Survey: More U.S. hate groups than ever before

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20035553-503544.html

February 23, 2011 4:53 PM

A new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center finds that there are more than 1,000 active hate groups in the United States - and that many on the extreme right are focusing their anger on President Obama, "who is seen as embodying everything that's wrong with the country."

"For the second year in a row, the radical right in America expanded explosively in 2010, driven by resentment over the changing racial demographics of the country, frustration over the government's handling of the economy, and the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories and other demonizing propaganda aimed at various minorities," the SPLC said in introducing its report. It said it had found more than 1,000 "hate groups" for the first time since it began tracking them in the 1980s.

The increase in hate groups was accompanied by a 60 percent increase in so-called "Patriot" groups, which are driven by fierce opposition to the federal government. The SPLC found there were more than 824 such groups active in 2010, including 330 militias.

Overall, the SPLC found that there were 2,145 hate, anti-immigration and anti-government groups active in 2010.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

1. They have been out there, they only showed their ugly heads when $Palin got in the limelight.