White Supremacist With Ties To Neo-Nazi Groups Elected To Pennsylvania County GOP Committee

[SpartanDem]

Source: Think Progress

Republicans in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania have elected Steve Smith, a lifelong white supremacist with close ties to neo-Nazi groups and groups like Aryan Nations, to the county’s GOP Committee.

The elections, which took place in late April, were certified by the committee two weeks ago, and Smith notified supporters of his victory last week by posting a message to the online forum White News Now

The Southern Poverty Law Center has documented Smith’s participation with known skinhead organizations like Keystone State Skinheads, (now Keystone United) which he co-founded in 2001. And his racist activism extends far beyond violent rhetoric as well, into actual violence:

In March 2003, he and two other KSS members were arrested in Scranton for beating up Antoni Williams, a black man, using stones and chunks of pavement. Smith pleaded guilty to terrorist threats and ethnic intimidation and received a 60-day sentence and probation.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/05/31/492796/white-supremacist-with-ties-to-neo-nazi-groups-elected-to-pennsylvania-county-gop-committee/

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I'm sure they'll have a mighty fine cross burning at the convention in Tampa.

[Dawson Leery]

1. The fall Republican campaign is going to dog whistle after dog whistle.

[Scuba]

2. They understand their base, don't they?

[Major Nikon]

4. They certainly should. They are the ones who not only invited, but courted them into the GOP

After the Democrats showed them the door.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_strategy

[WriteWrong]

3. And just what is Keystone United going to call their police force?

"he and two other KSS members were arrested in Scranton for beating up Antoni Williams, a black man, using stones and chunks of pavement. Smith pleaded guilty to terrorist threats and ethnic intimidation and received a 60-day sentence and probation."

There appears to be more racism than just the KSS here.

[TNLib]

5. I think the GOP has hit rock bottom.

They don't have any members that aren't batshit crazy. So they have to elect low life's and violent criminals.

[freshwest]

6. Those are the ones most likely to ride roughshod and do their masters' bidding.

[Wait Wut]

7. So?

Being a white supremacist doesn't mean you're a bad person or anything. I mean, it's like racist to think so.




Fine, here....

[benld74]

8. Gee-zo-pete!?

[DeSwiss]

9. I'm sure they'll find someone.....

...to welkkkome this newbie Repuke racist bastard to Florida later this year. Hey, I know just the guy!



- K&R

[lunasun]

10. seems ideal for GOP and what it stands for now

hope he is rich or a corporate suck to reflect the complete image of a GOP leader

[lumpy]

11. Hope Pennsylvanians are paying attention to their politics.

The US is getting to a dangerous point when Neo-nazi organizations are infiltering US leadership. Past time to be concerned.

[Lil Missy]

12. They don't even try to hide it anymore. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

16. +1

[Wabbajack_]

13. Ahaha

Embarrassing. He'll get booted though. Like that guy in Florida who is the son of the Stormfront guy.

[pampango]

14. Some background on Smith from the One People's Project

Despite his public history as an active neo-Nazi associated with the more violent elements of the white supremacist scene over the past 20 years, Republicans of Luzerne County, PA might have seen fit to elect Keystone State “Skinheads” (KSS) founding member Steve Smith a local committeeman.

Smith, according to his posts on Stormfront as well as a mention in his current organization the European American Action Coalition, was elected to represent Pittston City Ward 4 for a term of four years. He posted a photograph of a certificate reportedly from the Luzerne County Board of Elections recognizing his position.

Smith has been active in several groups over the years, including the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations and David Duke’s organization the European Rights Organization (EURO). He was a founding member of KSS which began in 2001. KSS has a history of members and its associates getting arrested from crimes ranging from assault to murder, and Smith himself spent 30 days in jail in 2003 after he and two other associates attempted to assault a black man in Scranton, PA

In recent years, however, Smith has attempted to develop a more political persona, a departure from his street activism and thuggery, while maintaining his old associations and beliefs. He has campaigned for Ron Paul and worked on anti-immigration campaigns, particularly with the notoriety of former Hazelton Mayor, not Congressman Lou Barletta putting a spotlight on his locality with his harsh laws against immigrants. That has caused complications for some of his friends, most notably anti-immigration activist Dan Smeriglio, whose associations with Smith has damaged his reputation significantly with the mainstream right. He has also participated in the Scranton Tea Party as well, writing regularly on its Facebook page.

Smith most recently participated in the Leif Ericson Day Celebration sponsored by KSS, an annual outing that has taken place in Philadelphia for five years. He is currently planning to hold another neo-Nazi event called the European American Heritage Celebration for its third year in a row in a public park in Moosic, PA on August 12.

Steve Smith at Anti-Immigration Rally as Organizer Plays Dumb

Steve is the guy with the megaphone and he brought his comrade Ryan Wojtowicz of American Third Position and KSS (in the black hoodie with "Teardown" - the name of a KSS-associated band - on the front). This video cost Voice of the People's Dan Smeriglio his credibility.

Antifa disrupt a neo-Nazi Outing in Philadelphia. Smith appears in this video.

http://www.onepeoplesproject.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1000:luzerne-co-pa-gop-elects-prominent-neo-nazi-committeeman

[Quantess]

15. That's pretty bad!

This is who the republicans are, folks.

[Dash87]

17. I can't believe It's come to this, but

The Republican party is getting closer and closer to the fringe far-right. I think they have more fringe far-right now than moderates, and it's getting worse.

[rrneck]

18. A rising star. nt