A Democratic candidate running against Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers shocked Twitter users Monday when he compared Republicans in Congress to Islamic State militants.
J.T. Smith, of Phenix City, is the Democratic nominee to represent Alabama’s District 3, The Birmingham News reported.
“The greatest country on earth is being bullied from within. Actions of Republicans in congress are worse than #ISIL,” he tweeted on Labor Day to more than 3,000 followers.
The tweet was still active as of Tuesday afternoon.
The Islamic State group, formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), made headlines again Tuesday for a video that purported to show the beheading of American journalist Steven Sotloff, just weeks after it released confirmed footage of the beheading of U.S. photojournalist James Foley.
Mr. Smith, an Iraq War veteran who faces Rep. Mike Rogers in November, later took to Facebook to explain his tweet.
“Twitter does not allow for context, but this does,” he said. “I am not saying that the Republican Party is beheading people in the streets, obviously. Here in America, because we are a civilized democracy, we do not use violence against each other as a means of control. The Republicans have used the economy as a means to terrorize the people of this country.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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