Indiana congressional candidate Tony Zirkle defends speech at Nazi meeting
{{date|April 14, 2008}}

{{USA}}[[Indiana]] congressional candidate Tony Zirkle defended his decision to appear at a Nazi meeting. Zirkle, a personal injury lawyer, is running in the [[United States]] [[w:Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] primary for [[w:Indiana's 2nd congressional district|Indiana's 2nd congressional district]].

Zirkle initially created controversy when he gave a speech to the [[w:American National Socialist Workers Party|American National Socialist Workers Party]] on April 20, [[Adolf Hitler]]'s birthday. Photos of the event show a picture of Hitler
in the background with a United States flag on one side of the podium and a Nazi flag on the other side and the words "Happy Birthday" on the table in front. In the speech, Zirkle asserted that the pornography industry was run by Jews.

In defending his remarks, Zirkle explained that he saw the location as a valid opportunity to preach his anti-pornography, Christian message and that he would be willing to talk anywhere and noted that he had spoken on an African American radio station. Zirkle also defended his claimed that Jews were involved in pornography. He claimed that in the past male porn stars were generally Jewish but they were now black but the female stars were young white women. Zirkle further asserted that now Jews owned and ran the pornography industry. On his campaign website Zirkle posted a list of links, including a link to [[w:Jew Watch|Jew Watch]] which he said backed up views.

When asked if he agreed with the Nazis Zirkle said that he did not know enough about their beliefs to give an opinion. 

Both Republican and Democrats have condemned Zirkle's remarks.

Zirkle had earlier created controversy when he suggested considering bringing back segregation between whites and blacks.


{{haveyoursay}}
==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.tonyzirkle.com/|title=Law Office of Tony Zirkle|author=|pub=www.tonyzirkle.com|date=retrieved April 25, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.tonyzirkle.com/CAMPAIGN/
    |title=Tony Zirkle for Congress
    |author=
    |pub=Tony Zirkle
    |date=April 25, 2008}}
*{{source|url=
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/04/congressional-c.html
    |title=Ind. congressional candidate speaks at meeting honoring Adolf Hitler
    |author=
    |pub=USA Today
    |date=April 24, 2008}}
*{{source|url=
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/04/23/politics/horserace/entry4038761.shtml
|title=Downballot Derby: Pa. Voters Pick House Candidates
    |author=Kevin Hechtkopf
    |pub=CBS News
    |date=April 23, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://nwitimes.com/articles/2008/04/23/news/top_news/docf6a35b9d5a72e89d8625743300832e52.txt
|title=Candidate speaks at Hitler birthday party
    |author=Tim Turner
    |pub=The Northwest Indiana and Illinois Times
    |date=April 23, 2008}}
*{{source|url=
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080422/News01/804220396/0/SPORTS
|title=GOP candidate Zirkle addresses Nazi gathering
    |author=Nancy J. Sulok
    |pub=South Bend Tribune
    |date=April 22, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/17972444.html
|title=GOP candidate Zirkle addresses Nazi gathering
    |author=Dustin Grove and Nancy J. Sulok
    |pub=WSTB South Bend
    |date=April 21, 2008}}
*{{source|url= http://www.kokomoperspective.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=6473
|title=Zirkle audio with transcript
    |author=Tim Turner
    |pub=Kokomo Perspective
    |date=March 4, 2008}}

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[[Category:Indiana]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Free speech]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Judaism]]
[[Category:Pornography]]
[[Category:Republican Party (United States)]]
[[Category:Neo-Nazism]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Adolf Hitler]]
[[Category:North America]]
Indiana congressional candidate Tony Zirkle defended his decision to appear at a Nazi meeting. Zirkle, a personal injury lawyer, is running in the United States Republican Party primary for Indiana's 2nd congressional district.

Zirkle initially created controversy when he gave a speech to the American National Socialist Workers Party on April 20, Adolf Hitler's birthday. Photos of the event show a picture of Hitler
in the background with a United States flag on one side of the podium and a Nazi flag on the other side and the words "Happy Birthday" on the table in front. In the speech, Zirkle asserted that the pornography industry was run by Jews.

In defending his remarks, Zirkle explained that he saw the location as a valid opportunity to preach his anti-pornography, Christian message and that he would be willing to talk anywhere and noted that he had spoken on an African American radio station. Zirkle also defended his claimed that Jews were involved in pornography. He claimed that in the past male porn stars were generally Jewish but they were now black but the female stars were young white women. Zirkle further asserted that now Jews owned and ran the pornography industry. On his campaign website Zirkle posted a list of links, including a link to Jew Watch which he said backed up views.

When asked if he agreed with the Nazis Zirkle said that he did not know enough about their beliefs to give an opinion. 

Both Republican and Democrats have condemned Zirkle's remarks.

Zirkle had earlier created controversy when he suggested considering bringing back segregation between whites and blacks.
Indiana Politics and conflicts United States Free speech Religion Judaism Pornography Republican Party (United States) Neo-Nazism Christianity Adolf Hitler North America