MUNSTER, Ind. (AP)
-- Republican officials have denounced a Facebook posting by one of the
party’s Indiana congressional candidates about white supremacy.
The posting on
candidate Mark Leyva’s Facebook page has a photo of a white woman wearing
sunglasses with the phrase: “Know the warning signs of white supremacy.” The
post says those include full time-employment, literacy and no criminal
record.
Leyva is a longshot
candidate in northwestern Indiana’s heavily Democratic 1st District against
Democratic nominee Frank Mrvan. Leyva has been the losing Republican
challenger several times to retiring Democratic Rep. Pete Visclosky.
Leyva declined to
respond when asked whether the posting was appropriate for a congressional
candidate, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported.
“All right, you
know what, I’m not even going to comment, OK. This is social media, all
right,” Leyva said.
Indiana Republican
Party spokesman Jake Oakman said the state GOP “condemns such disgusting and
divisive materials.”
“That Facebook post
has no place in the political discussion, or anywhere in society -- let
alone from someone who wants to represent Hoosiers in the United States
Congress,” Oakman said.
Dan Dernulc,
chairman of the Lake County Republican Party, said the posting was a “big
taint” on Leyva’s campaign.
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