Is This What a "Non-Denial Denial" Looks Like?
A shadowy group known as the Providence Society puts out a statement seemingly trying to distance itself from its pro-Nazi editor -- or did it?
In the classic journalism film “All the President’s Men,” there is discussion of what the Watergate reporting team refers to as a “non-denial denial” — a statement that casts doubt on a story without actually disputing the facts.
From my perspective, that description seemed appropriate for the fallout from my investigation of the shadowy group that gave Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles an A+ on its so-called “Remigration Score.”
“Remigration” has been characterized as a euphemism for ethnic cleansing, forcing out people who do not — in Ogles’ own words — “make America look like America.” That includes people who are legal immigrants.
On its website, the Providence Society identifies the editor of its Providence Press as a person who operates an X account with the handle @Am_Septembrist. Providence Press is called the group’s “publication arm.”
As I reported, the Providence Press editor expresses his admiration for Adolf Hitler, calls for creation of something akin to the Nazis’ 25-point party platform for Western countries, claims the Holocaust is a fabrication and urges the deportation of Black American citizens.
The Providence Society did not respond to my inquiry before that story was published. However, they later posted a statement on X that (1) falsely claimed that I am “an investigative journalist working with the far-left outlet the Tennessee Holler” and (2) characterized my reporting as “a hit piece” that “attempts to demonize our organization and misrepresent the work we do.”
Rather than admitting that @Am_Septembrist is described by the Providence Society itself as the “editor” of its “publication arm,” the statement claims he is merely “a volunteer contributor” and his views should not be seen as “the official views of Providence Society itself.”
There is, however, one thing the Providence Society does NOT do: It does not repudiate the pro-Nazi views of its own editor.
“Providence Society is proudly Christian and nationalist,” the statement concludes.
“We will not apologize for defending our people, our culture and our way of life, nor will we dilute our principles to form coalitions or punch right instead of left.”
Is that what you would consider a non-denial denial?
What do you think?