I’ve written about creationist and convicted felon Kent Hovind’s idiocy. But I had forgotten another aspect of Hovind–his ties to white supremacist groups. From the archives:

By way of Orcinus, comes a whole lot of information about creationist Kent Hovind. First, a description of his ally, Michael Marcavage, who invited Hovind to speak in Dover, PA during the trial:

Michael Marcavage, whose Philadelphia-based organization Repent America is sponsoring Hovind’s visit, said the accusations of anti-Semitism and extremism are unfair.

“He believes that people are from one race, the human race,” Marcavage said.

He said some Jewish organizations, such as the Anti-Defamation League and the American Civil Liberties Union, are targeting Christians because of their faith.

“Those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh are under the spirit of anti-christ,” Marcavage added, a reference to 1 John 4:2-3.

Um, the ACLU isn’t a Zionist Occupation Govermental Jewish organization. But maybe this is unfair to Hovind. Perhaps we shouldn’t judge the man by his friends, but by his own words and deeds:

Opened in 2001, Dinosaur Adventure Land sprung from Hovind’s Creation Science Evangelism ministry, which began to evolve in the late ’80s. CSE sells videos and audiotapes of Hovind’s lectures and his debates with evolutionary scientists, along with books on “Evolution and the New World Order.” (At least one of them, Fourth Reich of the Rich, alleges a Jewish conspiracy to take over the world.)

Hovind also points his followers to Citizens Rule Book, popular among antigovernment “Patriots”; Media Bypass, an antigovernment magazine with strong anti-Semitic leanings; and titles by America’s leading authority on tax-dodging, Irwin Schiff, who was indicted on criminal tax evasion charges in March (see Taxing the First Amendment). Two years ago, Hovind’s “fine Christian friend,” Joseph Sweet of the Joy Foundation, ran into similar trouble, sued by the feds for allegedly teaching folks how to evade income taxes.

And then there’s this:

Hovind, who runs the Creation Science Evangelism ministry from Pensacola, Fla., says the whole Bible is literally true and that the Earth is only 6,000 years old. While that may seem par for the creationist course, Hovind also sells anti-Semitic books like Fourth Reich of the Rich and has recommended The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a book blaming the world’s problems on a Jewish conspiracy.

Environmentalism and income taxes, Hovind says, are designed to destroy the United States and “bring it under Communism.” “Democracy,” he says, “is evil and contrary to God’s law.”

Every religion has fundamentalists bordering on extremism; Hovind is notable for his wide reception and for his promulgating of conspiracy theories favored by the antigovernment “Patriot” movement.

I disagree with the SPLC on one thing: Hovind isn’t a ‘fundamentalist bordering on extremism.’ He’s an anti-Semitic hate-mongering bigot; there isn’t a border within miles of this guy.

Remember one thing: one political party-the Democrats-has nothing to do with Hovind and his travelling fellows. Another political party-the Republicans-considers Hovind and friends to be the Republican Party’s base.

That’s the controversy which should be taught.