Well, It’s Happening: David Duke Considering Congressional Run

Finding the right way to start this post is hard. Here’s the main point: Louisianan David Duke, a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, wants to run for Congress.

Here are some other points that should be considered at the same time: KKK leaders have gone on the record saying that thanks to the current political climate, they are ready to unify and become more public. That could have something to do with Donald Trump retweeting white supremacists all the time or how some of his campaign volunteers are so unabashed about displaying their supremacist leanings. Duke himself has endorsed Trump and has used his radio program to express his joy that the presumed Republican nominee is someone around whom white nationalists can rally. For his part, you’ll recall, Trump dragged his feet on disavowing the support of the former KKK leader.

Are you surprised to learn, then, that Duke has chosen this moment in American history to potentially revitalize his political career? He hasn’t quite decided yet, but should he choose to run before the ballot deadline of July 22, he’ll be taking on Rep. Steve Scalise. Who’s that, you ask. Let the Daily Beast explain:

Scalise is the No. 3 Republican in the House who reportedly once called himself “David Duke without the baggage” and spoke at a white nationalist group that Duke founded (two event attendees later said Scalise never attended the conference).

Either way, then, residents of Louisiana are and will continue to be represented by someone with white nationalist ties.

When explaining his thoughts on running, Duke said, “Unless European Americans stand up, they are going to lose everything they care about in this country … There are millions of people across the country who would like to have me in the Congress. I’d be the only person in Congress openly defending the rights and the heritage of European Americans. We are on the offensive today. There’s no more defenses.”

It’s up to Duke to decide if he will run now and up to voters to decide what he means by “we are on the offensive today.”

[image via screengrab]

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