(AP) A congressional candidate is defending his speech to a group celebrating the anniversary of Adolf Hitler's birth, saying he appeared simply because he was asked.
Tony Zirkle, who is seeking the Republican nomination in northern Indiana's 2nd District, stood in front of a painting of Hitler, next to people wearing swastika armbands and with a swastika flag in the background for the speech to the American National Socialist Workers Party in Chicago on Sunday.
He compared his speech to other politicians appearing at Bob Jones University.
George W. Bush, then a candidate for president, was criticized eight years ago for speaking at the South Carolina school, which teaches students that Catholicism is a cult. Also at the time of the speech, the school banned interracial dating, a policy that has since been dropped. -
CBS News I have to admit that, when I read the headline, my first thought was, "How old IS this guy?" But I see that it really wasn't a Hitler event, just a celebration of his birthday. Nice. I also have to admit that I agree with him on the Bob Jones University comparison.
In the interest of fairness and honesty, I also include the following two sentences from the article:
Local Republicans condemned Zirkle's appearance. and
Zirkle received 30 percent of the vote in the 2006 primary, losing to incumbent Chris Chocola, who was defeated in the general election.Thirty percent. It's always nice when people let you know up front just who they are.
♪ So long, fair well, auf wiedersehen, good bye
(Note: In keeping with the First Amendment rights guaranteed by the US Constitution, I state unequivocally that this man has the right to make a putz of himself in public. )
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Looking at his last name, I am guessing that he has Slavic ancestors. I wonder if Herr Zircle knows Hitler's position on Slavs.
