While the population of Virginia's increasingly liberal so-called urban crescent ranging from Northern Virginia,m, to Richmond to Hampton Roads is growing, there are large pockets of the state that are pretty scary socially and culturally. Indeed, the KKK is alive and well in some regions of Virginia if one wanders a short distance off the of Interstate highway system, especially in southwest Virginia and the southern tier of the state. And who is the Virginia KKK - many of whose members no doubt sit in pews every Sunday congratulating themselves on their own piety and godliness - endorsing in the 2016, presidential contest? Donald Trump, of course. And remember that it was the GOP establishment that welcomed these types of nasty individuals in to the party. A piece in Talking Points Memo looks at this embarrassment. Here are excerpts:
In a sit-down interview with a Richmond news station, the Imperial Wizard of the Rebel Brigade Knights of the Ku Klux Klan said Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is his candidate for President.
The KKK leader, identified by WWBT only as “Imperial Wizard,” also insisted his organization is not a hate group, telling the station’s black anchor, “We don’t hate anyone.”
Asked who he was supporting in the 2016 race, the wizard replied: “I think Donald Trump would be best for the job.”
"The reason a lot of Klan members like Donald Trump is because a lot of what he believes in, we believe in. We want our country to be safe,” he said.
The leader went on to say if Trump were to drop out, he would back Ohio Gov. John Kasich before Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), saying Cruz “is not an American citizen” because he was born in Canada.
WWBT’s interview opens with anchor Chris Taylor, trailed by a sheriff’s deputy as a precaution, driving to meet with Klansmen in a remote location in a national forest, because Taylor said the leader would only be interviewed on “his turf.”
The story was spurred by the group mounting a recruitment drive in the Richmond area, dropping fliers that read “I want you for the KKK” in mailboxes and front yards, Taylor said.
“We are not white supremacists, we’re white separatists,” the leader said on camera. “We’re not the big bad hate group people think we are.”
It's not the first time Trump has earned the support of the KKK. Former leader David Duke endorsed the Republican in February, sparking outrage over Trump's delayed response in distancing himself from Duke.
Let's just say I hope I am never on this guy's turf. I suspect gays are not exactly welcome in KKK circles even though could certainly use some gay style advise on their tacky costumes.
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