Another Democrat reveals his KKK past

[ed1066]

Any Florida residents may be interested in this...

A mayoral candidate in Lake Wales is speaking out about his involvement with the Klan.

70-year-old John Paul Rogers wants to become the next mayor of Lake Wales, but critics say he could have a tough time bringing the town together because he's a former member of Ku Klux Klan.

Rogers, who is currently a commissioner, spoke with 10 News Tuesday afternoon and says, "I'm not running for the Klan for Grand Dragon." That's because Rogers has already had that title.

He blames his opponent Mike Carter for bringing up his former involvement in the United Klans of America.

"My opponent's been going around saying I hung somebody in the park two years ago. Well, we have a city ordinance against that and I'm sure the police would have put me in jail if I would have done that."

He adds, "It's a shame that in a small city like Lake Wales where most everyone knows one another you have this kind of muckraking and character assassination."

In this small town of a little more than 13,000 people, times have changed since the Jim Crow laws of segregation and Rogers isn't apologizing or renouncing his time with the Klan.

He says, "Well I resigned years ago, about 30 years ago. Jesus said, 'He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone,' and so far no one's hit me with a rock. I don't know of any act of any violence that was sanctioned by our organization, either national or in Florida."

But Darryl Paulson, a USF professor, who is an expert in the Klan, points to a case in which two Klansman with the United Klans of America were convicted of attacking 19-year-old Michael Donald in 1981 in Mobile, Alabama. Donald was beaten up and his throat was cut.

Paulson says, "They hung him from a tree and they were sued in court and the civil judgment was launched against the United Klans of America. The jury awarded a six million dollar settlement to the mother of the slain child."

He adds, "When Rogers says he resigned. He had no other choice. The United Klans couldn't pay off the six million dollar settlement but they lost their headquarters. Their headquarters was sold as part of the judgement so in essence they were forced out of business. They were financially bankrupt."

Paulson says, "I think that they were the most violent of the Klan organizations. I think their fingerprints are on a lot of different things that happened - most of them negative with respect to racial incidents during the 1950's and 1960's. Rogers had to know there was no way he couldn't know it."

Rogers says, "I'm very fair minded. I work good with people and no one can point to me ever disrespecting anyone or violating anyone's rights."

Voters will make the final decision when they cast their votes in the non-partisan mayoral race on April 5. Though party affiliation is not a factor in the race Rogers and Carter are both Democrats.

winterhaven.wtsp.com/news/news/former-kkk-leader-mayoral-candidate-speaks/49273

[deziloooooo]

I live in Florida, to bad i don't live in that town, I would love to have voted for his opponent..He may be 70, so what, it sounds that he really isn't ashamed of his involvement with the clan.

It's the same with these very old Nazi's who are brought up for trial with the blood of innocent thousands on their hands, they have 7 days left, let them live the seven days behind bars in disgrace as far as I am concerned.

[handyman2]

Some years ago in the south a lot of local and state pols joined the KKK. It was a sure way to get elected. Nothing to be proud about but them was the facts of life then.

[hello fromWarsaw]

Could we have some real info in the titles so we don't have to waste our time with nothing threads/Fox(?) vomit?

[ed1066]

Could we have some real info in the titles

Who is "we"?

[Tennesseer]

I had to read the whole article to find the democrat reference. I would have thought if it was that big of a deal it would have been in the opening sentence. But it wasn't.

David Duke is proud of being a Republican. He is even thinking of running for president as a Repbulican.

Will Dr. David Duke Run for U.S. President?

Year-long speaking tour across the United States starting soon! — Interview MP3.

By John Darty

Dr. David Duke, a former member of the House of Representatives in Louisiana who served from 1989-1992, is shortly embarking on an extended, year-long speaking tour across the United States to gauge support for a possible entry in the next race for President of the United States.

He is seriously considering entering the Republican Party primaries for President of the United States.

Duke also was elected as Chairman of the Republican Executive Committee in the largest populated Republican district of Louisiana, St. Tammany Parish from 1996 to 2000.

David Duke is launching a Duke for President exploratory committee, and will soon start a year long tour across America from his home base in Mandeville, LA. He plans to speak in every state and gauge the political response to his possible entry into the race for the Republican nomination.

Thousands of Tea Party Activists and many others have urged him to run for President!

He believes that he has the support of the rank and file Tea Party Movement just as he had support of both the Republican conservative vote and Democratic hard hat vote in Louisiana. Over the past few weeks, since the release of his, “David Duke Speaks to the Tea Party” video, thousands of Tea Party activists have urged him to run for President.

Even more here: www.davidduke.com/general/will-dr-david-duke-run-for-u-s-president_17873.html

[verrip1]

Wow. Anybody hear that his AKA was Nate? or Norm?

[ed1066]

Considering the affinity Democrats have for the Klan, Duke should consider switching parties to improve his chances. If Fred Phelps can get 30% of the vote in a Democrat primary, Duke could do much better as a Democrat...

[mmhmm]

Does anyone really care, besides those who live there, who is mayor of some two-cow town in Florida?

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

David Duke is no more radical, racist, and hate-filled than Nancy Pelosi on the other end of the spectrum. There's a place on the continuum where the two sides meet.

[floridayankee]

Mar 24, 2011 7:42:50 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Does anyone really care, besides those who live there, who is mayor of some two-cow town in Florida?

We've gone on a couple rides to Lake Wales...they have three cows.

And a chicken.

The first time I went to lake wales was probably 10 years ago, it really was a two (or possibly a one) cow town. A literal speck on the map. The second time was last summer and honestly, I didn't recognize a thing. From what I understand, the '04 - '05 hurricane seasons tore up their old town pretty bad...they rebuilt and forgot to stop. The building boom definitely boomed in that little town.