Duke, a convicted felon, declared his intention to run for office Friday, aiming to take the vacated seat of Republican David Vitter. “However, what makes me different is I also demand respect for the rights and heritage of European Americans”.
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Duke said that “thousands of special interest groups stand up for African Americans, Mexican Americans, Jewish Americans, et cetera, et cetera”, but that European Americans need just one man in Congress who would defend their rights and heritage.
Duke is a former state representative who represented suburban New Orleans for a single term more than two decades ago and was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress.
Louisiana needs a Duke candidacy in 2016 like it needs LSU to have a losing football season or another hurricane, particularly given the shocks to race relations in the state, and the state Republican Party especially doesn’t have any use for Duke.
“The recurrence of a cancer like David Duke was encouraged and made possible by the toxic climate of racism and fear-mongering dominating the Republican party in this election cycle”. Although he runs as a Republican candidate, the Republican Party of Louisiana (LAGOP) has condemned his campaign calling him a “hate-filled fraud”.
In announcing his candidacy Friday, Duke thanked Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for popularizing his protectionist beliefs.
“I’d have to look at the group”, said Mr Trump.
Duke’s Senate run drew a swift and strong rebuke from Republican officials and others.
Duke reacted angrily to a question about whether he remained involved with the KKK.
As David Dukes monologue progresses, epic war music is introduced behind his speech.
As Politico points out: “Duke is a convicted felon, pleading guilty in 2002 to bilking his supporters and cheating on his taxes”.
Duke’s announcement comes as Louisiana grapples with racial tensions in the wake of a police killing of an unarmed black man, Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, and the shooting of several law enforcement officers in the same city weeks later.
Correction, July 22, 2016, 2:34 p.m.: This story originally misstated that Duke was a USA congressman.
During the U.S. election campaign there was furore when Donald Trump failed to publicly disavow David Duke straight away. If Duke manages to squeeze into the Senate runoff this year – and that’s a distinct possibility with so many candidates in the race – we could see a new twist on that famous bumper sticker: “Vote against the crook – it’s important”.
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Edwards said Duke would have a “hard row to hoe” in the upcoming election but there might be a “niche” for him. He spent a year in federal prison, but later denied any wrongdoing.
