"Gun Appreciation Day" Is Sponsored By White Supremacist Hate Group

I take a lot of grief at times from those who say that I am far too harsh in my condemnation of today's GOP - one former GOP compatriot always accuses me of "being angry" when I point out very real flaws with the current ideology of the GOP and far too many of today's so-called conservatives who might more aptly be described as racists, bigots and homophobes.  They say that you are known by the company you keep and the GOP is totally in bed with the NRA and its allies.  Some of who are pretty nasty.  Take for example American Third Position ("A3P") a white nationalist group listed by SPLC as a hate group that is one of the recognized sponsors of "Gun Appreciation Day" set for tomorrow with an aim of whipping up opposition to any meaningful control reform.  Media Matters gives the low down on A3P which ought to be enough to cause anyone sane and reputable running away screaming.  Here are some highlights:

Gun Appreciation Day, a prominent effort backed by conservative media outlets and activists to oppose new gun laws, has accepted the sponsorship of a white nationalist organization to promote and mobilize supporters for its January 19 event.

Gun Appreciation Day (GAD) is partnering with the American Third Position (A3P), a political group that describes itself as representing "the unique political interests of white Americans." According to a party official, the organization is composed of "white nationalists."  GAD's organizers ask supporters to visit "gun stores, gun counters, gun shows, and gun ranges to protest the Obama administration's post Sandy Hook assault on gun rights." The event has received significant media coverage and promotion in recent days.

GAD lists A3P on its "sponsors" page along with its logo, motto ("Liberty. Sovereignty. Identity") and a link to American3rdPosition.com. Other sponsors include prominent conservative media outlets like RedState, the right-wing blog edited by CNN contributor Erick Erickson. The event's main page asks visitors to "Please Support Our Sponsors."

The pro-gun event is teaming with A3P despite ample and easily found evidence of the group's fringe views. The first Google result for the group after its official website is the user-edited Wikipedia page for A3P, which currently states in its opening sentence that the group "promotes white supremacy."

According to its mission statement, "The American Third Position Party believes that government policy in the United States discriminates against white Americans, the majority population, and that white Americans need their own political party to fight this discrimination." The group also states that it "exists to represent the unique political interests of white Americans. It exists to maintain the identity, culture, and way of life of the American people, whose forefathers, from a vast wilderness, carved out an awe-inspiring extension of Western civilization, in order that their progeny--us--might live in relative peace and prosperity."

Civil rights groups have harshly criticized A3P. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) categorizes A3P as a white nationalist hate group, and states that it is a "political party initially established by racist Southern California skinheads that aims to deport immigrants and return the United States to white rule. The group is now led by a coterie of prominent white nationalists." The Anti-Defamation League calls A3P a "white supremacist political party."

Sadly, A3P is all too representative of what it means to be a so-called conservative nowadays.  Similarly, it represents the mindset of far too many in the GOP base.  To my former GOP compatriot I would ask,  doesn't this frighten you?  It really scares me that a once respectable political party has been taken over by the lunatic fringe.