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Max  Blumenthal

Obama and the Neo-Nazis

Once out of prison, Duke sought a path back to influence through organizing an annual “International Euro Conference” of major white nationalist organizations. Duke has deliberately scheduled this year’s conference the day after Election Day—after an anticipated Obama victory. According to his website, the conference will provide an occasion for white nationalists to “chart our course and forge a plan for the survival and freedom of the heritage that built and sustains America, Europe, and the other nations around the world of European descent.”

Even before Obama’s possible election, the movement has begun implementing a strategy to cultivate mainstream appeal. Neo-Nazi groups like the Keystone State Skinheads have changed their name to Keystone United to attract disgruntled white youth; other groups have renounced violence for the same reason. Derek Black, the son of David Duke’s closest lieutenant, Don Black, recently won a seat on the Republican Committee of Palm Beach, Florida.

“This is the time when they really are going to make some move,” Jenkins of One Peoples Project said of the organized front of white supremacists. “They may not come out with guns blazing, but they are definitely going to try to bring their movement into the mainstream.”

After Election Day, white nationalist activists will likely find themselves in conflict with the criminal elements that lurk in their movement’s seamy underbelly. Groups like Supreme White Alliance may pose a greater threat to their ambitions than any black politician. In order to maintain a path to mainstream influence, most white nationalists have reasoned that Barack Obama must stay alive.

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October 29, 2008 | 4:43pm
Comments ()
Yankintex

Interesting story, although I disagree with the basic idea that an African-American president will somehow lift the racist crazies to a higher profile and influence.

I do have a beef with the headline! And with some of the content on the Daily Beast, which sure as shit is seeming pro-McCain. If this is a right leaning site then come out of the closet! Or maybe that's exactly what Tina Brown is doing.

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6:22 pm, Oct 29, 2008
TheBlindHog

Knowing what I do of the human nature, I am quite sure that a powerful black man will threaten a certain percentage of disempowered and disaffected whites. After all, the original KKK came to being in response to Reconstruction.

As for the news pieces selected for this site, the appeal for some has been to the left and for others, to the right. I think that is known as "balance". Is there anything wrong with a site that simply reports the news of the day. Or must we be totally segregated, left from right?

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6:49 pm, Oct 29, 2008
Loc1521

Is this headline a joke? The initial reaction is that Obama now has a neo-nazi background that needs explaining. I guess that's what the media has the luxury of doing; framing the issue, even the inconsequential ones. I wish writers and editors would demonstrate a little introspection every so often. Mr. Blumenthal, you used to be better than this.

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11:38 pm, Oct 29, 2008
lehayes

These hateful idiots aren't worth the space you're giving them, Tina. Bad choice giving them any publicity whatsoever IMO. Don't we have better things to talk about?

I also doubt these warped misfits will get any traction once Obama hits the ground running and proves himself to be a very serious and capable president--never mind inspiring.

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11:48 pm, Oct 29, 2008
dcjdjay

Its rather ironic that these white supremacists have their meetings at a Thai restaurant. Guess tater tots and corn dogs are off the KKK menu.

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12:11 am, Oct 30, 2008
S0UTHPAW

Struggling to deal with my discomfort with this story, I found lehaye's comment cathartic. Really, Tina, no censors are we... but space to this slime? This will sound much more provocative than I intend it, but what's next? Child porn with illustrations?

Sorry.

But it just makes us feel greasy.

Reasonable humans can only move on with some assurance that we have good, strong folks in place to handle this vermin for us. And to them, by the way, thank you.

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12:22 am, Oct 30, 2008
lolasmom

This is sick

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12:24 am, Oct 30, 2008
idiotwind

What's the matter with publishing this story? If you suppress it, you're doing just as much harm as the people portrayed in the story. If we don't know who these people are, how can we ever move past this kind of philosophy? This stuff exists, it runs rampant through the morally squalid Main Streets of America in one form or another. If you live in California, you're seeing this kind of "rationale" and treatment of people playing out in the Yes on Prop. 8 campaign.

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1:07 am, Oct 30, 2008
cigi63

Yank, can't agree with you more on the Klan....they hope Obama will "lift their boat". They had their butts kicked a few years ago by Morris Dees, of the Southern Poverty Law Center...one Klan lost their assets, including their meeting hall to a woman of color who was the mother of a young man who was lynched for no reason at all in one of those "red neck" states. People like the Klan are so proud of their ignorance, they wear it like a badge of honor. I don't believe they will affect an Obama administration...a good Justice Department will maybe start dealing with "hate crimes" for real.

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1:37 am, Oct 30, 2008
vs1981

This website is pro mccain no doubt.....Now if you want to support mccain than do it but this kind of articals does not help mccain but advertise racisim. STOP IT

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3:39 am, Oct 30, 2008
DoctorDejay

I disagree with "yankintex" about the "the Beast" being right leaning. this article is proof that information is power. just cause we don't like the views of the racists, doesn't mean we can't be informed about it. Besides they just had a article called "the Hate Monger of Minnesota" taking on the wack job senator. Gotta love the REAL balance

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5:19 am, Oct 30, 2008
JABMICH

You cannot fight this kind of hatred without acknowledging it's existence and staying informed.

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5:53 am, Oct 30, 2008
ndisesa

I agree with "Southpaw." Giving ink to these people just fuels their sick objectives, to destroy the fabric of this nation. They long for publicity and attention and even I am contributing to their wishes by weighing in on the matter. Sorry, Tina. We love The Daily Beast, but a little filtering would be nice.

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6:50 am, Oct 30, 2008
milkbone

I live in the deep south and hear all the "N" jokes and the threaths againt a black president.But it seems to me they talk a good game while in groups, but get them by their selfs and it's a different story. Most of these so-called nazi's are nothing but working stiff's who worship the all-holy dollar and will talk shit about Obama being President and then punch the time clock if they have a job and bitch about taking Martin Luther King day off.

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8:20 am, Oct 30, 2008
Yankintex

@TheBlindHog: Of course the disaffected and disempowered racist will be threatened by Obama. My point is that I don't see an increase in numbers or influence of the various ractist movements because Obama is president. I actually think these groups gain momentum in a conservative environment, when their hatred can be disguised and gussied up for public consumption. Marriage Amendment, anyone?

And re the content, I agree with idea of balance in online journalism (if that's the site's objective)...but a perusal of the headlines and nature of various stories regarding the presidential election on TDB doesn't really show balance at all, but a desire to somehow pull down Obama's chances for the sake of...what? A more exciting race?

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8:42 am, Oct 30, 2008
oldskoolgirl

This is a sad reflection on our state of evolution, but unfortunately a likely scenario for what could happen.

Let us hope stronger elements of the "white" race follow Obama's lead and rise above the trash that seem to all too often steal the limelight. : (

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9:01 am, Oct 30, 2008
RYNRGSDL

The title of this article is a little suspect, but I appreciated the report.

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11:23 am, Oct 30, 2008
lorijen

I wondered at the headline but knew before I read the story that it would be provacative. It was, as evidenced by the comments. I'm aware that the white suprematists love any reason to get stoked together...I've seen them, ordinary Americans by day, bonding over hate by night...but they are hardly a significant piece of the population...and I don't agree with the author that their ilk should gain in power in an Obama administration, Still, a good presentation of the facts.

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1:03 pm, Oct 30, 2008
MatCauthon

"It seems like a plot to defame [white nationalists] before the election," wrote another Stormfront member called "tasteofsnowflakes."

As if you and your fellow idiots have any respect from the common population in order to defame...

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1:31 pm, Oct 30, 2008
HTRN99

Whites, blacks, yellows, reds, and even green Martians would all do best to rise above not only "white supremacy," but also Obama. Obama would "lead" to a terrorist appeasing leftist hell with screwball ideas that do nothing but fail. And some will inevitably blame the ensuing catastrophe on Obama being a "colored person," when the problem is the donkey do color of his politics rather than the tan color of his skin. This will feed the new racism, which is far more stubborn a force for ill than was the old racism. The old racism had prejudices, but no empirical data to lean on. It would fade as experience proved the old prejudices wrong. The new racism has both, and will sadly continue to do so until "colored people" themselves take Martin Luther King's dictum to heart and look what's under the skin of their would be savior figures.

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2:29 pm, Oct 30, 2008
Loc1521

I should clarify. I think the story in itself is newsworthy. I think the framing of it is highly misleading. We do need to attack the racism and bigotry head on, but the title almost lends credence to the movement and/or the idea that a vote for Obama is a vote for racists.

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2:42 pm, Oct 30, 2008
MichelleMcCormack

Why did you have to link to the white supremest website? A powerful link from here will raise their page rank, thus making it easy for someone to find - looking or not. Also, it is upsetting, offensive and unnecessary to make a point in this article.

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2:44 pm, Oct 30, 2008
ncchef

Verlene: "Mmmmm, have ya'll tried the Pad Thai? It's good!"

Ray Ray Jr.: "No, but this here basil cashew chicken shore is scruptious. Jimmie Bob, can you make sure we have this at the next hate music concert?"

Jimmie Bob: "Fraid not, Ray Ray. Everbody done said they wanted tapas agin.

Ray Ray Jr.: "Yeah, I 'member now, everbody loves them patatas bravas.

Verlene: "Well, then we kin have Thai at the next cross-burnin'. With extra chile paste--git it?? You know, extra HOT."

Wonders never cease. But historically in America, it seems, the hate movements collapse repeatedly under the weight of their own stupidity.

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3:03 pm, Oct 30, 2008
Tulku2

Wise white families, like mine, welcome a little color into our family tree. Mr. Sun is no longer our friend. Fish bellies die of skin cancer. Witness the GOP candidate's battle. Families that step into the wide world, will be the genetic codes that travel to the stars as ambasadors for the human race.

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3:48 pm, Oct 30, 2008
HTRN99

I don't believe that the link here poses a danger of catapulting these rogues' website to the top of Google's ratings. It doesn't even show on Google to explicit attempts to locate it, although I did find lots of otherwise Balkanized groups who agree heartily to condemn them. I'd credit Google policy towards "hate groups" for their web ignominy. (If Google had the same attitude towards porn, the world consumption of that online smut would doubtless take a nosedive.)

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3:49 pm, Oct 30, 2008
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Obama and the Neo-Nazis

by Max Blumenthal

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