When Politico reported this week on the private texts between a dozen leaders of Young Republicans groups, the scope of the hatred and bigotry was stunning. The GOP participants used language that was, among other things, overtly racist and homophobic.
But the content was also unmistakably antisemitic, complete with comments about gas chambers, as participants acknowledged “the love of Nazis” within the party’s right wing.
Just one day later, Politico also reported that the U.S. Capitol Police are investigating an American flag that was altered to include a swastika and displayed inside the office of Republican Rep. Dave Taylor of Ohio. From the article:
Politico obtained an image taken during a virtual meeting that shows the flag pinned to what appears to be a cubicle wall behind Angelo Elia, one of Taylor’s staffers. Alongside the flag — with altered red and white lines in the shape of a swastika — are pinned images, including a pocket Constitution and a congressional calendar. It is unclear what role, if any, Elia had in the incident. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
As NBC News noted, the GOP congressman wasted little time in condemning the display.
“I am aware of an image that appears to depict a vile and deeply inappropriate symbol near an employee in my office. The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms,” Taylor said in a statement.
The Ohioan added, “Upon learning of this matter, I immediately directed a thorough investigation alongside Capitol Police, which remains ongoing. No further comment will be provided until it has been completed.”
Time will tell what may come of the investigation, but the story took an odd turn the day after the Politico report was published. Fox News’ congressional correspondent Chad Pergram quoted one source as saying the American flag featuring the swastika is an “optical illusion.”
That claim is hard to believe based on the photo included in Politico’s report. EXCLUSIVE: Capitol Police are investigating a swastika found in GOP Rep. Dave Taylor’s office.“The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms," Taylor said in a statement. Pergram added, “Fox has learned that dozens of congressional offices received these American flags from an undetermined group who brought them around Capitol Hill early in the year. One office tells Fox that the swastika on their flag was clear, so they tossed it out. … It is not known what group brought the flags around. That is under investigation. The US Capitol Police are also conducting an inquiry.” I have a hunch we haven’t heard the last of this one. Watch this space.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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