I grew up near the same tree-moss-draped area of Louisiana where U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise met with followers of David Duke, the Klu Klux Klan leader who in the ’90s ran for governor and senator in my beloved state.
All my values were forged in Louisiana. Values like family, faith, community and the desire to help others.
I understand the so-called conservative values that Congressman Scalise championed, including a deep animosity to taxes. Still, his decision to seek the support of voters aligned with a white supremacist shows extremely poor judgment.
He already knew where he was on the political spectrum. As Stephanie Grace, a columnist and reporter for the New Orleans’ Times Picyaune and now for the Advocate, says, he once told her he was “like David Duke without the baggage” — that is, without the neo-Nazi views.
–
Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion.
Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion.
