD boundaries. At the same time, voters will elect a representative for the 113th congress using the new boundaries, and about half of the CD is gone and replaced.
David Koch
“I’ve got 99 problems and WASPs ain’t one of them”
scav
Would take a bit longer but costume dramas are popular again. Remake Birth of a Nation only add lots more below stairs intrigue and maybe a Duchess or two.
David Koch
Still time for Kucinich to take his talents to Seattle and take Insee’s seat
http://politic365.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/03/030112_kaptur_movingday.jpg
Either that of he can return to Syria and hang out with his buddy Assad.
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/06/dennis-kucinich-syria-problem
Yutsano
@MikeJ: It depends on how the new district is designed if a Dem holds it, but odds are they will. The Republicans are surprisingly disorganized this year. I think they’re all concentrating on getting McKenna elected, since their choices to attempt to replace Cantwell are all jokes.
General Stuck (Bravo Nope Zero)
Cool chart
demimondian
Well, despite calling themselves “white”, most members of the clan are actually kind of pink on the outside. That makes them pink slime, right?
demimondian
@David Koch: Please God, no. If he runs in the 1st and, worse, gets the nom, I will vote Republican.
Yutsano
Sazerac update: just confirmed reservation with restaurant (they called while I was away from the phone) and I mentioned that peeps will be looking for the Balloon Juice table. She got a kick out of that!
gene108
@Mnemosyne (iTouch):
Saw the picture of Ellen and her lover at the bottom of the cracked link. OMG.
What’s with famous gays/lesbians marrying people young enough to be their kids.
Barney Franks lover is 42 and Barney’s something like 72.
I’m sorry, if this isn’t politically correct, but there needs to be some way to see if these gays are truly in love or if one of them is just gold digging and/or trying to make up for lost youth with a hot young thang by their side.
Why the tabloids lay off this shit, while muckraking straight couples for marrying a generation younger is beyond me.
VincentN
@gene108:
Is this a spoof?
Rich, famous gay people probably marry younger for the same reasons that rich, famous straight people do. There’s no big mystery there.
Uh, no, we don’t.
gene108
@VincentN:
Is it a spoof? Eh…maybe a bit…
Just pointing out gay couples get a lot of privacy from the tabloids compared to straight couples. The media was all over Ashton-and-Demi Moore’s marriage, for example.
Yet Ellen and her girl toy make very few headlines on E!
Heck, look at Ben Afleck’s courtship of Jennifer Lopez. The media was all over those two. South Park even did a spoof.
You never see gay couples get that kind of media attention, except for LiLo’s short lived fling with Samantha the DJ.
There seems to be a double standard, in my opinion. It’s as if talking openly about gay couples in public is somehow taboo.
Mnemosyne
@gene108:
There’s only a 15 year age difference between Portia de Rossi and Ellen Degeneres. I suppose technically Ellen is old enough to have been Portia’s teen mom, but that’s not usually what people mean when they say someone is old enough to be someone’s mother/father. IMO, there’s gotta be at least a 20 or 25 year gap before you start claiming someone is old enough to be their spouse’s parent.
And, frankly, the question is more “Why do rich/famous people marry much younger husbands/wives?” You can’t really look at, say, Donald Trump or Kelsey Grammer and declare it’s a “gay thing.” Hell, if you look at old Hollywood, 50ish Humphrey Bogart marrying 19-year-old Lauren Bacall was way ickier than 60ish Barney Frank marrying a guy who’s in his mid-40s.
ETA: And don’t even get me started on borderline pedophiles like Charlie Chaplin and Errol Flynn. If you have to go to Mexico to marry your pregnant girlfriend because she’s too young for you to legally marry her in the US even with parental consent, that’s a problem.