Steve Scalise white supremacy controversy: GOP whip 'not a racist bone in his body,' says Democrat

WASHINGTON -- Steven Scalise, the Republican House majority whip, is under fire from both parties for his 2002 speech to the European-American Unity and Rights Organization, a white supremacist group. However, the no. 3 Republican in Congress has received strong support from those like African-American Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond, who says Scalise "doesn't have a racist bone in his body."

"Steve and I have worked on issues that benefit poor people, black people, white people, Jewish people. I know his character," he told the New Orleans Times-Picayune Monday. "I am not going to let them use Steve as a scapegoat to score political points when I know him and know his family."

Scalise visited New Orleans to speak at the National/International EURO Workshop on Civil Rights, which was founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. Since the news broke, he disavowed the beliefs of the group and called reports of his involvement with them "insulting and ludicrous."

"When someone called and asked me to speak, I would go. I was, in no way, affiliated with that group or the other groups I was talking to," he stated.

Richmond was quick to vouch for Scalise's character as well, despite being on the opposite side of the aisle and his party's attacks on the House majority whip.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal also came to Scalise's defense, calling him a "good man who is fair-minded and kindhearted."

Democrats have excoriated Scalise for giving a speech to the white supremacy group, calling into question his "judgment" and causing the Congressman's voting record to be reviewed for evidence of racial bias. As a state representative in Louisiana, he twice voted against recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. day as a holiday, and in 1997, he voted against a bill that prohibits hate crimes based on race, class or sexual orientation, according to Politico.

"Republicans in Congress might talk about improving their terrible standing with non-white voters, but it's clear their leadership has a history of embracing anti-Semitic, racist hate groups," said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Josh Schwerin. "Republicans are off to a banner start for their new Congress – on the path to break their own record for least popular Congress in history."

Although GOP party leaders John Boehner and Mitch McConnell initially steered clear of the controversy, House Speaker Boehner defended Scalise after the DCCC's statement was released.

"More than a decade ago, Representative Scalise made an error in judgment, and he was right to acknowledge it was wrong and inappropriate. Like many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I know Steve to be a man of high integrity and good character. He has my full confidence as our Whip, and he will continue to do great and important work for all Americans," he stated.