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Biography B‑class

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Conspiracy theorist

An editor just added "Category:Conspiracy theorists" to the Chip Berlet article; I removed it. Chip Berlet is not himself a conspiracy theorist, i.e., one who speculates about conspiracies to act or conceal actions; he studies conspiracy theories and conspiracy theorists. More of a conspiracy theorist theorist, but let's not get too meta; I've removed the category. --lquilter 22:46, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

A second editor has now added the category, stating "restore -- he advocates the "Jeremiah Duggan" conspiracy theory, which is on Misplaced Pages's list)". This isn't documented anywhere in the Berlet article and should be removed, at least until and unless it is documented; and arguably until it is one of the major things he is known for. (Categorization shouldn't be used for relatively minor aspects of someone lest it lead to category bloat. See Misplaced Pages:Categorization of people and Misplaced Pages:Overcategorization.) However, in the interests of harmonious editing, I'm raising it here rather than reverting again. --lquilter 17:33, 16 March 2007 (UTC)

I added the documentation, and it was immediately deleted by Tom Harrison . --NathanDW 18:23, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

I am insufficently familiar with Duggan case to characterize CB's involvement as making him a "conspiracy theorist", but Nathan's actual text seems unexcptionable. It doesn't have to be "one of the major things he is known for" to justify a couple lines. Anyway, investigating LaRouche and publishing a report on him seems notable (and more power to him).Andyvphil 21:20, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

Someone can check my German, but I don't think the source says 'conspiracy theory:' "Vier Jahre nach dem Selbstmord von Jeremiah Duggan findet die Mordverschwörung immer neue Anhänger, aber keine Beweise" I think is "Four years after the suicide of Jerimiah Duggan, the murder conspiracy continues to find new adherents, but no new evidence."Tom Harrison 21:36, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

Is probable (for the sake of argument) correctness of theory a bar to being a "conspiracy theorist"?... And the Wiesbadener Kurier is clearly saying "the murder conspiracy theory continues to find new adherents" even if Mordverschwörung could be translated in some other context without that word. It's not a cabal to kill Duggan thats getting new Anhängers, after all, but a theory of the LaRouche group's responsibility for it. Andyvphil 22:04, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

The main issue here is original research. Please note that I have published only a few things about the Duggan case, and I pick my words carefully. Wiesbadener Kurier does not claim I am a conspiracy theorist regarding the Duggan matter. Only the LaRouchites rant in print about my connection to the Duggan case.--Cberlet 22:20, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

How does what the Wiesbadener Kurier says about Jeremiah Duggan tell us anything about Berlet? While the last sentence belongs in Jeremiah Duggan's biography, I'm not sure it belongs in Berlet's. If it does belong here, maybe what other news organizations have said about Duggan should also be presented, for balance. Tom Harrison 22:28, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

There's a problem here with a category being used as a slur. "Conspiracy theorist" sounds bad, "Believes LaRouche thugs may have played a role in the death of Jeremiah Duggan", not so much. There's a problem with the way the category is set up that needs addressing... If the Wiesbadener Kurier is taking about "Justice for Jeremiah"'s allegations, and if CB associates himself with JfJ's allegations, then it's perfectly appropriate to quote the WK dismissively on JfJ's position here. If you asserted that Oswald probably didn't act alone it wouldn't be wrong (or WP:OR) to quote the Warren Commission dismissively on that theory merely because the WC didn't mention you. ... But I'm on board for an offsetting quote, showing support for JfJ's plausinbility, as TH suggests. Andyvphil 23:04, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

Please provide a printed cite from a reputable source demonstrating that I have "associate self with JfJ's allegations." I have been asked by Jeremiah's mother to provide two written statements for her use. I have done so. Please read them. They exist on the JFJ website. I have made other statements to reputable newspaper and magazine reporters. I have written a paper for a scholarly conference on antisemitism where I talk about LaRouche's antisemitism and the Duggan case. Feel free to cite them. The claim that I have "associate self with JfJ's allegations" is false and original research.--Cberlet 23:10, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

Now it's my turn to insist that I picked my words carefully. In particular, "if". There were several "if"s in my last post. I already said I was not an expert on the Duggan case. But neither is TH, and I did not have to be an expert on the case to see that his reasons for removing mention of your association with JFJ didn't hold water. As your reason for removing mention of WK's comment does not. What JFJ's exact assertions may be and the degree to which you have in fact associated yourself with them is something about which I claim little knowledge at this point. I did not revert WK's comment back into maintext for that very reason. But the actions you declare and the text at the cite clearly indicate some degree of association. Which doesn't seem disreputable to me. OR has nothing to do with this. Gotta run. Andyvphil 23:50, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

From Misplaced Pages:No original research: Editors often make the mistake of thinking that if A is published by a reliable source, and B is published by a reliable source, then A and B can be joined together in an article to advance position C. However, this would be an example of a new synthesis of published material serving to advance a position, and as such it would constitute original research. "A and B, therefore C" is acceptable only if a reliable source has published this argument in relation to the topic of the article. Tom Harrison 23:48, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

Tom Harrison added the word "new" in front of evidence. There is no basis for this. "keine Beweise" means no evidence, period. I translated this headline for the other articles. I agree with Andyvphil that it makes no sense at all to say that the murder conspiracy continues to find new adherents. The English term "conspiracy theory" is clearly what is intended. --Masai warrior 00:02, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Another editor has objected to your translation of that, though (see Talk:Jeremiah Duggan), arguing that the English "conspiracy theory" is stronger than the phrase used by the newspaper. We should err on the side of caution, especially in a BLP. SlimVirgin 00:06, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

I consulted with you before posting my translation. And here is my response to Mr. Diderot on the Talk:Jeremiah Duggan page: "I am an experienced translator. I would always use a cognate when appropriate. However, an important feature of translation is to take into account the context. That is why Babelfisch and other translation programs produce such comical results -- they simply attempt to translate word for word. I invite you to translate this headline into something that makes sense in English: Nur die Legende hat ein langes Leben - Vier Jahre nach dem Selbstmord von Jeremiah Duggan findet die Mordverschwörung immer neue Anhänger, aber keine Beweise. If you come up with something better than what I have done, then by all means we should use your version." --Masai warrior 14:08, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

What does the story in the Wiesbaden Kurier have to do with Berlet anyway? Tom Harrison 00:08, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

It corroborates what was already pretty obvious -- that Berlet was promoting a conspiracy theory about Duggan's death. --NathanDW 20:20, 9 May 2007 (UTC)

What source does it corroborate? Tom Harrison 20:34, 9 May 2007 (UTC)

It corroborates the conclusion that may reasonably be drawn from the material in the article Jeremiah Duggan. The police rule the death a suicide. Additional investigations by German authorities arrive at the same conclusion. Despite all this, a group of people refuse to accept these conclusions, and began to suggest other scenarios, including suicide caused by "mind control" (see Schiller Institute) and also murder. They also theorize about possible motives. Compare this to one of the classic conspiracy theories, that of the JFK assassination conspiracy, which follows the exact same format: the official explanation is rejected in favor of alternate theories (usually with some kind of political agenda.) --NathanDW 01:01, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

This is precisely the type of bogus faux logic employed by conspiracy theorists. See Conspiracy Theory. The source corroboration here is interpolated from existing anecdotal information in a manner that implies logic yet, if diagramed, reveals itself to be a disconnected fallacy. Quintessential Circumloquacious Conspiracism!--Cberlet 01:21, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

When some reliable source draws that conclusion, and applies it to Berlet, you may have something that doesn't violate policy. From Misplaced Pages:No original research: Editors often make the mistake of thinking that if A is published by a reliable source, and B is published by a reliable source, then A and B can be joined together in an article to advance position C. However, this would be an example of a new synthesis of published material serving to advance a position, and as such it would constitute original research. "A and B, therefore C" is acceptable only if a reliable source has published this argument in relation to the topic of the article. Tom Harrison 01:41, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

Hey! That's what I said, only in plain English. No fun at all.--Cberlet 01:50, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

Well, I'd have been a fool to try to beat Quintessential Circumloquacious Conspiracism. Tom Harrison 01:54, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

I just coined the phrase. Now I just have to find a way to use it in a reputable printed published source...--Cberlet 02:01, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

What does the story in the Wiesbaden Kurier have to do with Berlet anyway? Tom Harrison 00:08, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

CB has, by providing two written statements to JD's mother "for her use", associated himself with the claim that his death was improperly investigated. WK says this is a crackpot endeavor. Ergo, WK is commenting on CB's actions. Which answers your question. Andyvphil 15:47, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

It also refutes the edit memo on SlimVirgin's latest revert: "(that has nothing to do with this article)". --NathanDW 16:23, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

On the contrary, both the above claims by Andyvphil and NathanDW reflect original research, as patiently and pecisely explained by . No original research -- not a steep learning curve.--Cberlet 17:00, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

Nonsense. In order to be OR, by the quote TH has provided, there has to be a "position C". (a)To quote SV, "Berlet has lent support to a campaign run by relatives of Jeremiah Duggan...". (b)For context, WK is quoted saying the campaign is based on myths without evidence. I've already stated that I'm in favor of a second, contrary quote, assuming a suitable one can be found. (c) There is no (c). Andyvphil 14:03, 11 May 2007 (UTC)

Biased language

"The British student was ruled to have committed suicide while attending a LaRouche Youth Movement cadre school. The conclusion by law enforcement authorities is being challenged by Berlet and others."

The text above is biased and misleading. The following is factual and NPOV:

"The British student was ruled by German authorities to have committed suicide while attending a LaRouche Youth Movement cadre school. A British coroner rejected the suicide ruling."

I hope this can be changed, and hope the constant attempts by LaRouche apologists to add misleading and POV material stops.--Cberlet 21:01, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

Cberlet's prefered version doesn't mention Berlet. There should be some mention of the role Berlet has played in the affair, and the specific accusations he has made. --NathanDW 01:03, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

I'm not aware that he has made any. SlimVirgin 01:09, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

In what way is the first version biased and misleading? --MaplePorter 11:46, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

Mention in article of prolific Misplaced Pages contributions

Noticing how a prominent contributor to the Norwegian Misplaced Pages, the late Tron Øgrim, who was also a somewhat noted public figure has his Misplaced Pages effort mentioned, shouldn't the same be allowed in the case of Berlet. At least it is my impression that his Misplaced Pages efforts have been considerable. __meco 17:07, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

I would be against that unless there are reliable sources who talk to that point. Anyways, --Tom 18:09, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

Criticism

I restored some criticism from Leftists, since the present criticism section makes it appear as if Berlet only has critics on the Right. Also, according to WP:LEAD, notable criticism should be reflected in the intro. Why is there none? --MaplePorter 11:43, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

That sourced you provided looks very questionable, wp:el, imho. --Tom 17:47, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

Portland Free Press

SlimVirgin says that the PFP was "self-published." I don't know much about it. Is there evidence that it was self-published? In this cite a man named Per Fagereng is described as a senior editor at the Portland Free Press. In this cite Ace Hayes is also described as an editor. Likewise in the Willamette Week obituary for Hayes, which describes the Portland Free Press as "far-out" but says that Hayes "never descended into black-helicopter paranoia." --MaplePorter 21:12, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

This suggests it was self-published. And if the best that can be said of a source is that he "never descended into black-helicopter paranoia," he's probably not appropriate per BLP. :-) SlimVirgin 21:30, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

I agree, it looks like a one-man show. --MaplePorter 22:08, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

Prouty

We should all certainly be careful with the reputations of living people. It's verifiable that Prouty has had certain associations. It's reasonably verifiable that the subject, Chip Berlet, objected to those associations. The article is about Berlet so we need to keep our focus on him. Berlet's departure from was apparently related to Prouty's "objectionable" activities. If that was his reason, then we should report that in a way which conveys that his reasoning may not have been the obejective truth. That's what we'd do with any article. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 08:51, 24 June 2007 (UTC)

I made this small but very important correction above.--Cberlet 03:11, 26 June 2007 (UTC)

The conflict between Berlet and Brandt goes way beyond this single incident; is documented both in places that Brandt would like to bury as he "reavealed too much about himself" and in places some people feel[REDACTED] is better off not naming; is something[REDACTED] perhaps should not go into due to BLP concerns as it fundamentally consists of mutual accusations of political immorality between two seminotable people who formerly found common cause in left-wing political activism; and therefore needs careful editing. While I prefer my edit to the paragraph, I feel Will Beback's edit is within the BLP policy and I will not revert it. WAS 4.250 03:26, 25 June 2007 (UTC)

Unsolved mysteries

The edit history of this article has been wiped clean from June 23 to July 22. Does anyone know how or why? --Don't lose that number 13:04, 22 July 2007 (UTC)

Was the page protected or something? I know this bio is related to Daniel Brandt(sp) old article so maybe thats the rub?? I have NO clue but HATE when ANY history is removed. Thanks! --Tom 17:33, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

geocities external links

geocities links are garbage, and not appropriate for this project, period. Thanks! --Tom 17:30, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

I asked an admin, Will Beback, about a similar situation, and he indicated that anonymous sites were still permissible under WP:EL (see .) --NathanDW 17:35, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

I protest that gross mischaracterization of my response. All I did was direct you to the WP:EL guideline. Which, if you read if carefully, makes it clear that a one-person, anonymous attack site is inappropriate. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 21:09, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

geocities is still garbage and is still not appropriate for THIS project. Anything else? Cheers! --Tom 18:56, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Please consolidate

I see that the "further reader" section is all links. I would rather those get merged back into the main body of the prose as <ref> references.--SallyForth123 23:21, 1 August 2007 (UTC)

http and .com

Let's try to keep http and .com out of the visible text and the prose. Right now, the visible text is free of them and the external links section is short. Neato.--SallyForth123 22:39, 5 August 2007 (UTC)

Reviews of Right-Wing Populism in America

The only current review of Right-Wing Populism in America is a negative one:

Reviewing Right-Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort, Robert H. Churchill of the University of Hartford criticized Berlet and other authors writing about the right wing as lacking breadth and depth in their analyses, failing to make contact with significant figures in the movement and conduct significant research on the Internet, and for providing analyses of far right movements that proscribe as "racist" a broad range of conservative political ideologies that are "driven more by the association of the author with various civil rights organizations and leftist political activists outlined in the acknowledgements than by the primary evidence presented in the footnotes."

Most of the published reviews were very positive. I think a little balance would be nice.--Cberlet 13:23, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

Incomplete research and cites on Nader/Milliken

I removed the following link that was being used as a reference. Hope this was ok. Thanks, --Tom 14:10, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

It's the text of the article in The New Republic specified by the ref it was included in, not an email (as you suggested in your edit comment). I've removed the long-standing text claiming that Berlet criticized Nader for accepting support from Milliken since it was not supported by the cites. The only real support for the current text is the "New Politics" cite. but I left (actually improved what was an indirect mention) the New Republic cite in as a resource for someone who wants to improve this stub of a subject. The maintext could be improved if we had a cite for NP's claim that Berlet was cited as support for the claim that M supported N. If it happened anyplace else than Misplaced Pages, that is. (Is this a case of the Heisenberg principle? Was NP referring to WP misquoting TNR? I guess the dates don't work, but it's a charming thought...) Andyvphil 21:29, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

It is a mess. There is ample evidence that M supported N (at times providing a car and driver), but the word "funding" in my mind means a transfer of money, which I never claimed. The TNR article made it seem I implied more. Hard to sort out. In part, the Naderite letter to TNR made it seem that I claimed more than I did.--Cberlet 13:20, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

What TNR article is this? The Lizza article, assuming the topica copy is accurate, doesn't seem to imply anything much. Andyvphil 15:34, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

This paragraph is the result of very sloppy research, questionable use of the word "cite," and dubious POV juxtapositioning:

Berlet has been cited as a source for allegations that Ralph Nader has accepted funding for his projects from Republican textile magnate Roger Milliken, erstwhile major backer of the 1996 Presidential campaign of Patrick J. Buchanan and anti-unionization stalwart. Berlet has also been cited as saying that he has no evidence of any such funding.

It makes it seem as if I made the claim despite having no evidence. Here is a factual text:

Berlet criticized Ralph Nader and his associates for a close working relationship with Republican textile magnate Roger Milliken, erstwhile major backer of the 1996 Presidential campaign of Patrick J. Buchanan and anti-unionization stalwart. Berlet denies ever suggesting that Milliken funded Nader's work, although this is sometimes attributed to Berlet, who was quoted as saying he had no evidence of such funding.

The entire last sentence should simply be deleted, since it is based on one article's footnote that has been misinterpreted.--Cberlet 18:41, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

CB: I take your point that, although I did not intend it, the two sentences I wrote could be read as saying you made the claim that Milliken funded Nader despite not having any evidence that he did. But it wasn't "dubious POV juxtapositioning" -- I was simply quoting the "New Politics" footnote virtually word for word, except for adding the identification of Millikin. The footnote reads: "Chip Berlet, a researcher and writer on right-wing movements, who has been cited as a source for Milliken's funding of Nader projects, told Walter Contreras Sheasby that he has no evidence of any such funding". Note the use of "cite" in the original.

The reason I replaced "Berlet has more recently criticized Ralph Nader for working with Roger Milliken on antiglobalization issues." was that, as I have already pointed out, the sentence was not supported by the two citations provided. Your proposed replacement "Berlet criticized Ralph Nader and his associates for a close working relationship with Republican textile magnate Roger Milliken..." has the same problem -- I believe you when you say you've done it, but I shouldn't say so in the article unless I have a RS saying you've done it. And I don't think I can use this page as my RS. So, can you provide citations for your paragraph?

And, no, I didn't engage in "very sloppy research questionable use of the word 'cite'". I didn't do or pretend to do any substantial research at all beyond that necessary to determine that the two citations provided did not support the assertion that you had criticized Nader. There was a blog pointing at the New Republic article which, when I found the text at topica, said nothing more than that you found it odd to be picked up by a Milliken lobbyist when you went to visit Nader (not in itself a criticism of Nader). And there was the "New Politics" footnote which I essentially simply repeated. Andyvphil 15:34, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

It doesn't rate a paragraph in his biography that Berlet is mentioned in a footnote, and in passing in the New Republic. I don't know enough about Nader to say whether it belongs in Nader's biography or not.

I removed the link to lists.topica.com. It's not necessary since we can just cite the New Republic. There is no way of knowing if it is an accurate copy of the article, and even if it is it says at the bottom "(Copyright 1999, The New Republic)". If this is someone's copy and paste it's a copyright violation, right? Tom Harrison 14:04, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

You're missing the point, as usual. The New Republic article, as I explained 27 August, isn't even a source for anything I wrote. The actual source for the revised paragraph was solely the New Politics footnote, which mentions the TNR article, and I provided the link to the text of the latter "as a resource for someone who wants to improve this stub of a subject" (see above). The subject is not the footnote but whether Berlet alleged Milliken funded Nader and whether he criticized Nader for being involved with Milliken. We have a RS alleging the former (presumably wrongly) and we have CB alleging the latter (presumably truthfully, but we don't as yet have a RS). Andyvphil 15:34, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

Most of the information about this matter is either on listserves and websites, or in printed publications not on the internet. Thus the problem of insufficient research. It is insufficient because it relies solely on what is easily found on the internet. Some of it is in Right-Wing Populism in America near the end of the book, in a discussion on Nader and Buchanan (pp. 338-344).--Cberlet 18:37, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

My talk page comment (above) already stated the need to "improve this stub of a subject". There was no citation of any kind to support the statement that you had critcized Nader and I was surely required by WP:BLP to remove it. My replacement of that statement by an accurate paraphrase of the one RS that had been cited should not have been characterized as "very sloppy research, questionable use of the word 'cite,' and dubious POV juxtapositioning". You might consider an apology. Andyvphil 23:56, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

You might consider doing better research before posting material on Misplaced Pages about me. The research was sloppy, the text misleading, and you might consider an apology.--Cberlet 02:42, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

Don't think so. I replaced unsourced contentious material (which policy says should be done immediatly and without discussion and, I might add, without waiting for further research) with an accurate and verifiable transcription of the underlying reliable source. If the result was misleading your argument is with New Politics, not me. Andyvphil 07:10, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

This sentence is unsourced:

• Berlet criticized Ralph Nader and his associates for a close working relationship with Republican textile magnate Roger Milliken, erstwhile major backer of the 1996 Presidential campaign of Patrick J. Buchanan and anti-unionization stalwart.

The source for the subsequent passages doesn't mention any such criticism. Can we find a source for Berlet criticizing Nader? ·:· Will Beback ·:· 17:48, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

Source is: Right-Wing Populism in America(pp. 338-344). There are several other sources in print, but not on the internet.--Cberlet 19:01, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

Organization

Might it be better to combine the sections Criticism and Political views into one section using his works in chronological order to present his views and notable criticism? Tom Harrison 19:38, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

Left vs Dropped Out

Subject of article claims to have dropped out Uncle uncle uncle 20:53, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Problem with summary of article

I don't think this is an accurate summary:

• In ZOG Ate My Brains, he warns of a "troubling resurgence on the political Left" of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories as a result of US military intervention in the Persian Gulf and the September 11, 2001 attacks. Berlet, Chip. "Zog ate my brains", New Internationalist, October 2004.

The point of the article is that conspiracy theories are not progressive, and antisemitic conspiracy theories undermine work that seeks justice for Palestinians. See the Rosenwasser quote. Also, the article ends with: "Fenster warns that if our ‘simple, populist narrative slips and becomes racist or antisemitic or exclusionary, then its power to affect positive social and economic change disappears’. The current summary makes it seem as if I support the Bush administration around Middle East policies and its claims about 9/11--which I do not.--Cberlet 23:51, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

External link in further reading section

I removed this: McCain, Robert Stacy. "Researcher Says 'Watchdogs' Exaggerate Hate Group Threat", The Washington Times, May 9, 2000. Maybe stick to "main stream" articles rather than self published stuff. If this was from the washington times, can we cite that instead? Thanks, --Tom 15:50, 10 December 2007 (UTC)ps Just to clarify, I was reffering to the web site and not the article. If we want to list this article, fine, but I would rather not link to a personal web site, thanks, --Tom 17:23, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

Book Review

Most of the reviews were positive. A POV critic has plunked one of two negative reviews out of 20 in my entry. Here are some others that are more typical:

"In its scope and breadth of coverage, Berlet and Lyons' book is particularly ambitious and impressive, and the events discussed in the book range widely....the book will serve as an important resource for those whose interests and viewpoints are largely consistent with left-wing methodologies, while simultaneously provoking much necessary debate and argument from those whose methodological orientation is grounded toward the political center or right-wing. Of particular interest is the fifty page bibliography contained in the book that serves as a valuable resource for locating additional materials related to populism in all its varieties and expressions. Strongly recommended for college and research libraries, although its primary audience will be upper-level undergraduates, graduate students and faculty in American political and social history, political science and sociology."--Counterpoise

"...an interesting, informative book. Berlet and Lyons have forgotten more about right-wing politics in America than most of us know to begin with, and they put that knowledge to good use....a good book that merits close attention from scholars of the Right in America and of social movements generally."--Contemporary Sociology

"...right-wing populist movements in the United States have long been part of our nation's social fabric, and they have influenced our values and policies to a much greater extent than most people recognize. Chip Berlet and Matthew N. Lyons argue this case persuasively in their illuminating new study, Right-wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort....according to the authors of this important book, right-wing populism reinforces existing ills by deflecting attention away from the structural causes of economic and social injustice."--Southern Poverty Law Center

"Right Wing Populism in America challenges activists to be aware of broad movements for change that are repressive. It provides activists knowledge of the roots of these movements. Instead of scapegoating the right or dismissing them, people on the left need to start challenging the inequalities that provide fertile breeding ground for repressive movements."--Z Magazine

"Rather than dismiss right-wing populist movements as 'lunatic fringe', the authors contend that we should consider them complex and dangerous: complex because of the way they blend issues, and dangerous because they lure and channel people into misguided efforts that 'only serve to heighten inequality and oppression.'"--Briarpatch

"The history of the evangelical entry into politics is fascinating and complicated. There is an excellent account in Right-Wing Populism in America." --The New York Review of Books

"...two leading political analysts provide the background and insights on conspiracy theory, ethnic scapegoating and other movement trademarks. From the Ku Klux Klan to nationalist cliques, this provides an important consideration of sentiments and motivations." --The Bookwatch

"Berlet...and Lyons...do not see the racial, religious, social, and economic ideas of the Far Right as strictly marginal. Rather, they argue, right-wing populism is deeply rooted in American history. This detailed historical examination...provides a theoretical basis for understanding the actions and ideas of these movements....This work strikes an excellent balance between narrative and theory....Recommended for all public and academic libraries." --Library Journal

Perhaps someone could add some NPOV balance?--Cberlet (talk) 02:26, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

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