from: New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Eugenics-Candidate.html
XXSNIPXX
Eugenics Backer Causes Stir in Tenn. Race
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 3, 2004
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Republican congressional candidate James L.
Hart acknowledges that he is an ``intellectual outlaw.''
He is an unapologetic supporter of eugenics, the phony science that
resulted in thousands of sterilizations in an attempt to purify the
white race. He believes the country will look ``like one big Detroit''
if it doesn't eliminate welfare and immigration. He believes that if
blacks were integrated centuries ago, the automobile never would have
been invented.
He shows up at voters' homes wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a
gun, and tells them that ``white children deserve the same rights as
everyone else.''
Despite his radical views, Hart may end up winning the Republican
nomination because he is the only GOP candidate on the ballot in
Thursday's primary. His presence in the campaign has embarrassed
Republican leaders, who were blind-sided by Hart after they didn't
bother fielding a candidate. Democratic Rep. John Tanner has held the
seat for 15 years and is considered safe in November.
Republicans now desperately hope that a write-in candidate will stop
Hart.
``I would characterize him as a racist, an elitist,'' said write-in
candidate Dennis Bertrand, a financial analyst and former military
officer. ``His idea of ... genetically altering the human race in order
to build a super race with super intelligence is appalling.''
Much of Hart's platform revolves around eugenics, which arose in the
early 20th century as a pseudoscientific movement to solve social
problems by preventing the ``unfit'' from having children. It inspired
33 states to pass laws that allowed the sterilization of some 65,000
people, and Nazi Germany used the U.S. examples to justify programs
that sterilized and killed millions.
Hart, a 60-year-old real estate agent, knows his views on eugenics are
far from the mainstream and viewed as racist by most people.
He insists his beliefs have nothing to do with racism and everything to
do with ``favored races'' from Europe and Asia and ``less-favored
races'' from Africa. To achieve his goal of a country populated by
``favored races,'' Hart proposes eliminating both welfare and
immigration.
``If an individual demonstrates the ability to produce and contribute
to society, he or she would be encouraged to have more children. People
on welfare would not,'' Hart said in a telephone interview with The
Associated Press.
Bertrand says he found out about Hart's views after returning from
active duty with the National Guard and going on the Internet to learn
more about the race in Tennessee's 8th District. He says he is running
to make sure Hart does not win the Republican Party's endorsement.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Eugenics-Candidate.html
XXSNIPXX
Eugenics Backer Causes Stir in Tenn. Race
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 3, 2004
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Republican congressional candidate James L.
Hart acknowledges that he is an ``intellectual outlaw.''
He is an unapologetic supporter of eugenics, the phony science that
resulted in thousands of sterilizations in an attempt to purify the
white race. He believes the country will look ``like one big Detroit''
if it doesn't eliminate welfare and immigration. He believes that if
blacks were integrated centuries ago, the automobile never would have
been invented.
He shows up at voters' homes wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a
gun, and tells them that ``white children deserve the same rights as
everyone else.''
Despite his radical views, Hart may end up winning the Republican
nomination because he is the only GOP candidate on the ballot in
Thursday's primary. His presence in the campaign has embarrassed
Republican leaders, who were blind-sided by Hart after they didn't
bother fielding a candidate. Democratic Rep. John Tanner has held the
seat for 15 years and is considered safe in November.
Republicans now desperately hope that a write-in candidate will stop
Hart.
``I would characterize him as a racist, an elitist,'' said write-in
candidate Dennis Bertrand, a financial analyst and former military
officer. ``His idea of ... genetically altering the human race in order
to build a super race with super intelligence is appalling.''
Much of Hart's platform revolves around eugenics, which arose in the
early 20th century as a pseudoscientific movement to solve social
problems by preventing the ``unfit'' from having children. It inspired
33 states to pass laws that allowed the sterilization of some 65,000
people, and Nazi Germany used the U.S. examples to justify programs
that sterilized and killed millions.
Hart, a 60-year-old real estate agent, knows his views on eugenics are
far from the mainstream and viewed as racist by most people.
He insists his beliefs have nothing to do with racism and everything to
do with ``favored races'' from Europe and Asia and ``less-favored
races'' from Africa. To achieve his goal of a country populated by
``favored races,'' Hart proposes eliminating both welfare and
immigration.
``If an individual demonstrates the ability to produce and contribute
to society, he or she would be encouraged to have more children. People
on welfare would not,'' Hart said in a telephone interview with The
Associated Press.
Bertrand says he found out about Hart's views after returning from
active duty with the National Guard and going on the Internet to learn
more about the race in Tennessee's 8th District. He says he is running
to make sure Hart does not win the Republican Party's endorsement.
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