Yesterday, the publishing arm of the John Tanton Network, The Social Contract Press (TSCP), issued a press release calling for an end to Muslim immigration. The statement introduced the latest issue of the white nationalist journal The Social Contract, which is devoted entirely to what it calls “The Menace of Islam.”
John Tanton founded TSCP and still serves as the journal’s publisher.
Wayne Lutton, The Social Contract’s editor, echoes the press release in his introduction to the issue, stating: “What evidence is there that Muslim “integration” is possible? It seems clear to us that it is (past) time to halt Muslim immigration to the United States.”
Lutton further states that “There are not two different varieties of Islam, one for al Qaeda and another for the rest of Muslims. Islam itself is the problem.”
Other Tanton Network groups have also expressed what appear to be Islamophobic statements in the recent past.
In September 2010, the Facebook page of Tanton Network group 9/11 Families for Secure America posted a link to a rally hosted by the English Defence League (a far-right, anti-Muslim organization based in the UK), with the words “please check out this link to see what is just around the corner for the United States if we don’t defend ourselves against the conditions now going on in the United Kingdom!”
In August of 2010, Texans for Immigration Reform, a group listed on the Federation for American Immigration Reform’s website as a state contact, sent an email to supporters with the following statements: “Sharia law and a republic cannot exist together. Every Muslim is by their faith bound to support a theocracy.”
Followed by, “Obama is bringing in Hamas refugees. We not only provide funding for Hamas but we then make them refugees.”
Rosanna Pulido, a former regional field coordinator for FAIR has caused controversy with her Islamophibic comments, dating all the way back to 2003 when she said this on an online forum about Muslim prayer: “It reminds me of my dog, smelling buts. [sic]”
Tanton founded the Federation for American Immigration Reform 30 years ago and shortly thereafter U.S. Inc. These two groups jointly fund and support most of today’s national anti-immigrant groups.
Groups like the Center for Immigration Studies, also founded by Tanton - which serves as a quasi-think tank to the anti-immigrant movement, NumbersUSA – its mobilizing arm, and Immigration Reform Law Institute – FAIR’s legal arm.
Through the creation of these numerous front groups and spin-offs, the Tanton Network tries to convince the public that its concern over immigration is restricted to environment, security, or economy (depending on which issue is easier to message around).
However, its leadership’s harsh comments against Islam point to a much more controversial motive for its immigration focus.