Here is the sixty-fifth article in our Republicans on Parade series, featuring individuals who personify what the Republican Party has become. Today’s honoree is US House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA). He is so honored for keeping the KKK in GOP.
Back in 1999, Roll Call interviewed white supremacist leader David Duke about the possibility he would seek the House seat vacated by the resignation of Republican Rep. Bob Livingston. As part of that report, reporter John Mercurio also talked to up-and-coming Louisiana politicians, current Sen. David Vitter and current House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.
“I honestly think his 15 minutes of fame have come and gone,” said state Rep. David Vitter (R), a wealthy Metairie attorney who holds Duke’s old seat in the state House and is “seriously considering” a Congressional bid. “When he’s competed in a field with real conservatives, real Republicans, Duke has not done well at all.”
Another potential candidate, state Rep. Steve Scalise (R), said he embraces many of the same “conservative” views as Duke, but is far more viable.
“The novelty of David Duke has worn off,” said Scalise. “The voters in this district are smart enough to realize that they need to get behind someone who not only believes in the issues they care about, but also can get elected. Duke has proven that he can’t get elected, and that’s the first and most important thing.”
…Scalise addressed Duke’s European-American Unity and Rights Organization back in 2002…
Inserted from <Roll Call>
The Republican leadership has accepted Scalise’s disingenuous excuse, that he did not know. How pathetic! That an LA politician to claim ignorance that Duke was Clan could not be more incredible. Even Diaper Dave knew that Scalise embraces Duke’s racist values. But then, every time a black voter is turned away from the voting booth, it proves that those are also the values of the Republican Party.
18 Responses to “Republicans on Parade–12/31/2014”
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“When he’s competed in a field with real conservatives, real Republicans, Duke has not done well at all.”
Diaper Dave actually makes an encouraging point here. Every time one of these scumbags gets caught with his hand in the KKKookie jar, he has to claim he didn't know who they were, or it wasn't actually him, or he talks to lots of groups he doesn't agree with, etc. There are enough racists out there for the dog-whistle stuff to work, but not enough that they can be openly and proudly racist and still win elections, even in the South. If they could, they would.
If memory serves, all the peiople in the above picture are elected officials. I think you're right for most federal electiuons, bit in loval and state races, it's not uncommon for Republicans to run as Klan.
I love your comment Nameless – especially the "KKKookie jar" – brilliant!
What a vile little man this article is about – and I notice the Right are trying to pretend that all the trouble is done and dusted "“I honestly think his 15 minutes of fame have come and gone,” said state Rep. David Vitter (R)" – the evil these men do lives long after they have left the scene, sadly.
Scalise' excuse is a pile of horse hockey pucks! If people believe him they are no smarter than the afore-mentioned pucks.
Well, that's the Republican base for you. People voted for Louie Gohmert — a man whose intellectual superiors include several species of potato. They'll believe Scalise.
I ceertainly hope you're noy implying that Go Go Goosestep is intellectually superior to any species of potato!!
Please forgive me Infidel753 – it was your comment on "KKKookie jar" – sorry!
No problem…..
As I said elsewhere, this guy is going to be a lot more fun than Eric Cantor. There is an advantage to having someone totally Looney Tunes in a leadership position – for one thing, he should be easier to keep an eye on. The media will be all over him for quotes, and he will not fail. It will limit his ability to cut private, back-room deals.
Have signed two different petitions to get him ousted from third place in the last 24 hours.
Like you, I'd love to see him fired for speaking to a rally of White Supremacists founded by a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. But we both know that ain't gonna happen.
The Rethuglican Party would NEVER fire someone who speaks so effectively to its base.
Willful ignorance and/or incompetence is the RepubliCON Platform! 😉 Dukes is passe…these CONvertible RepubliCONs are worse – their sheets & hoods convert into tophats & suits when mingling with the Media..:(
While his claim of "ignorance" may be valid for him in general, it's pure bovine feces WRT him not knowing about the White Supremacists and Ku Klux Klan.
Not only are both Scalise and Duke based in Louisiana, not only did the event take place in both their home stomping grounds, not only had he actually spoken with Duke previously – but HELL, even a minor league baseball team from Iowa knew enough about the bigoted racist hate-mongering of the group to change their hotel reservations just to avoid them!
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/baseball-team-avoided-david-duke-group-scalise
Isn't that Scalise in the top picture? . . . 2nd row, clean shaven dufus with the pointy black hat, the hat that looks like a dunce cap!
There is not a chance in hell, or anywhere else for that matter, that Scalise didn't know what was happening. These guys are so punch drunk on greed and power that they'll slit the throats of their own just to get further up the food chain.
Of course he knew what was happening and to whom he was speaking. He will be protected, though, because the Republicans need to be in control of the House and Senate to continue their wars on women and poor people.
Thanks all. I'm riishing to finish up, before I run out of year.
The notion that he did not know is patently absur4d.
I agree with Lynn Sequance on this one. ↓ ↓