A state transportation official appointed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) was fired Thursday after remarks he made in which he blamed immigrants for the "animus" that white people feel toward them and said that when he looks at undocumented immigrants, he sees "Satan." According to Daniel Bice at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Steven Krieser was fired by Walker's office less than two hours after he posted the remarks to Facebook.


The fuss began when a Democratic state official named Gordon Hintz angrily posted a photo of an offensive sticker, decrying its message: "USA illegal alien hunting permit -- no bag limit -- tagging not required." A user agreed that the sign was offensive, writing "About 2000 years ago there lived a man who, if he came here, would be considered a foreigner, had olive skin, and didn't speak English. His name was Jesus."

Krieser responded with a multi-paragraph anti-immigration rant that read, "The sticker is probably over the top, and while some people are undoubtedly motivated by racial animus, I think you err in insinuating that opposition to illegal immigration generally is driven primarily by racism."

Calling undocumented workers a "stream of wretched criminals," Krieser wrote that by "marching in the streets in broad daylight, demanding all the benefits of citizenship from a country whose laws they are breaking even as they are standing there. The illegals themselves have bred the animus that many American citizens feel toward them."

"You may see Jesus," he fumed. "I see Satan."

The Journal-Sentinel quoted Scott Walker's spokesperson Tom Evenson, who said, "These comments are repugnant, completely unacceptable, and have no place in Governor Walker's administration. Governor Walker condemns his views, and they do not represent the governor or his administration in any way."

[hat-tip to Think Progress]