Just yesterday, it seemed that Maryland-based anti-gay activist, Bishop Harry Jackson, was a shoo-in for providing the nutty quote of the week. On a right-wing radio show he said that attempts to win LGBT marriage equality were "a satanic plot to destroy our seed."
Unfortunately for the bishop, Kimberly Daniels, who Jackson once glowingly called his "comrade in war," easily upstaged him. For the unacquainted, Daniels is a former drug dealer, prostitute and military veteran turned preacher who is now running for Jacksonville Florida City Council as a Democrat. (Yeah, that's not a typo -- she plays on the Donkey team)
However, it is her recent quotes and not her distant past that is most disconcerting. Her bizarre beliefs include the notion that Halloween candy can be tainted by demons:
"I do not buy candy during the Halloween season," Daniels told Charisma magazine on October 27, 2009. "Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door-to-door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons can't tell the difference." (Pretty dumb demons, I'd say)
Of course, the big question we all want to know is whether the hard shells of M&M's make them demon-proof?
Not surprisingly, Daniels is known as a "demon buster" who gives exorcisms to rid people of various maladies.
"We have experienced much success in one-session deliverances," Daniels wrote in her book, Clean House, Strong House... "However, there have been times when I have personally walked homosexuals, ex-witches, and drug addicts through sessions that took place over a couple of years."
There is no word on whether former Delaware U.S. Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell was among the witches miraculously saved by Daniels.
Researcher Bruce Wilson dove further into Daniels' treasure trove of quotes this week and discovered some new gems that will likely (or should) end her political career. For example, Wilson discovered a video of Daniels saying, "You can talk about the Holocaust, but the Jews own everything."
Jews own everything? This is news to me, because I had no idea that Bill Gates, Sam Walton, Warren Buffett, and Donald Trump were Jewish. Now that I know, I hope they enjoyed Passover!
Perhaps, the most shocking quote from Daniels, who is African American, came when she portrayed slavery as a heavenly gift.
"I thank God for slavery," preached Daniels, in a sermon that was captured on video. "If it wasn't for slavery, I might be somewhere in Africa worshiping a tree." (And who would be here in America to warn us about the danger of Satanic Skittles?)
On her campaign website, Daniels writes, "If I am elected, I will work with my colleagues to seek solutions to problems in our city that trouble the hearts of the people."
One can only imagine what "solutions" this deeply disturbed woman might have in store for Jacksonville residents if she wins. Incredibly, on March 17th she received 43-percent of the vote and forced a May 17th run-off with Republican David Taylor.
Daniels' realizes that city council races usually have a low voter turnout. Her strategy is to run a stealth campaign and flood the polls with fundamentalist voters, while avoiding reporters who will ask tough questions. She will likely use the Christian media and a network of churches in heavily religious Jacksonville to disseminate her message and get voters to the polls. The Examiner website opines: "If you are running for office, you need to be available to talk to voters and reporters. This is something Ms. Daniels apparently is not able to do."
Given her offensive statements and crackpot views, Duval County's Democratic Party needs to step in and take a stand before it is too late. They ought to demand that Daniels immediately quit the race and apologize to voters.
If she refuses, the Democrats ought to endorse Taylor or at least make a strong, unambiguous statement distancing themselves from Daniels' views. I'm sure the Democrats want to win, but at what cost?
The local and state Democratic Party should not allow their name to be associated with such blatant bigotry. The party has to make it clear that Daniels outrageous views' are anathema to its core principles and values. If not, they are no better than craven Republicans who pander to the Religious Right for the sake of raw power.
The thought of Daniels on the City Council is scarier than a Halloween haunted house filled with Reese's Demon Butter Cups. Voters must be made aware of the radicalism and ridiculousness she will bring to Jacksonville if elected.