In his campaign for the congressional seat in Indiana’s 2nd District, Tony Zirkle says he’ll speak to any group that invites him. Even if they are neo-Nazis. Even if it’s Hitler’s birthday. Even if they are wearing swastika arm bands.

It happened Sunday, when Zirkle addressed the American National Socialist Workers Party in Chicago. Wait! Last time I checked, Chicago isn’t in Indiana. So not only does Zirkle not know much about geography, he claims not to know much about neo-Nazism:

Zirkle said he did not know much about the neo-Nazi group and that his intention was to talk on his concern about “the targeting of young white women and for pornography and prostitution.”

Sounds like he had a pretty good idea about his audience, which bills itself as “America’s Only Organization Struggling for the Interests of the White Working Class.” Of course, Zirkle’s local Republican Party leader was quick to disown the budding Brown Shirter:

“He certainly doesn’t hold the view of the of the Republican Party,” [Porter County Republican chairman Chuck] Williams said. “I don’t know why you would stand up in front of a picture of Adolf Hitler when millions of Americans fought against that kind of oppression.”

But this apparently is not new territory for the zany Zirkle:

The event was not the first time Zirkle has raised controversy on race issues. In March, Zirkle raised the idea of segregating races in separate states. Zirkle said Tuesday he’s not advocating segregation, but said desegregation has been a failure. “My primary purpose is to educate and inform,” he said.

I know what those Chicago haters learned from Zirkle last Sunday — that he’s one of their own.