Majority Whip Steve Scalise addressed white nationalists

[Ultimate Paragon]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/31/politics/scalise-scandal-explainer/

Washington (CNN) -- The story has all the traits of a career-ending political scandal: A congressman who recently snagged a top position in party leadership faces accusations that he addressed a hate group run by a notorious white supremacist. And all of that, just a week before his party is set to take the reigns of power in Congress.

But the fast rising career of Republican Rep. Steve Scalise, who was tapped as House Majority Whip this summer, may not be in the ditches just yet. There's a lot to keep track of. Here's what you need to know:

So what happened?

It turns out Scalise addressed an anti-Semitic, white supremacist group back in 2002 run by none other than David Duke, a former grand wizard of the Klu Klux Klan who is well-known in Scalise's home state of Louisiana because of several statewide campaigns for governor and senator.

A liberal Louisiana politics blogger revealed the encounter with the European-American Unity and Rights Organization (EURO) after finding an account of Scalise's speech to the group on a white supremacist forum.

The group is bad news for Scalise: it's been labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which details the group's anti-semitic, racist views.

The next day, reporters in D.C. were asking Scalise's office about the meeting and after aides first said it was "probable" and then "likely" the congressman spoke to the group, Scalise broke his silence in an interview with his local paper, The Times-Picayune of New Orleans.

He said he didn't remember specifically addressing EURO, but said that at the time he "went and spoke to any group that called" in 2002 when he was trying to drum up support in opposing a state tax plan.

And then Scalise released the ultimate mea culpa statement Tuesday afternoon, calling his appearance at the event "a mistake I regret."

"One of the many groups that I spoke to regarding this critical legislation was a group whose views I wholeheartedly condemn. It was a mistake I regret," Scalise said.

He's gonna go down faster than Larry Craig in an airport men's room.

[Askold]

...Unless he expressed support for the group's ideology this does not seem THAT bad... Yea he spoke to a bunch of racists but if it was like he said and he was just drumming up support for his agenda it is just guilt by association.

[Cerim Treascair]

I'm calling this a non-issue.  The guy apologized and explained.  I'd say he's all right by me.

[Svata]

Oh, no! A politician TALKED TO PEOPLE!!!! And they were BAD people?!?! That's awful!

[Ultimate Paragon]

Maybe he's not a racist, but he's still a hypocrite.  He accused Van Jones of being a 9/11 truther because his name mistakenly appeared on a petition.  With that in mind, this seems deliciously karmic to me.

[Nemo]

I actually agree with the other comments here. If he was only talking about taxes,  give him the benefit of the doubt. Although I do appreciate the irony noted by UP.

[Ultimate Paragon]

In any case, you're putting words in my mouth.  I never said he was a racist, or that the scandal was justified.  I was merely observing that this likely won't end well for him.

[ironbite]

If he was a Dem, the GOP would be calling for his ballsack.

Ironbite-and they'd get it too.

[guizonde]

Maybe he's not a racist, but he's still a hypocrite.

he's a politician, what the hell did you expect? hypocrisy is an obvious necessity for politicos.

[Old Viking]

I stand with the "He's a Politician" camp.  They'll address any group with the ignorance and endurance to sit through it.  And they'll try to be as ingratiating as possible.  But politicians have neither conscience nor convictions, so their orations do not necessarily imply endorsement.