Or, are they NUTS?
The Southern Poverty Law Center issued a press release today:
Neo-Confederate named to state education board
Dec. 9, 2004 | COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Last week's selection to the state board of education of a neo-Confederate leader who once sold anti-Semitic books has caused an uproar with civil rights groups and education officials.
"This should send chills down the spine of all South Carolinians," said Mark Potok, director of the Center's Intelligence Project.
It's certainly sending chills down the spine of this former South Carolina resident.
More from the SLPC press release (emphasis is mine):
Ron Wilson, a former commander in chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, ran unsuccessfully for state Senate this year but was elected to the 16-member education panel by a 4-3 vote of state legislators from Anderson County's delegation to replace John Hostetler, a former high school principal who is retiring.
Wilson once sold textbooks to parents who home-school their children, including the viciously anti-Semitic Barbarians Inside the Gates, which touts a discredited theory that Jews are working toward world domination.
The new post puts Wilson in the role of approving textbooks, settling teacher grievances and working with the education superintendent's office on policy.
When Wilson led the national Sons of Confederate Veterans from 2002 to 2004, he led a purge of more than 300 politically moderate members. Working closely with white supremacist ally Kirk Lyons, Wilson appointed racists and anti-Semites to key posts in the SCV.
"He led the attempted takeover of the SCV by extremists and is a very important player in the radicalization of that group," Potok said. Wilson was one of 40 individuals profiled in the Fall 2003 Intelligence Report as ideologues poised for leadership roles in the right-wing extremist movement.
"I'm not acquainted with Mr. Wilson," South Carolina state superintendent of education Inez Tenenbaum told the The State newspaper, "but what I have read and heard about him today is very troubling, particularly his links to racist and anti-Semitic activities."
Again, are they NUTS?
This yahoo is going to help choose South Carolina's textbooks?!
Curious to hear how some of the folks who voted for him explain their choice? Here's what The State reported earlier this week:
Rep. Brian White, R-Anderson, was one of four lawmakers who voted for Wilson over Harris Wilks, a former member of the Anderson County Board of Education.
White, also a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said he was not aware of the concerns watchdog groups have about Wilson.
"Personally, I haven't seen any of that from Mr. Wilson," White said. "I'm not one to judge him. I can't just judge somebody on somebody else says this is something he's done."
I guess Mr. White made it through the ideological purge, then. You scratch my white-robed back, I'll scratch yours.
Thanks to the fabulous WayBackMachine, I was able to find some of Mr. Wilson's now-defunct homeschooling book site, International Commerce Corp. archived (sadly, not all of it). Here are a few of the other items that Mr. Wilson carried:
Wow, excellent choice for the state's board of education, don't you agree?
And in closing, let's mull over what South Carolina's education committee chair had to tell The State's reporter:
Townsend, chairman of the House Education Committee, said he was unaware of Wilson's affiliations.
"I knew he was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, but that's about it," he said. "He'll be just one of many (on the board), so it's not like he'll have dictatorial rights over the state."
Gee, that makes me feel better. How about you?