GOP Chair Denounces White Supremacist David Duke’s US Senate Candidacy, Twitter Mocks Obvious Irony
Parallels to Trump Campaign Too Clear
Late Friday morning one of America’s most well-known white supremacists, former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
I am Running for U.S. Senate Watch the video! https://t.co/mOvc4CaPfx
— David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) July 22, 2016
The Republican National Committee chairman, Reince Priebus, denounced Duke’s Senate run in a statement, then via Twitter on Saturday.
David Duke & his hateful bigotry have no place in the Republican Party & the RNC will never support his candidacy under any circumstance
— Reince Priebus (@Reince) July 23, 2016
So of course, people on Twitter noticed the irony.
This just used up all the irony in the Universe. https://t.co/cLAwQ8wHJD
— Phil Plait (@BadAstronomer) July 23, 2016
After all, on national television back in February Donald Trump – then battling for the GOP nomination for president – refused to denounce David Duke, the KKK, or white supremacist groups. Trump infamously told Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union” that he was unfamiliar with them all.
“I don’t know anything about David Duke,” Trump said. “I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with ‘white supremacy’ or ‘white supremacists,'” he claimed. “I know nothing about white supremacists.”
Trump then challenged Tapper, implying the CNN journalist was being intolerant.
“You wouldn’t want me to condemn a group that I know nothing about?,” Trump insisted. “I have to look.”
And just this past week, the RNC during its convention in Cleveland – and even during Trump’s nomination acceptance speech – posted tweets from white supremacists. It’s unsurprising, since Trump has repeatedly done the same, and even posted to Twitter an anti-Semitic meme attacking Hillary Clinton.
On Twitter, some were quick to respond:
The sheer hypocrisy of Republicans acting outraged about David Duke while endorsing Donald Trump is mind-boggling. @Reince
— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) July 23, 2016
After nominating Trump @reince, this is rich. They are peas in a pod. Your party is dead. #RIPgop #NeverTrump
— NY for Mitt (@NY4Mitt) July 23, 2016
@KateAurthur @Reince @realDonaldTrump You built that.
— Sam Adams (@SamuelAAdams) July 23, 2016
Your presidential nominee’s only difference from David Duke is his lack of white sheets. Your actions betray your hollow words @Reince.
— Ashton E. Pittman (@ashtonpittman) July 23, 2016
@Reince He is your base.
— Path2Enlightenment (@Path2Enlighten) July 23, 2016
@Reince dude @realDonaldTrump is your candidate for president. duke is the least of your problems.
— Ray Kachel (@rayk58) July 23, 2016
@Reince @deray Says the party who embraced Trump’s racist bigoted xenophobic ways
— PhenomenalWoman (@1nePhenomenalMe) July 23, 2016
.@Reince Also, why didn’t you come out as strongly against Trump’s birther conspiracies? GOP toyed with it & stayed silent. You built this.
— VK (@craftyme25) July 23, 2016
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Images:
Reince Priebus via Wikimedia
David Duke via YouTubeÂ
Hat tip: Mediaite

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