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'''Political profiling''' is an activity certain "watchdog" organizations engage in on various [[computer]] bulletin boards, chat rooms and wikis.  An internet user's postings under either their real life identity of pseudonym may be "profiled" for their ideological convictions based upon editing patterns, interests, subject matter, common references, or declared beliefs.  The profile is then pigeon-holed into predetermined character assessments published by the watchdog organizations.  Political profiling has been referred to as the rough equivalent of profiling all Black males on the grounds that a certain percentage may commit violent crimes. In the sense that targeting minorities for special surveillance is called “racial profiling,” the so-called "watchdog organizations" engage in "political profiling."  Some watchdog groups hold law enforcement conferences, seminars,  training sessions, and publish manuals on this “profiling” behavior.  

'''Political profiling''' is an activity certain "watchdog" organizations engage in on various computer bulletin boards, chat rooms and [[wiki]]s.  An internet user's postings under either their real life identity or pseudonym may be "profiled" for their ideological convictions based upon editing patterns, interests, subject matter, common references or declared beliefs.  The profile is then pigeonholed into predetermined character assessments published by the "watchdog organizations".  Political profiling has been referred to as the rough equivalent of profiling all black males on the grounds that a certain percentage may commit violent crimes. In the sense that targeting minorities for special surveillance is called "racial profiling," the so-called watchdog organizations engage in "political profiling."  Some "watchdog groups" hold law enforcement conferences, seminars and training sessions and publish manuals on this “profiling” behavior.  

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

[[Daniel Brandt]], founder of the Wikipedia-Watch website describes watchdog organizations that use political profiling as "private intelligence agencies", and remarks as a private agency, they enjoy

[[Daniel Brandt]], founder of the Wikipedia Watch website describes watchdog organizations that use political profiling as "private intelligence agencies" and remarks, as a private agency, they enjoy

{{Cquote|no oversight, no requirements for probable cause prior to political spying, and no Privacy Act or Freedom of Information Act responsibilities to the public. By contrast, the FBI, CIA, and some major police departments in the U.S. are held accountable by various hard-won legal restrictions.<ref>Daniel Brandt, [http://www.namebase.org/news02.html ''Cyberspace Wars: Microprocessing vs. Big Brother''], NameBase NewsLine', No. 2, July–August 1993.</ref>}}

{{Cquote|no oversight, no requirements for probable cause prior to political spying, and no [[Privacy Act]] or [[Freedom of Information Act]] responsibilities to the public. By contrast, the [[FBI]], [[CIA]], and some major police departments in the U.S. are held accountable by various hard-won legal restrictions.<ref>Brandt, Daniel (July–August 1993). [http://www.namebase.org/news02.html "Cyberspace wars: Microprocessing ''vs.'' Big Brother".] ''NameBase NewsLine'', no. 2.</ref>}}

 

{{Cquote|Any citizen can obtain their FBI files through the Freedom of Information Act....There is no such mechanism by which a private American citizen can obtain their files compiled by private Watchdog organizations.... You cannot correct errors...  they may have obtained information that government agencies cannot legally collect on its own. This... is something that goes on all the time and represents a serious civil liberties issue.<ref>[http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/exhibits/wilcox/5.html Laird Wilcox], ''The Watchdogs: A Close Look at Anti-Racist "Watchdog" Groups'', Editorial Research Service, 1999, pg. 15. ISBN 0-993592-96-5.</ref>}}

{{Cquote|Any citizen can obtain their FBI files through the Freedom of Information Act....There is no such mechanism by which a private American citizen can obtain their files compiled by private Watchdog organizations.... You cannot correct errors...  they may have obtained information that government agencies cannot legally collect on its own. This... is something that goes on all the time and represents a serious civil liberties issue.<ref>[http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/exhibits/wilcox/5.html Laird Wilcox], ''The Watchdogs: A Close Look at Anti-Racist "Watchdog" Groups'', Editorial Research Service, 1999, pg. 15. ISBN 0-993592-96-5.</ref>}}

Some watchdog organizations have been criticized for the misuse of journalist shield laws to mask their domestic spying operations.  Robert J. Friedman of the ''[[Village Voice]]'' commented:

Some watchdog organizations have been criticized for the misuse of journalist shield laws to mask their domestic spying operations.  Robert J. Friedman of the ''[[Village Voice]]'' commented:

 

{{Cquote|Journalists place information in the public domain where they are held accountable for falsehoods, distortions and libel. And for the most part, journalists don’t share their files with domestic police agencies... many of [the "watchdog agency"] files are not open to public scrutiny, false information collected by ideologically biased researchers cannot be corrected.<ref>Robert J. Friedman, ''The Anti-Defamation League is Spying On You'', The Village Voice, 11 May 1993.</ref>}}

{{Cquote|Journalists place information in the public domain where they are held accountable for falsehoods, distortions, and libel. And for the most part, journalists don’t share their files with domestic police agencies... many of [the "watchdog" agency] files are not open to public scrutiny, false information collected by ideologically biased researchers cannot be corrected.<ref>Robert J. Friedman, ''The Anti-Defamation League is Spying On You'', The Village Voice, 11 May 1993.</ref>}}

Wilcox observes the watchdog's publications are designed to support the ideological agenda of a like minded group, and not provide “news.”  Their publishing activities are only a small part of its program, most of which is fundraising, lobbying, and maintaining enemies lists.<ref>Laird Wilcox, ''The Watchdogs'', 1999, pgs 54-56.</ref> Wilcox, who is cited by the ''Military Law Review'' as one the "foremost expert analysts of right and left-wing extremism",<ref>MAJ Walter M. Hudson, [http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/Military_Law_Review/pdf-files/277C75~1.pdf ''Racial Extremism in the Army''], The Military Law Review, Vol 159 (Mar 99), pg. 7, Department of the Army, Washington, DC. Army Pamphlet No 27-100-159.</ref> and has published numerous books and articles on various extreme groups in America since the early 1960s, including ''American Extremists: Militias, Supremacists, Klansmen, Communists and Others'' by Prometheus Books, chronicles the excesses of the watchdog industry, and asks, "Who is watching the Watchdogs?"

Wilcox observes the watchdog's publications are designed to support the ideological agenda of a like minded group, and not provide “news.”  Their publishing activities are only a small part of its program, most of which is fundraising, lobbying, and maintaining enemies lists.<ref>Laird Wilcox, ''The Watchdogs'', 1999, pgs 54-56.</ref> Wilcox, who is cited by the ''Military Law Review'' as one the "foremost expert analysts of right and left-wing extremism",<ref>MAJ Walter M. Hudson, [http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/Military_Law_Review/pdf-files/277C75~1.pdf ''Racial Extremism in the Army''], The Military Law Review, Vol 159 (Mar 99), pg. 7, Department of the Army, Washington, DC. Army Pamphlet No 27-100-159.</ref> and has published numerous books and articles on various extreme groups in America since the early 1960s, including ''American Extremists: Militias, Supremacists, Klansmen, Communists and Others'' by Prometheus Books, chronicles the excesses of the watchdog industry, and asks, "Who is watching the Watchdogs?"

{{Cquote|The simple fact is there are money and careers to be made....an entrenched industry exists... that has attracted bullying, moralizing fanatics, whose identity and livelihood depend upon growth and expansion...There is a [[humanist]] anti-racism that focuses on reconciliation and healing, that works to bring people together, that functions openly and honestly without the use of dossiers, spies, specious lawsuits, [[disinformation]], and that recognizes the rights of individuals whether they agree with one another or not. This is the anti-racism of good neighbors, of people helping people, of community goodwill, and of the realization that we are all human beings....

{{Cquote|The simple fact is there are money and careers to be made....an entrenched industry exists... that has attracted bullying, moralizing fanatics, whose identity and livelihood depend upon growth and expansion...There is a [[humanist]] anti-racism that focuses on reconciliation and healing, that works to bring people together, that functions openly and honestly without the use of dossiers, spies, specious lawsuits, [[disinformation]], and that recognizes the rights of individuals whether they agree with one another or not. This is the anti-racism of good neighbors, of people helping people, of community goodwill, and of the realization that we are all human beings....

Wilcox successfully demonstrates many of the watchdog's enemies are actually imagined enemies.

Wilcox successfully demonstrates many of the watchdog's enemies are actually imagined enemies.

{{Cquote|Watchdog organizations tend to define themselves in terms of their opposition, i.e., the various individuals and organizations they call “extremist,” and depend upon this opposition to justify their existence, their intense hatred of their enemies, and their often questionable fund-raising activities.  Moreover, Watchdog groups tend to exaggerate the divisions that exist in American society. In fact, the supposed polar opposites on the [[political spectrum|ideological spectrum]] have far more in common than they do in opposition. ...studies suggest that extremism is overestimated in American politics and that the differences between left and right are partly imagined.}}

{{Cquote|Watchdog organizations tend to define themselves in terms of their opposition, i.e., the various individuals and organizations they call “extremist,” and depend upon this opposition to justify their existence, their intense hatred of their enemies, and their often questionable fund-raising activities.  Moreover, Watchdog groups tend to exaggerate the divisions that exist in American society. In fact, the supposed polar opposites on the [[political spectrum|ideological spectrum]] have far more in common than they do in opposition. ...studies suggest that extremism is overestimated in American politics and that the differences between left and right are partly imagined.}}

The [[Wikipedia®]] project has worked in close collaboration with several alleged humanitarian "watchdog" groups.  The "Notable Wikipedia Experts" entrusted with this venture [http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2005-December/033813.html] are immune to all Wikipedia's published policies, ''WP:Attribution'', ''WP:No self promotion'', ''WP:Experts do not hold a place of privilege'', ''WP:Citing self'', ''WP:No personal attacks'', ''WP:Civility'', and ''WP:Wikipedia is not a battleground'' are the most often cited policy violations that go unenforced against these private organizations which are granted license to publicly slander at will.<ref>Chirsi Arabia, [http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=10352 Leftist Lie Factory], ''FrontPageMagazine.com'', October 16, 2003.</ref> [http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?showtopic=6799&st=0&p=22830&mode=linear#entry22830]

The [[Wikipedia®]] project has worked in close collaboration with several alleged humanitarian "watchdog" groups.  The "Notable Wikipedia Experts" entrusted with this venture [http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2005-December/033813.html] are immune to all Wikipedia's published policies, ''WP:Attribution'', ''WP:No self promotion'', ''WP:Experts do not hold a place of privilege'', ''WP:Citing self'', ''WP:No personal attacks'', ''WP:Civility'', and ''WP:Wikipedia is not a battleground'' are the most often cited policy violations that go unenforced against these private organizations which are granted license to publicly slander at will.<ref>Chirsi Arabia, [http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=10352 Leftist Lie Factory], ''FrontPageMagazine.com'', October 16, 2003.</ref> [http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?showtopic=6799&st=0&p=22830&mode=linear#entry22830]

==Links and Ties==

==Links and Ties==

The following two subsections, "[[Theocratic]]" and [[Wise use]], are taken from ''Understanding the Right Wing'', by Scot Nakagawa <ref>Scot Nakagawa, [http://cc.msnscache.com/cache.aspx?q=8210562338425&lang=en-US&mkt=en-US&FORM=CVRE ''Understanding The Right Wing''], When Democracy Works, n.d.</ref> written about 1999 and lists various groups classified as "right wing" and "proto-fascist".  This list and accompanying search engine terms have been expanded in the following years.  Nakagawa accredits [[Political Research Associates]] ([[Chip Berlet]], Surina Khan, and [[Jean Hardisty]] [retired]), the Coalition for Human Dignity (Jonathan Mozzochi, Steven Gardiner, and Gillian Leichtling), [[People for the American Way]], The Institute for First Amendment Studies, Sara Diamond, and the Western States Center (Tarso Ramos).

The following two subsections, "[[Theocratic]]" and [[Wise use]], are taken from ''Understanding the Right Wing'', by Scot Nakagawa <ref>Scot Nakagawa, [http://cc.msnscache.com/cache.aspx?q=8210562338425&lang=en-US&mkt=en-US&FORM=CVRE ''Understanding The Right Wing''], When Democracy Works, n.d.</ref> written about 1999 and lists various groups classified as "right wing" and "proto-fascist".  This list and accompanying search engine terms have been expanded in the following years.  Nakagawa accredits [[Political Research Associates]] ([[Chip Berlet]], Surina Khan, and [[Jean Hardisty]] [retired]), the Coalition for Human Dignity (Jonathan Mozzochi, Steven Gardiner, and Gillian Leichtling), [[People for the American Way]], The Institute for First Amendment Studies, Sara Diamond, and the Western States Center (Tarso Ramos).

All these groups and the person associated with them have been the target of "political profiling", as discussed by Laird Wilcox.  Dr. Dobson and Paul Weyrich, among several others, have been viciously smeared in Wikipedia, in violation of Wikipedia's own policies on Neutral Point of View {NPOV}, WP:What Wikipedia is not (WP:NOT), WP:Attribution, and a host of other policies.  Wikipedia claims immunity under Sec. 230 of the Internet Decency Act of 1998 which exempts a hosting facility from liability for content.

All these groups and the person associated with them have been the target of "political profiling", as discussed by Laird Wilcox.  Dr. Dobson and Paul Weyrich, among several others, have been viciously smeared in Wikipedia, in violation of Wikipedia's own policies on Neutral Point of View {NPOV}, WP:What Wikipedia is not (WP:NOT), WP:Attribution, and a host of other policies.  Wikipedia claims immunity under [[Sec. 230]] of the Internet Decency Act of 1998 which exempts a hosting facility from liability for content.

==="Theocratic"===

==="Theocratic"===

==Wise use movement targeted==

==Wise use movement targeted==

A particularly shocking and dangerous example of [[guilt-by-association]] targeting and profiling occurred when two New Mexico grandmothers found themselves suspected of being [[terrorist]]s after appearing on a radio talk show where they criticized the federal government and the United Nations. Kay Stone and Jean Vallance were investigated by New Mexico Department of Public Safety (State Police) after appearing on KINN radio in Alamagordo in June, 1998.

A particularly shocking and dangerous example of [[guilt-by-association]] targeting and profiling occurred when two New Mexico grandmothers found themselves suspected of being [[terrorist]]s after appearing on a radio talk show where they criticized the federal government and the United Nations. Kay Stone and Jean Vallance were investigated by New Mexico Department of Public Safety (State Police) after appearing on KINN radio in Alamagordo in June, 1998.

State police Lt. Bill Bowers called the station and spoke with talk show host Mike Shinaberry, who was asked about the couple and Maude Rathgeber, the Otereo [[Republican party]] chairwomen, who had also been on the show in the past. According to Shinaberry:

State police Lt. Bill Bowers called the station and spoke with talk show host Mike Shinaberry, who was asked about the couple and Maude Rathgeber, the Otereo [[Republican party]] chairwomen, who had also been on the show in the past. According to Shinaberry:

Mrs. Vallance, a retired nurse who is married to a civilian employee at Holloman, said Agent Finerty asked about her religious affiliation and whether anyone was “planning something” against German pilots [stationed at the base].}}

Mrs. Vallance, a retired nurse who is married to a civilian employee at Holloman, said Agent Finerty asked about her religious affiliation and whether anyone was “planning something” against German pilots [stationed at the base].}}

All of this came about by the issuance of a manual entitled ''The Extreme Right: An Overview'' containing in large part material from a [[leftist]] "Watchdog" organization to law enforcement agencies.<ref>Laird Wilcox, ''The Watchdogs'', 1999, pg. 69.</ref>  According to news sources:

All of this came about by the issuance of a manual entitled ''The Extreme Right: An Overview'' containing in large part material from a [[leftist]] "watchdog" organization to law enforcement agencies.<ref>Laird Wilcox, ''The Watchdogs'', 1999, pg. 69.</ref>  According to news sources:

{{Cquote|The 73-page document included profiles of fringe groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, as well as skinheads and extremists who believe each race should have its own land in the United States. Lumped into the manual’s description of terrorists, racists and other pariahs is an excerpt on the so-called “[[wise use]]” movement, which advocates more local control over federally owned lands. }}

{{Cquote|The 73-page document included profiles of fringe groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, as well as skinheads and extremists who believe each race should have its own land in the United States. Lumped into the manual’s description of terrorists, racists and other ''pariahs'' is an excerpt on the so-called “[[wise use]]” movement, which advocates more local control over federally-owned lands. }}

Shinaberry was spurred to investigate this manual. Speaking again with Lt. Bill Bowers he was told “that the federal government had asked state police to create a—he used the term intelligence database’—to make lists of people who might be radicals.” He also noted that the manual suggests an anti-government continuum of groups that apparently run from the most peaceful to those with a reputation for violence, with no distinction made between them. As it happened the contents of the manual were leaked to the public after the police inquiries into the two women.

Shinaberry was spurred to investigate this manual. Speaking again with Lt. Bill Bowers he was told “that the federal government had asked state police to create a—he used the term 'intelligence database'—to make lists of people who might be radicals.” He also noted that the manual suggests an anti-government continuum of groups that apparently run from the most peaceful to those with a reputation for violence, with no distinction made between them. As it happened the contents of the manual were leaked to the public after the police inquiries into the two women.

Ranchers and loggers erupted in anger at the manual’s juxtaposition of the [[wise use]] movement with Nazi and Klan groups....Local government officials, concerned about the impact of federal policies on rural economies, also objected to the manual.

Ranchers and loggers erupted in anger at the manual’s juxtaposition of the [[wise use]] movement with Nazi and Klan groups....Local government officials, concerned about the impact of federal policies on rural economies, also objected to the manual.

{{Cquote|I recognize that across New Mexico thousands of farmers, ranchers, miners, loggers and others are committed to preserving a way of life free from unnecessary regulation,” he wrote. “I believe free speech and the spoken word sustain our freedom. }}

{{Cquote|I recognize that across New Mexico thousands of farmers, ranchers, miners, loggers and others are committed to preserving a way of life free from unnecessary regulation,” he wrote. “I believe free speech and the spoken word sustain our freedom. }}

The "Watchdog" organization manual and others like it continue to be circulated among law enforcement officials nationwide, even though its effect is to target ordinary American citizens on the basis of the values, opinions and beliefs.<ref>Laird Wilcox, ''The Watchdogs'', pg. 70.</ref>  The Wise use movement was the target of political profiling and placed on the this leftist Watchdog list because if frequently takes positions contrary to the [[Sierra Club]] and the [[Wilderness Society]].<ref>[http://www.attacreport.com/ar_terror/tframe.php?region=namerica&group=ef ATTAC Report].</ref>

The "Watchdog" organization manual and others like it continue to be circulated among law enforcement officials nationwide, even though its effect is to target ordinary American citizens on the basis of the values, opinions and beliefs.<ref>Laird Wilcox, ''The Watchdogs'', pg. 70.</ref>  The Wise use movement was the target of political profiling and placed on the this leftist Watchdog list because it frequently takes positions contrary to the [[Sierra Club]] and the [[Wilderness Society]].<ref>[http://www.attacreport.com/ar_terror/tframe.php?region=namerica&group=ef ATTAC Report].</ref>

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Big Tech]]

*[[Big Tech]]

*[[The Bell Curve]]

*[[The Bell Curve]]

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Political Terms]]

[[Category:Political Terms]]