I oppose any government interference that infringes on freedom of speech, curbs freedom of press, or restricts any American’s ability to petition the government. Maybe it’s the civil libertarian in me, but I embrace the concept of free speech wholeheartedly. That’s why you may find it strange to hear that I’m pissed off at The Nation for utilizing our First Amendment right to run a full-page advertisement sponsored by some bigots in their June 16, 2008 issue.

The Nation is part of a healthy spectrum of venerable political magazines here in the United States, from the right-conservative National Review to the left-liberal Mother Jones. Of its kind, the magazine is one of America’s oldest. Founded in 1865, it made history when it took up a leadership role against slavery; the editors rightly sought to strengthen American identity by proclaiming their publication an abolitionist newspaper. Nearly one hundred and fifty years later, they appear eager to jettison such a reputation by auctioning ad-space to some of our country’s most infamous bigots.

Nearly one year ago on May 14th, 2007, The Nation actually sold space to an organization called The Coalition for the Future American Worker (CFAW). In a Trojan Horse-esque maneuver, CFAW gladly ran a full-page advertisement that contained a plethora of misinformation constructed and aimed at exploiting and dividing the African American community.

What The Nation failed to disclose to its readers is that The Coalition for the Future American Worker is actually a front group for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), a national anti-immigrant organization that has accepted millions of dollars from the Pioneer Fund, which funds scientific research aimed at proving that whites are genetically superior to blacks.

Now, would The Nation accept a full-page ad from the Ku Klux Klan? Would they accept a full-page ad endorsing domestic violence? Would they accept an ad denying the Holocaust? If not, why did they accept an ad demonizing immigrants?

Let’s be clear.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform has very little to do with promoting a national debate on migration issues that is rationale in scope. Instead, FAIR solely exists to inject bigotry and racism into any and all American dialogues on immigration reform. For instance, there’s the aforementioned little matter of FAIR accepting 1.2 million dollars from the racist foundation the Pioneer Fund, of them employing a staff member who belonged to the reconstituted White Citizen’s Council, now called the Council of Conservative Citizens, and of their numerous board members who maintains ties to political extremists, white supremacists, and other hard-line groups within the white nationalist movement at-large.

FAIR streamlines its several front groups to target specific demographics and populations of Americans, all with the idea of splintering such communities. Essentially, FAIR is committed to turning community members against one another. They and those akin to them aren’t satisfied with only dividing and pulling conservatives into their spheres. Strangely, however, one would think that the conservative’s “Culture War,” which has seen twenty years of sustained attacks on liberals, would’ve taught those at The Nation some valuable lessons about spotting rhetoric and propaganda disguised as “truths.”

Which is why one would think that The Nation would be delivering to its readership transparent information so their readers can then shape more informed opinions; such a view of transparency, just on a level of ethics, is certainly relevant when allowing third parties to contact readers via their pages, especially when a third party seeks to promote racism and bigotry within said pages.

As per the basic tenets of Journalism, there is an expectation, a contract of trust, if you will, that exists between subscribers/readers and any publication, particularly one as generally esteemed as The Nation. If its editors have decided there is wisdom in making a buck off of racists, I would argue that they have violated the terms of such a contract.

This June, however, yet again, The Nation chose to run another full page ad sponsored by FAIR.

Twice, actually!

Along for the ride this time are four other organizations: American Immigration Control Foundation, Social Contract Press, NumbersUSA, and Californians for Population Stabilization. Each organization claims to be solely concerned about immigration, but three of the four groups maintain significant ties to the racist-white nationalist movement here in America.

This time, rather than just allowing these bigots access to their broadly progressive audience, the magazine decided to grant these groups access to progressive environmentalists, as well. And, once again, instead of also handing readers a real tool of transparency that would allow them to defend themselves against the misdirections of racists, the magazine is hiding behind its advertising policy.

Unbelievably, the magazine is attempting to cover its own derrière by telling us that they have no control over what type of advertisements they publish.

Here’s what The Nation claims:

“On page 27 readers will find an ad paid for by America’s Leadership Team for Long Range Population-Immigration-Resource Planning. Needless to say, we disagree with the ad’s premise and politics. Our ad policy can be found at www.thenation.com/mediakit/policy/.”

Instead of writing a flimsy excuse, they should have used such valuable editorial space to explain to its readers that the groups running the ads have long maintained relationships with virulent political extremists, including white supremacists and white nationalists.

Here’s just a peek at what they are failing to explain:

• American Immigration Control Foundation’s (AICF) Executive Director John Vinson has spoken often to the white nationalists Council of Conservative Citizens. AICF has also utilized funding from the white supremacist/eugenic-focused Pioneer Fund.
• Social Contract Press’s Editor is Wayne Lutton, who is also on the advisory board of the white nationalist Council of Conservative Citizens.
• NumbersUSA Executive Director Roy Beck spoke to the white nationalist Council of Conservative Citizens and writes for the racist Social Contract Press.
• Californians for Population Stabilization is funded by the white supremacist/eugenics-focused Pioneer Fund. One board member also attempted to recruit vigilantes to help overturn affirmative action in Missouri.

Would the left-liberal readers of The Nation not find this information poignant and relevant? So, why are they not acting in a fully transparent manner? Surely they don’t wish to turn a profit off the backs of disenfranchised, suffering immigrants.

Somewhere along the way, whatever the case may be, they seem to have forgotten the most important lesson of the 1st Amendment: freedom of speech is meant to protect all us regular folk.

While, yes, even bigots deserve the right to free speech, none of us are required to build their platform for them, especially publications such as The Nation.