A GOP candidate for state office in Colorado way, way, way crossed the line this week when he likened a gay politician to the terrorist group ISIS.

Gordon Klingenschmitt (below), a minister and nominee for a seat in the Colorado state House, who has already said some awful things during his campaign, sent an email to his subscribers accusing openly gay Democrat Jared Polis of wanting to execute Christians.

Here’s what he wrote:

“The openly homosexual Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced a revised bill to force Christian employers and business owners to hire and promote homosexuals with ZERO RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS for Christians who want to opt out. “Polis ‘wants sexual orientation and gender identity treated the same way as race, religion, sex, and national origin, when it comes to employment protections,’ claims the Advocate, under the headline “Polis trims ENDA’s religious exemption. “Dr. Chaps’ comment: The open persecution of Christians is underway. Democrats like Polis want to bankrupt Christians who refuse to worship and endorse his sodomy. Next he’ll join ISIS in beheading Christians, but not just in Syria, right here in America.”

Comparisons to extreme terrorists are always out of line, but especially now, a week after ISIS publicized the execution of noted American journalist James Foley, this is particularly vile.

Mark Ferrandino, Speaker of the Colorado House, immediately denounced Klingenschmitt and his comments and called on Colorado Republicans to do the same. They did so swiftly, but then again, they’re used to it; Klingenschmitt has previously called President Barack Obama a demon and suggested the Affordable Care Act causes cancer.

“As Chairman Call has said in the past, Gordon does not speak on behalf of the Republican Party, and his comments in no way reflect the views of the Party. Gordon needs to give a sincere apology,” said Owen Loftus, a Colorado GOP spokesman, in a statement.

Now, Klingenschmitt has “apologized” in a video. In a tone that’s entirely too jokey and nonchalant, he says that he was using hyperbole and that “some Democrats do not have a sense of humor.” Addressing the video to Polis, he says:

Even though you’re an openly gay Democrat and you are passing policies that would persecute some Christian business owners here in America, I would never compare you to the ISIS rebels who behead Christians, right? Of course you would never go in for something like that. So in the spirit of bipartisanship, I want to extend a hand to you. As a right-wing Christian minister, there are some things that you and I are just never going to agree on. But we can agree on charity. Can’t we agree on caring for sick people?

Then he dumps a bucket of water on his head and challenges Polis, Ferrandino, and Colorado Republican Ryan Call to the ALS #IceBucketChallenge.

No, this is not The Onion. I am not making this up:

James Foley got his master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern the year before I started my undergraduate career there. Some of my classmates have met him and spoken to him about his work, and some professors knew him well. All those who were close to him are devastated and shocked beyond belief, as are countless journalists and others who admired him.

Comparisons of this caliber are never okay, but especially not now. And that apology was laughable. (No, literally. He was practically laughing.)

Out of respect for Foley and his family, I hope you didn’t watch the video ISIS released. Now, for the same reasons, I hope Coloradans do all they can to keep this filthy excuse for a man as far away as possible from any legislative power. It’s the absolute least we can do.



