ManfromMiddletown was kind enough to post about my story earlier, but I thought I would chime in here with a request for any Kossacks living in or around Indianapolis, Indiana.
To recap what has happened this morning in regards to the Indianapolis GOP's candidate for Mayor making anti-semitic comments...
From my earlier post on Blue Indiana:
Marion County Republican Party Chairman Tom John has announced that businessman Bob Parker will be running for Mayor. In response to this, Bob Parker talked to Matt Tully about his candidacy. Wackiness ensued:
As you probably know, Republicans have searched for months for a candidate to challenge Democratic incumbent Bart Peterson. The list of people who turned down the chance to run is a long one.
That brings us to Parker, a Center Township resident who ran for the GOP nomination in 2003. He is a man with plenty of cash to spend on his own campaign. That's what makes him attractive to Republicans.
Republicans, though, also know Parker has a famous temper and a tendency to say what he is thinking. Many predict his campaign will be filled with controversy.
A sign of what to expect came when I talked to Parker a few weeks ago. During a roughly 15-minute interview, I asked about his interest in the mayor's race.
During his answer, for no reason that was clear, he drifted.
"I personally see Israel going into Iran and Syria in the next couple of months," he said. "I'm sure you realize -- well, most people don't -- millionaire Democrats outnumber millionaire Republicans four to one. It's mainly because of the Jewish faction inside the Democratic Party. Most Jewish people are Democrats and they bring that wealth. My opinion is, if Israel would go into Iran, Democrats will follow that cause. I really do believe that."
Umm, OK, Bob. But as a candidate for mayor, perhaps you should focus on a plan to fill all those potholes.
Um...wow. Talk about an introduction.
Parker is loaded, but I don't see that making much of a difference if every time he is questioned about the problems of the city, he wanders off to discuss Israel and its control of the Democratic Party.
Maybe this bears repeating: Peterson's margin of victory in 2008: Great success, or greatest success ever?
Since then, the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council has released the following statement:
The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council was astounded to read the comments offered gratuitously by the Republican candidate for mayor about Israel, Iran and the Democratic party. Not only is Parker's message offensive, it is ignorant; and hardly rises to the level of serious commentary deserving of a response. We trust that sensible Republican party leadership will choose to disassociate themselves from these words on the grounds that the candidate has already proven himself to be an embarrassment.
-- David Warshauer, JCRC President
-- Marcia Goldstone, JCRC Executive Director
What I am asking is that any Kossacks in or near Indianapolis go and write a letter to the editor of the Indianapolis Star. You can do so here.
It will only take a few minutes, and it will really go a long way toward letting the Indiana Republican Party that we won't tolerate racist sentiments from their candidates. The fact that they haven't officially rebuked these comments already speaks volumes about their view of intolerant behavior such as this.