Where are the protectors of Montana's people?

A conservative, grassroots group in Flathead County, known as The Flathead Liberty Bell, organized a Preparedness Expo as a community event. The Expo’s purpose was to educate our citizens regarding preparedness and political issues. The Expo was held on June 18 bringing over 1,000 people and over 40 different vendors, live music, games for children, food and drinks, among other events and offering hands-on workshops.

There were notable speakers throughout the day, including Washington State Rep. Matt Shea, former 2008 U.S. presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin, Oath Keepers Founder Stewart Rhodes, and former Sheriff Richard Mack. Each of these men has a clear and undeniable message: restore the principles of the Constitution of the United States of America because it has been progressively usurped.

With the agenda of those who disagree with the Expo’s message, there is a clear and serious attack. In its forefront is the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), self-described as “dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society.” SPLC’s routine actions and statements reveal, however, they are dedicated to destroying leaders who hold the principles of America’s founding, and in effect, the message itself.

The Associated Press article that Yahoo.com featured on June 22 on its home page entitled “Extremists Finding Fertile Territory in Northwest US” illustrates the attackers’ obvious agenda, turning journalism into propaganda. In the report, SPLC is cited as a legitimate source on “terrorism,” saying SPLC “tracks extremist groups and individuals,” not even questioning SPLC’s bias, motive or ideology of big-government statism. I raise three necessary responses.

1. SPLC’s Implication and Connection. The report draws a doctrinal connection from David Burgert recently “accused of opening fire on sheriff's deputies”; “Idaho-based neo-Nazi Aryan Nations”; “anti-government and white supremacist groups and individuals”; “radical right groups”; “hate groups and patriot groups”; “extremist groups and individuals”; “violent extremists”; the “Unabomber”; “The Montana Freemen”; “Aryan Nations member Karl Gharst”; and “white supremacist April Gaede” to the Flathead Liberty Bell, Chuck Baldwin, Stewart Rhodes, Richard Mack and Matt Shea — and by implication, myself.

In addition to SPLC, the report relies on comments by Travis McAdams,  the “executive director of the Helena-based Montana Human Rights Network, an anti-hate group,” who apparently holds similar views as SPLC. The AP article said:

“A patriot group called Flathead Liberty Bell held a convention just last weekend, featuring right-wing speakers and sale of survival gear for what organizers believe is a coming showdown with federal authorities. It was a flashback to the 1990s, when groups like the Militia of Montana regularly held such expos, McAdam said.”

The article continues:

“Others include patriot leader and former Constitution Party vice presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin, who believes the U.S. is headed for a fight between big-government globalists and independent patriots; Stewart Rhodes, founder of Oath Keepers, which wants law enforcement officers and military personnel to sign an oath against a one-world government conspiracy...” (The report fails to acknowledge Chuck Baldwin was also the presidential candidate of the Constitution Party in 2008).

What conclusion of connections does the report make? Answer: Any person who fundamentally questions or denounces the federal government’s power relative to constitutional standards is an extremist, antigovernment, full of hate and a potential terrorist. To effectuate their agenda, SPLC produces and disperses potential terrorist threat lists. This brings me to my second point.

2. SPLC Connection to Law Enforcement Nationwide. SPLC has a known inside connection with law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, which the federal government promotes and perpetuates. SPLC feeds their analysis and conclusions on people they determine are “threats.” SPLC’s  “watch list” is spread from agency to agency.

This type of reporting has led to “watch lists” even here in Flathead County. Chuck Baldwin experienced this same “watch list” agenda in 2009 (see the “MIAC Report” naming supporters of Ron Paul, Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin as potential terrorists).

Society’s freedom is short lived when executives in government accept disinformation like this and execute fallaciously. Who in law enforcement even questions that SPLC is a private company with private interest and obvious political agenda? Who in government would check this misuse of discretion and power? How many even perceive this twisted display of “fighting justice”? This leads me to the third disturbing concern.

3. Montana Government Shirking Responsibility to Protect Citizens (So Far). No one in Montana’s political branches of government has publically called into question the report. Chuck Baldwin and Stewart Rhodes are citizens of Montana; Flathead Liberty Bell is a non-incorporated, grass-roots group of Montana citizens; Matt Shea is a sister-state representative, having similar interests as Montana citizens; Richard Mack is a former chief law enforcement officer who was named together with a Montana sheriff (Printz) in the famous, victorious states’ rights suit against the federal government known as Printz v. U.S., 521 U.S. 898 (1997); the people who attended the Preparedness Expo were mostly citizens of Montana. Each one of these people, and those who believe similarly, has been either explicitly or implicitly deemed extremists and potential terrorists by SPLC, the report, Travis McAdams, and those who subscribe to these absurd premises and conclusions.

SPLC is on a witch hunt; they have named the witches for trial. Will Montana’s elected officials publically stand up for the dignity and constitutional rights of these citizens? Do they see their duty as such? Are they afraid they will be likewise labeled? Are they afraid they will harm their political career by standing up and denouncing SPLC’s unfounded attacks?

If there is one person in Montana’s political branches on any level who sees the seriousness of the report’s accusations and sees the appropriateness of responding to the allegations against Montana’s citizens and freedom-loving individuals, let him or her speak now.

Tim Baldwin is a Kalispell attorney and the son of Chuck Baldwin, former presidential candidate of the Constitution Party.