Letter to the Editor
Dees' good works aren't so venerable
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Viewpoints
- Page 1 of 1
I read the comments by Morris Dees in the article by Josh Rabon. I laughed at Dees' answer that he could take his critics to court. Dees said he wouldn't do it because it would be a waste of time. Actually, Dees wouldn't do it because you can't sue someone for telling the truth. This is a new tactic for Dees, usually he responds to critics with absurd statements about his budget being based on future increases in the price of stamps.
Just look at the reports from the Better Business Bureau, American Institute for Philanthropy, Charity Navigator and others. Major publications including The Washington Times, The Nation, Harper's Monthly and many others have slammed Dees in major exposes. An eight-part expose printed in the Montgomery Advertiser about Dees and the Southern Poverty Law Center was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1996.
The Neiman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University held a panel discussion on non-profit groups in 2000. The highly acclaimed newspaper editor, Jim Tharpe, gave a speech on Dees and the SPLC. He used the SPLC as an example of a rogue non-profit gone bad. He said most SPLC employees are ideologically motivated college graduates from out of state. Dees hires them for one or two-year stints. Tharpe explains that after a year or two they learn that the SPLC is a con, and they are completely disillusioned.
Eventually most people will come to regard Dees as a con man, now that left-wing sources are denouncing him as fiercely as right-wing sources.
If you'd like to find more information on Morris Dees, you can visit the Council of Conservative Citizens Web site at www.cofcc.org.
Kyle Rogers
Council of Conservative Citizens
Just look at the reports from the Better Business Bureau, American Institute for Philanthropy, Charity Navigator and others. Major publications including The Washington Times, The Nation, Harper's Monthly and many others have slammed Dees in major exposes. An eight-part expose printed in the Montgomery Advertiser about Dees and the Southern Poverty Law Center was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1996.
The Neiman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University held a panel discussion on non-profit groups in 2000. The highly acclaimed newspaper editor, Jim Tharpe, gave a speech on Dees and the SPLC. He used the SPLC as an example of a rogue non-profit gone bad. He said most SPLC employees are ideologically motivated college graduates from out of state. Dees hires them for one or two-year stints. Tharpe explains that after a year or two they learn that the SPLC is a con, and they are completely disillusioned.
Eventually most people will come to regard Dees as a con man, now that left-wing sources are denouncing him as fiercely as right-wing sources.
If you'd like to find more information on Morris Dees, you can visit the Council of Conservative Citizens Web site at www.cofcc.org.
Kyle Rogers
Council of Conservative Citizens
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