From the House Race Hotline for Tuesday, April 22,2008

INDIANA 02 (D/SOUTH BEND -- DONNELLY)

And You Thought This Was A Good Idea On What Level?

Tue. Apr. 22, 2008


'04/'06 candidate Tony Zirkle (R) said he's "willing to talk to any group that invites him," and that's why he spoke to a weekend gathering in Chicago of the Amer. National Socialist Workers Party. The "occasion was a celebration" of the 119th anniversary of the birth of Adolf Hitler. Zirkle stood at a podium "in front of a larger-than-life portrait" of Hitler, "flanked" by an American flag and a Nazi flag.

During a 4/21 presser, Zirkle said he accepted the invitation to "spread his anti-pornography message." He said he's "misunderstood," and that his "real mission" is to "rid the country of pornography." To "punctuate his message," Zirkle "shredded an original copy" of a '69 Penthouse magazine.

But an "account of the gathering" says "Zirkle spoke on his history" as a state's atty in IN, "prosecuting Jewish and Zionist criminal gangs involved in trafficking prostitutes and pornography" from Russia.

Local GOPers "were quick to condemn" Zirkle's participation. Businessman Luke Puckett (R): "I cannot believe that in 2008 anyone could think so backwards. And St. Joseph Co. GOP Chair Chris Riley said he found Zirkle's comments "nauseating and repulsive." Riley said the GOP "does not accept" Zirkle as a member, and said he "plans to take steps to make sure" Zirkle is not admitted to party events (Sulok, South Bend Tribune, 4/22).