May 24, 2012
Jesse Kelly Refuses to Answer On Extremist Ties
Yesterday, Tea Party candidate Jesse Kelly refused to answer questions about his support from an organization with white supremacist, anti-Semitic and neo-Nazi ties during a stunning interview with KGUN9. In his 2010 campaign and again just last week, Kelly got the endorsement of Americans for Legal Immigration or ALIPAC - the same group that Senator John McCain’s spokesman condemned as “backed by white supremacists, neo-Nazis and anti-Semites.” The neo-Nazi backers of ALIPAC include Stormfront, Vinlanders Social Club, European Americans United and David Duke, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
“Tea Partier Jesse Kelly needs to stop dodging the questions about his ties to a group that even Senator McCain’s office has called racist neo-Nazis,” said Jesse Ferguson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Kelly sought the endorsement of this extremist group and got their backing just last week, but now he won’t even answer the question about why he shares their values. Like so many issues in this campaign, Tea Partier Jesse Kelly hopes he can cover up his extremist views but voters of Arizona aren’t letting it happen.”
Background
In 2012, ALIPAC renewed its endorsement of Jesse Kelly for Congress, who it previously endorsed in 2010 after Kelly filled out their questionnaire. [ALIPAC press release, 5/18/12; ALIPAC 2010 questionnaire]
According to the Phoenix New Times, the McCain campaign called on JD Hayworth to reject the ALIPAC endorsement due to the groups’ anti-Semitic, white supremacist and neo-Nazi ties. [Phoenix New Times, 2/24/10]
Jesse Kelly refused to answer a question about his repeated endorsement by ALIPAC, after his campaign spokesman tried to end an interview when the question was asked. [KGUN9, 5/23/12]
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