The Republican Party is being rocked by the news that three presidential candidates and several members of Congress took campaign donations from white supremacist group referenced by Charleston shooter Dylann Roof in his manifesto.
The Guardian reported on the donations that Earl Holt, the president of the Council of Conservative Citizens made to Republicans:
Holt has since 2012 contributed $8,500 to Cruz, the Texas senator running for the Republican presidential nomination, and his Jobs, Growth and Freedom Fund political action committee, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings. On some filings Holt’s occupation was listed as “slumlord”. He has also given $1,750 to RandPAC, the political action committee of Paul, the Kentucky senator and presidential contender, and he gave $2,000 to the 2012 presidential campaign of Mitt Romney.vA further $1,500 was donated by Holt to Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator and 2012 Republican presidential primary runner-up, who is running for president again in the 2016 race and attended Sunday’s memorial service at Emanuel AME Church.
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Holt has also distributed tens of thousands in campaign contributions among prominent Republicans in Congress, such as Representative Steve King of Iowa ($2,000), Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas ($1,500) and Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona ($1,000). He also gave $3,200 to the former Minnesota congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann.
The Republican presidential candidates rushed to refund the donations, but their refunds can’t hide the larger point.
The hate speech and anti-immigrant policies of the Republican Party are appealing to racists. Rep. Steve King is a flaming racist who regularly demonizes immigrants. Sen. Tom Cotton has also engaged in the anti-immigrant rhetoric while calling for military action against Muslims in the Middle East.
Attention will focus on the donations to Republican presidential candidates, but this is a party wide issue. Republicans have spent years trying to divide the country along racial lines, and the racist chickens are coming home to roost.
Racists hear the Republican dog whistles loud and clear when it comes to President Obama and other minorities. The Republican Party is the anti-minority party. Republicans oppose equality and citizenship women, Hispanics, gays, and African-Americans. This platform has not only made it virtually impossible for Republicans to win the White House. It has also turned the GOP into the party of racist hate.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
