SOUTH BEND, Ind., April 23, 2008

House GOP Candidate Spoke At Hitler Event

Candidate For Indiana District Defends Speech At American National Socialist Workers Party Event Celebrating Nazi's Birthday

  • Republican candidate for Indiana's 2nd District congressional seat, South Bend attorney Tony Zirkle, stands in his law office April 24, 2006 in South Bend, Ind. Photo

    Republican candidate for Indiana's 2nd District congressional seat, South Bend attorney Tony Zirkle, stands in his law office April 24, 2006 in South Bend, Ind.  (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

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(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.

"I'll speak before any group that invites me," Zirkle said Monday. "I've spoken on an African-American radio station in Atlanta."

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.

"Some people are going to impute motives and say things that I mean, but many of these people have never even talked to me. So their ability to say what I intended is not very credible," Zirkle said.

He said he did not know much about the neo-Nazi group and that his intention was to talk on his concern about "the targeting of young white women and for pornography and prostitution."

Local Republicans condemned Zirkle's appearance.

"I cannot believe that in 2008 anyone could think so backward," Luke Puckett, another 2nd District GOP candidate, said in a written response.

Chris Riley, Republican Party chairman for St. Joseph County, said he found Zirkle's comments "nauseating and repulsive."

The event was not the first time Zirkle has raised controversy on race issues. In March, Zirkle raised the idea of segregating races in separate states. Zirkle said Tuesday he's not advocating segregation, but said desegregation has been a failure.

Zirkle received 30 percent of the vote in the 2006 primary, losing to incumbent Chris Chocola, who was defeated in the general election. Zirkle said Tuesday that winning the election is not his primary goal.

"My primary purpose is to educate and inform," he said.

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Add a Comment See all 220 Comments
by brianbwb-2009 April 23, 2008 1:18 AM PDT
And you anti Obama people have the hypocritical gall to criticize the Rev. Wright.
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 April 23, 2008 1:24 AM PDT
"Led by the American National Socialist Workers Party, dozens of white activists , almost all from the Chicago area, listened to speeches from Tony Zirkle, Republican nominee for Congress in Indiana''s 2nd District, Art Jones, former Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois'' 3rd District, Theo Junker, a former German SS Officer, and Bill White, Commander of the organization.

Zirkle spoke on his history as a state''s attorney in Indiana, prosecuting Jewish and Zionist criminal gangs involved in trafficking prostitutes and pornography from Russia and th Zionist entity. Jones spoke on the racial situation in the United States and Junker spoke on his experiences during the Third Reich and after the war. White spoke on the need to focus on the current economic crisis, parallels between the US today and Germany in 1930, and the need to focus on the white working class."

This is the core of the Republican party, Nazis, racists, religious intolerants, and elitists.

Both Democrat contenders need to focus now on hammering this fact home.

Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 April 23, 2008 1:31 AM PDT
"I cannot believe that in 2008 anyone could think so backward," Luke Puckett, another 2nd District GOP candidate, said in a written response."

Which is a bald faced lie, Puckett has obviously known Zirkle, and the Nazi movement in Illinois, it was even made a joke of in the "Blues Brothers" movie, every one knows that there are such Neanderthals in the US.

Since he is a fellow Republican, Puckett waits until this story comes out to comment on it. While he speaks against it, Puckett''s voting record would probably be a perfect match for Zirkle''s...
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 April 23, 2008 1:33 AM PDT
Illinois and Indiana, I should add, and also Michigan and Ohio.
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 April 23, 2008 1:36 AM PDT
"He said he did not know much about the neo-Nazi group and that his intention was to talk on his concern about "the targeting of young white women and for pornography and prostitution."

But shows no concern for any other ethnicities, indicating that he is indeed a racist. Exploitation of women for porn and prostitution is wrong regardless of ethnic stripe, to single one group for concern, rejecting the other groups, automatically indicates an ulterior motive that is not good.
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 April 23, 2008 1:38 AM PDT
"Chris Riley, Republican Party chairman for St. Joseph County, said he found Zirkle''s comments "nauseating and repulsive."


In public, hi might, but we all know privately, Riley agrees with Zirkle-jerk, and the other Nazis in the Republican party.
Reply to this comment
by watcher269-2009 April 23, 2008 2:24 AM PDT
Doesn''t Indiana still have the Highest KKK membership in the country? Or has that honor been given to Texas Yet?
Reply to this comment
by April 23, 2008 3:13 AM PDT
Why should we be surprised?

The Republican party is full of nazis.
Reply to this comment
by naucoming4u April 23, 2008 3:36 AM PDT
The congressional candidate, Tony Zirkle, "defends his speech to a Nazi group"!

Well, that is just fine.

Add this GOP politician to the long list of rabid racists, child molesters, adulterers, and crooks that the Republican party proudly carries. The more examples that come to light will hopefully begin to make the majority of Americans realize that Conservatism is an obsolete collection of ideals and does everything to reverse the advancement of humanity.

The Democrats, by the way, have their share of follies but they pale in comparison to the shear amount of abhorrent actions committed by the GOP over the past two-plus-decades!
Reply to this comment
by ramos937 April 23, 2008 4:22 AM PDT
This guy is nuts. But, given the track record of these GOP guys, there is no great surprise. One more seat for the Democrats.
Reply to this comment
by fibonacci_ April 23, 2008 4:58 AM PDT
Remember people on the right - Nazis were also on the right.
Reply to this comment
by bgwinnett April 23, 2008 5:17 AM PDT
MCVet''s going to have a field day on this story.
LOL
Reply to this comment
by mcvet April 23, 2008 5:34 AM PDT
MCVet''''s going to have a field day on this story.
LOL



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Posted by bgwinnett at 05:17 AM : Apr 23, 2008

LOL Thanks! LOL I guess there''s no reason to say I TOLD YOU SO huh?? LOL Now all together now! SIEG HEIL REPUBLICAN''S
Reply to this comment
by bgwinnett April 23, 2008 5:54 AM PDT
I wonder if this guy sleeps in a black shirt or a brown shirt at night.
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 April 23, 2008 6:09 AM PDT
Posted by MCVet

A bittersweet vindication, eh, McVet, to be proven literally correct about something so bad?
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 April 23, 2008 6:11 AM PDT
"Doesn''''t Indiana still have the Highest KKK membership in the country? Or has that honor been given to Texas Yet?" Posted by watcher269

It may be tied with illinois, with Michigan third.

In Texas, it is not so much an organization as much as a prevalent mentality.
Reply to this comment
by Gary Kempf April 23, 2008 6:18 AM PDT
"My primary purpose is to educate and inform," he said.

This proves the Republican party Should have its own definition in the Websters dictionary.

Republican; to be moronic, to be of low moral standing, with no ethics or conscience.
Reply to this comment
by rushlimpdrug April 23, 2008 7:05 AM PDT

I wonder if this guy sleeps in a black shirt or a brown shirt at night.
Posted by bgwinnett at 05:54 AM

And white sheets.

Don''t forget the white sheets.

Do they give jews gas showers at these parties?
Reply to this comment
by honestabe8 April 23, 2008 7:12 AM PDT
hi brianbwb: ""Doesn''''''''t Indiana still have the Highest KKK membership in the country? Or has that honor been given to Texas Yet?" Posted by watcher269

It may be tied with illinois, with Michigan third."

Where did you get the information on Michigan Klan membership?
Reply to this comment
by xlib April 23, 2008 7:14 AM PDT
So, let''s get this straight all you libs and wright lovers and apologists-A REPUBLICAN speaks at this event (do we have his speech?) and ALL Republicans are condemned?? Just how does that work? I do believe your party still has byrd, right mcvet?? I do believe that your empty suit candidate is the member of a hate filled church.
So, one Republican and all are bad and lumped into the same pile. I believe that''s profiling and I thought your party was against that.
Again, what did he say. I don''t see that anywhere in this article.
mcvet, I know you have issues, hope they are gettins resolved.
Reply to this comment
by rushlimpdrug April 23, 2008 7:16 AM PDT

Posted by Xlib at 07:14 AM

Why do you call yourself Xlib?

Are you not proud of being what you are now?

Reply to this comment
by jjp735i April 23, 2008 7:24 AM PDT
A Republican celebrating the anniversary of Adolf Hitler''s birth is not news, it''s expected.
Reply to this comment
by bgwinnett April 23, 2008 7:24 AM PDT
Do they give jews gas showers at these parties?

Posted by rushlimpdrug at 07:05 AM : Apr 23, 2008


and gold teeth extractions?
Reply to this comment
by lloydbest1 April 23, 2008 7:37 AM PDT
So, I went ahead and googl''d this dude and found his campaign web site (www.tonyzirkle.com/campaign) and I have to tell you...this one''s WAY out of the box.

I suppose there isn''t a region in the country that wouldn''t find his brand of right wing fantasy appealing but I have to second brianbwb''s assesment that the western Great Lakes region seems to have an unusually high number (or an unusually vocal number) of them.

I have more bad news....As our economy continues to tank and the value of American workers of all ethnicities continues to depreciate we''ll see more of these political trolls pop up like mushrooms after a spring rain. Folks like Zirkle - and David Duke, Ann Coulter, Judge Roy Moore, Randall Terry, Fred Phelps and countless other rightist pit bulls - can and will prey on the fear and insecurity most of us feel from time to time to push their own unique brand of "American" values. They are becoming the mainstream of the Republican party and have no compunctions about using the same divide''n''rule and false flag tactics that other 19th and 20th (and early 21st) century historical monsters have used to gain power. Zirkle isn''t an abberation of today''s GOP but the epitome of it.
Reply to this comment
by Gary Kempf April 23, 2008 7:48 AM PDT
Posted by Xlib at 07:14 AM : Apr 23, 2008

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.

Read above portion again, visualize what he stood in front of, what he was standing next to, and as McVet would probably would say you have a real life image of a Republican. Or in all fairness A REALLY STUPID REPUBLICAN!



Reply to this comment
by rushlimpdrug April 23, 2008 7:51 AM PDT

Top Ten Reasons Tony Zirkle Attended Nazi Meeting:

1. Hoping to get Hitler''s endorsement;

2. Seeking the more liberal republican votes;

3. Stirring interest in the young republican voter;

4. Tired of kosher food;

5. It''s the only way he could meet karl rove;

6. Loves to play the "How many jews can you pack in a boxcar" game;

7. What goes on in "the party" stays in "the party";

8. It''s like home;

9. Who can resist that invitation?

10. If you can overlook their hating, Nazis are really like you and me.


7. Can''t beat the 50 cent beer;
Reply to this comment
by mcvet April 23, 2008 7:57 AM PDT
so with your alls logic: all democrats attend a church that has a preacher that preaches white people are bad and to god *** america....so you must be ok with this sermon


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Posted by jamesm12341 at 07:50 AM : Apr 23, 2008
+ report abuse

You freaks ARE fascist for god''s sake.. just own up to it. It''s better for you in the long run you know. Tell you what swastika breath... print out the last month of YOUR post on here... take them to ANY college and ask to see the head of the Political Science Department. ASK HIM if you''re a NAZI! Now say it along with me... let the fuhrer HEAR ya! Sieg Heil Bush!!
Reply to this comment
by mcvet April 23, 2008 8:00 AM PDT
So, one Republican and all are bad and lumped into the same pile. I believe that''''s profiling and I thought your party was against that.
Again, what did he say. I don''''t see that anywhere in this article.
mcvet, I know you have issues, hope they are gettins resolved.


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Posted by Xlib at 07:14 AM : Apr 23, 2008
+ report abuse

Hey Bootlicker! I''ll make the SAME offer to you that I have the other fascist on here! Print up about a month of your post on here... take them to a Political Scientist and ASK them if your a freegin Nazi! Better yet go to their Web Site and give me ANY difference in YOUR position, the Position of the Present Republican Party and theirs! Now say it along with me swastika hugger!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!!
Reply to this comment
by afmca April 23, 2008 8:05 AM PDT
To compare talking at an African-America radio staion or a religious institution to a group of neo-Nazis celebrating the birth of one of the all time war criminals is just not amazing, but shows a level of stupidity seldom seem in society any more. To compare the sermons of Obama''s preachers to the ranting of a murdering, meglomaniac who plunged the world into war shows a simplistic mind. Until we stop defending policies and polticians based on party and start looking upon them in the larger context of right and wrong American society will continue to decline.
Reply to this comment
by Gary Kempf April 23, 2008 8:07 AM PDT
jamesm12341

I don''t believe there is a republican or democrat that will be nominated for saint hood.

But face it, this has got to get Tony Zirkle nominated for "are you brain dead award"
Reply to this comment
by honestabe8 April 23, 2008 8:11 AM PDT
"To compare the sermons of Obama''''s preachers to the ranting of a murdering, meglomaniac who plunged the world into war shows a simplistic mind. Until we stop defending policies and polticians based on party and start looking upon them in the larger context of right and wrong American society will continue to decline."

Well said, afmca
Reply to this comment
by hungry1968 April 23, 2008 8:12 AM PDT
Why is this a big deal?

Everyone knows that the GOP is fundamentally the same thing as the Nazi party, so why is anyone surprised?
Reply to this comment
by hhroams April 23, 2008 8:15 AM PDT
HO HUM, ANOTHER NAZI IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THAT''S NO SUPRISE AT ALL.

SEIG HEIL BUSH!!!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by obama8years April 23, 2008 8:17 AM PDT
I honestly thought the story was going to be about Obama. Obama came out of know where, with the masses following him like some charismatic leader. Obama wants to weaken our military. He wants to take away our guns. Obama wants to Socialize America , WHY?? We have been fighting Communism and Socialism for centuries.

(use Rev Wrights voice) NO, NO, NO, NO Not God Bless America, God D-am america, yes he did!



This is the first Primary since the real Obama has been discovered:

wright - printed pro-hamas, racist, anti-american
farakahn
million man march
typical white people
side with muslims(from his own book)
ISM support(has not broke yet, it will)
First Lady - finally proud, America is Mean, Essay.

Obama - typical whites, guns and religion, anti-immigrant

Obama - ayers a terrorist kicked off Obama Campaign

Obama is the most far left liberal in the senate.

DONT KID YOURSELF , THE REST OF THE PRIMARYS ARE GOING TO LOOK THE SAME. OBAMA IS DONE. GOD BLESS AMERICA, he really is looking out for us.



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Reply to this comment
by rushlimpdrug April 23, 2008 8:17 AM PDT

Now folks, don''t draw any conclusions from
this one Nazi/republican event.

I urge you to keep supporting the republican party.

It is our only (white supremacist) hope.

Thank you in advance for the money you will send
the party as a show of support.
Reply to this comment
by bgwinnett April 23, 2008 8:21 AM PDT
The GOP needs a grand old purging of these Nazis.
Reply to this comment
by singingrick April 23, 2008 8:22 AM PDT


Imagine that, another Republican Nazi.


Reply to this comment
by redstripe11 April 23, 2008 8:26 AM PDT
"Illinois Nazis.:

I mean, Indiana.
Reply to this comment
by hhroams April 23, 2008 8:30 AM PDT
SO WHAT DUBYA''S GRANDFATHER WAS TRIED FOR TRADING WITH THE NAZI''S NO SUPRISE.
BUSH''S FAMILY FOUGHT ON THE BRITISH SIDE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. THEY WERE NO WHERE NEAR THE FRONT LINES EITHER
Reply to this comment
by antoniof123 April 23, 2008 8:36 AM PDT
The GOP needs a grand old purging of these Nazis.

Posted by bgwinnett at 08:21 AM : Apr 23, 2008

There wouldn''t be any left.
Reply to this comment
by quetzal0666 April 23, 2008 8:55 AM PDT
So the GOP is so desperate for votes, the fringe groups are now mainstream?
Reply to this comment
by libh8er April 23, 2008 8:58 AM PDT
No different than what goes on in the right Rev. Wright''s "church" every week. What''s the big deal?
Reply to this comment
by miamimama3 April 23, 2008 8:59 AM PDT
He attended a Nazi function simply because he was asked to appear? A supposedly educated American who doesn''t really know anything about the neo-Nazi party? Baloney. I declare shenanigans.
Reply to this comment
by parrot123-2009 April 23, 2008 9:22 AM PDT
I really was shocked (sic) when i saw the article - Then took Lloyd''s advise and went to this fools website - It''s trash and this Repug seems to be obsessed with Porn and anything to do with Porn .... He truly is an embarassment for Repugs and may actually be a true representation of the real Repug Party. How Shameful. Cheers!
Reply to this comment
by bgwinnett April 23, 2008 9:36 AM PDT
I really was shocked (sic) when i saw the article - Then took Lloyd''''s advise and went to this fools website - It''''s trash and this Repug seems to be obsessed with Porn and anything to do with Porn .... He truly is an embarassment for Repugs and may actually be a true representation of the real Repug Party. How Shameful. Cheers!

Posted by parrot123 at 09:22 AM : Apr 23, 2008

Just been on the site too. You''re right, why is he so obsessed with porn? It almost seems to be his main focus.
Reply to this comment
by mbcsmith April 23, 2008 9:56 AM PDT
That was Byrd (LIB-WV) in the front row.
Reply to this comment
by tulcak April 23, 2008 9:59 AM PDT
He defends himself by saying that he spoke at an African-American event?! What kind of insane thinking is that? Did all the soldiers who fought against the nazis in WWII die for nothing?
And people acuse Sen. Obama for being un-American because his pastor (not him) spoke inappropriately. These GOP nut cases keep asking, "Why didn''t he disassociate himself from his pastor?" Well, why the h*eLL did this GOP scumbag ASSOCIATE himself with hitler and those that believe in a reincarnated nazi party?! TALK ABOUT HYPOCRASY AND DOUBLE STANDARDS ! ! Its GOP spewing cr*aP again which they do 24/7... This is America where ANYONE can be president, where people are free...
Reply to this comment
by usbrit-2009 April 23, 2008 10:06 AM PDT
While you''re checking on Zirken''s website, also check the American National Socialist Workers Party''s site. They''re so proud of what they represent the site doesn''t even have a name only the IP address. http://12.107.40.67/
Reply to this comment
by walt1944-2009 April 23, 2008 10:12 AM PDT
Tony Zirkle, a GOP "hopeful" running for Congress has been caught giving a speech at a Nazi rally in Chicago last Sunday, standing in front of a painting of Adolph Hitler and surrounded with swastika armbands.

Discovering that he was "caught" and hoping that the usual GOP Fascist "doublespeak" would work for him, he is claiming that he was asked to give a speech and had no idea it was for the Nazis. It is puzzeling why Zirkle, when he entered the room and discovered that it was filled with Nazis, didn''t turn around on his heels and walk out. Perhaps he thought they were all loyal card-carrying Republicans (which they probably were!)!

All this proves to everyone that the GOP IS the re-birth of the Nazi Party, that the elephant will be replaced by the swastika, and we will all be greeting any GOP candidate with a "SIG HEIL"!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, (more of the same) John "McBush" McCain!!!
Reply to this comment
by gunownerdan April 23, 2008 10:30 AM PDT
Check out this racist Nazi gun control law from the start of the holocaust:

"Jews are prohibited from acquiring, possessing, and carrying firearms and ammunition, as well as truncheons or stabbing weapons. Those now possessing weapons and ammunition are at once to turn them over to the local police authority.
Firearms and ammunition found in a Jew''s possession will be forfeited to the government without compensation. Whoever willfully or negligently violates the provisions...will be punished with imprisonment and a fine."
-- Nazi Weapons Law of November 11, 1938 (Regulations Against Jews'' Possession of Weapons, 11 November 1938, German Minister of the Interior Frick)

http://www.jpfo.org/filegen-n-z/NaziLawGerman.htm

Killers prefer unarmed victims!
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