Rep. James Clyburn’s (D-S.C.) Republican challenger referred to same-sex couples as “gremlins” and “bullies” in a Facebook post urging supporters to oppose gay marriage at the polls this fall.
Anthony Culler, the GOP nominee for Clyburn’s seat, wrote a Facebook post on Oct. 14 decrying same-sex marriage as “a pestilence that has descended on our society, against our will, by those in the courts and government that do not value the traditional family.”
“Same sex couples that seek to destroy our way of life and the institution of marriage are NOT cute and cuddly but rather (for those of you that are old enough to remember the movie), Gremlins that will only destroy our way of life,” he wrote.
{mosads}He adds: “These people are bullies and now that they are winning their true and hateful nature is much easier to see and hear.”
Culler goes on to charge that gays have “a strong tendency for substance abuse,” and urges readers to avoid the ” ‘over the top’ and ‘anything goes’ ceremonies or parties that these people revel in.”
“Stand against this and we will reverse it and drive it back into the darkness,” he writes.
Culler is not well-liked by the GOP establishment in South Carolina, and has no chance of defeating Clyburn this fall, who represents the last remaining Democratic seat in South Carolina and one of the last remaining deep-blue seats in the South.
But the comments prompted a local libertarian activist, Daniel Encarnacion, to launch a write-in challenge to Culler on the ballot. In an Oct. 16 Facebook post, Encarnacion admits the race is “probably not” winnable for him, but that he hopes to “give voters there a choice to vote for a pro-liberty candidate” who will eliminate the IRS and repeal the Patriot Act, among other things.
He announced his candidacy nationally on Monday, with a release calling on Culler to drop out of the race.
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“I cannot sit idly by, and allow Mr. Culler to describe gay men, and women as gremlins. This is the definition of ignorance, and is absolutely reprehensible,” he said. “I hope each, and every Republican within the 6th Congressional District stands with me in saying, Mr. Culler, you do not represent us.”
The South Carolina Republican Party did not immediately respond to request for comment.