Allegedly Republican congressional candidate Tony Zirkle (which might even still be his real name) recently defended a decision to speak at a private event on the grounds that “I’ll speak before any group that invites me.”
An interesting campaign strategy, and potentially a good one. Unless, of course, the group in question is the American National Socialist Worker’s Party – and the private event is a celebration of the birthday of Adolf Hitler.
Yes, that link takes you to a picture of The Candiate Formerly Known as Zirkle addressing the SWP, while standing in front of a full-sized photograph of the Fuhrer in his prime, flanked by the Nazi flag and swastika-clad representatives of the inviting organization.
How much you want to bet Zirkle won’t be using that one on the campaign ads?
Zirkle further attempted to cure his current case of foot-in-mouth disease by claiming he “didn’t know much” about the Neo-Nazi movement and stating that he once spoke on an “African-American radio program.” (Two characteristics he also happens to share with Hitler, who knows nothing about Neo-Nazism and frequently spoke on African-American issues…though not quite the same way Zirkle means it.)
A word to the wise and the unwise alike: speaking before groups that invite you is all well and good, but when it leads to a positive response (and media coverage) for the Neo-Nazi “Hitler Birthday Bash,” Zirkle might do better to follow the advice of Groucho Marx and refuse to have anything to do with any club that would have him as a member.
But then, I doubt that quote gets very high Marx at the Socialist Worker’s convention.
