Arthur Jones, the Holocaust-denying, Jew-hating Republican nominee running in Illinois’ 3rd congressional District, would like the world to know that, OK, yes, he was an actual Nazi, but really there’s so much more to him than that.
Jones’ rich inner life was recently the topic of a sit-down with the Chicago Tribune, in which he insisted that he has “a winning platform”—if only the GOP would get behind his not-so-master congressional race. The state and national GOP, as well as Illinois’ Republican Governor Bruce Rauner (after some serious prodding), have all disavowed Jones’ candidacy.
“I’m campaigning on issues I think are important to people of the 3rd District,” Jones told the paper. He later added:
I haven’t been a member of any Nazi group since 1980. There’s more to me than being a denier of the Holocaust. I’m an American patriot.
....You know what I call a self-proclaimed former Nazi who still holds overtly fascist beliefs? I call him a fucking Nazi.
However, as the Tribune noted without a hint of irony, Jones’ stance on most issues hews awfully close to mainstream Republicans:
Jones mirrors the Republican platform on many issues. He holds a hardline view on immigration. He supports 2nd Amendment gun-ownership rights. He has a conservative view of gay rights and believes Congress should repeal Obamacare.
“I’ve got things I want to do for America,” he said. “I’m concerned about the direction the country is going.”
In many respects, Jones resembles the populist and nationalist views of President Donald Trump. Both seem to appeal to voters who feel grievance and resentment.
Hmmmm, I wonder what it is about the modern Republican Party that makes it so appealing to an actual, honest-to-God Nazi? What a mystery...