There's No Freakin' Way': Moskowitz Mocks Republican Witness Who Told Him To Buy Her Book

A House Judiciary Committee hearing addressed the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit that monitors and litigates against hate groups. A federal grand jury indicted the organization after allegations that it improperly paid informants to infiltrate white supremacist groups. A Republican witness, Dr. Carol Swain, criticized the group for shifting away from monitoring genuine hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis toward targeting mainstream conservatives. During questioning, Rep. Jared Moskowitz asked whether neo-Nazis are supremacists. Swain responded that it depends on the individuals and that some may be anti-Semites rather than supremacists. Moskowitz insisted neo-Nazis are supremacists and challenged her inability to answer directly, then said he would not buy her book.

"During the hearing, Dr. Carol Swain, a Republican witness, professor of political science at Vanderbilt University, and critic of the SPLC, told the committee that the organization has drifted from its original mission of monitoring genuine hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis toward targeting mainstream conservatives."

"Moskowitz used his time to ask Swain about Neo-Nazi ideology and whether or not they are supremacists: MOSKOWITZ: Are neo-Nazis supremacists? SWAIN: It depends on which ones. They're individuals MOSKOWITZ: I didn't ask you which ones. [CROSSTALK] MOSKOWITZ: Ms. Swain, listen, I'm not reading your book if you literally can't answer this question."

"SWAIN: They're individuals. Some are and some may be just plain old anti-Semites. MOSKOWITZ: No, no, Neo-Nazis are anti-Semites, ok? We're gonna agree there. But they're also supremacists, Ms. Swain. MOSKOWITZ: No, no, you don't have to take my word for it. Right? Like, they are. That's the whole reason they exist."

"MOSKOWITZ: because they believe they are supreme. SWAIN: But you all don't say MOSKOWITZ: because they believe they are supreme. SWAIN: Ok, if you MOSKOWITZ: No, no, you don't have to take my word for it. Right? Like, they are. That's the whole reason they exist."

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