Hate Group's Bank on Obama to Swell Their Ranks

Shortly after then Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination in June 2008, two of America's oldest and best known hate groups, the KKK and Aryan Nation wasted no time. They endorsed Obama for president. The prospect of him bagging the White House sent them into absolute delirium. The hate bunch hadn't undergone an earth rattling epiphany. Quite the contrary, a black president was their made in heaven meal ticket to jump start their moribund ranks.

In its new report on hate groups the Southern Poverty Law Center found that 50 new "anti-government" hate groups have cropped up in the past few months. There has also been a sharp up tick in recruiting, mobilizing, and more worrisome, gun buying by these groups. They are playing hard on the fear and hatred among the radical right of a black man in the White House, the economic downturn and the GOP orchestrated disruptions at health care town halls.

The angry faces and the fist shaking at the health care town halls today could provide a fertile recruiting ground for new more vocal and visible anti-government groups. Some of whose members could be sorely tempted to do more than just rant and fist shake. Hate group's bank on the volatile mix of frustration, anger and hostility toward a government they feel has betrayed them, and a black president whose message of change spells socialism to them, to swell their ranks. That's a chilling prospect for Obama and all of us.