Politics generally moderate the higher up you go. That's what drives us nuts, as Democrats, about the fact that the Obama Administration has been so centrist.
Of course, if the Democrats message has moderated the higher the power structure goes, it's downright scary to think about what the GOP Base wants for America. Indeed, we've seen the Tea Party foot-soldiers marching with signs of hate, bigotry, and ignorance.
And of course now, with the primaries in full effect around the US, we're seeing their candidates rise up with more of the batshit-crazy message at the forefront. Take, for instance, the case of Marg Berg in Florida House District 48...
Florida's 48th legislative district covers the upper corner of Pinellas County in the Tampa Bay metro region. It's a sprawling suburbanite swath of subdivisions, unincorporated areas, and the incorporated cities of Oldsmar and Tarpon Springs.
Marg Berg, speaking at a forum for Republican primary candidates for the district seat, brought up a pressing topic that seems to be at a forefront here in Florida. Immigration. Illegal immigration. What to do? What to do?
Lets try internment camps!
Baker told a group of people: "We can follow what happened back in the '40s or '50s."
"I was just a little girl in Miami, and they built camps for the people that snuck into the country because they were illegal," Baker said. "They put them in the camps and they shipped them back. We can do that. We can do E-Verify. We must stop them."
Berg is running against two other Republicans for the GOP nomination.... Peter Nehr (who is current seat holder) and Steve Mueller. She also said (in her candidate interview with the St. Petersburg Times Editorial board) that she was compelled to run for office by (ta-da) the rantings of Glenn Beck.
Where does it end? Berg goes on to rant that 3.9 Billion could be saved by deporting Illegal immigrants. Subjecting them to internment camps may put them at risk -- but they are here illegally and we should save a buck or two!
This is not the first time a North Pinellas politician has gotten into the public spotlight for immigrant rantings. An Oldsmar City Councilwoman used meeting minutes to rail against immigrants at the end of a July meeting.
UPDATE: Forgot to add a video of Berg making her statement.