On Ira Hansen and the Nevada Republican Party

Ira Hansen (born October 5, 1960) is a member of the Nevada State Assembly. He is a Republican, representing district 32 in Northern Nevada.

Biography
Hansen was born in Reno, Nevada. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is married to Alexis with 8 children. He works as a plumbing contractor. He was a talk radio host on station KKOH in Reno for five years as well. He was fired due to outrage over comments he made to the effect that the United States should not have such a strong relationship with Israel.[1]

Hansen was also a columnist for the Sparks Tribune from 1994 through 2010. As a columnist for the Sparks Tribune, Hansen has written that the Oklahoma City bombing was a false flag operation, that women do not belong in the United States Armed Forces, that he owns a Confederate battle flag, that gays are disproportionally prone to engaging in child abuse, and that the relationship between African Americans and the Democratic Party is that of a "master-slave relationship with the benevolent master knowing what’s best for his simple minded darkies."[2]] See Hansen’s Wikipedia profile.

However, in his own words, there is much more that has been spewed from Ira Hansen’s desiccated brain:

The Clintons caused the Oklahoma City bombings in 1998:…”before the execution of Timothy McVeigh, Hansen argued that the Clinton administration was responsible for the Oklahoma City explosion, with McVeigh either innocent or a dupe: “Claiming the building was a public hazard the government began tearing it down long before any reasonable and complete investigation could occur. … Distrust of the federal government was at an all-time high prior to the bombing. Afterward, public sympathy shifted the other way, masterfully manipulated by the Clinton Administration.” Hansen and his entire family have always been conspiracy fear mongers.

Ira Hansen on homosexuality: All homosexuals are gay men, and all gay men are all child molesters: Hansen seems to define men who abuse boys as homosexual, though the scholarship says that heterosexuals commit most abuse against boys and girls. He also seems to consider gays deviant by definition.

“Considering only about 2 percent of adult males are homosexuals, the numbers show why homosexuals have been historically regarded as such a threat. Male homosexuals are grossly disproportionate in child molestation cases, and the youth orientation of male homosexuality drives this trend.”

His preoccupation with the notion turned into a sort of hobby. “Yet another child molester has been discovered locally, accused of molesting a 15-year-old boy”, he once wrote. “I’ve been keeping a rough tally on homosexual/heterosexual molesters as reported locally, and roughly half of all molestations involve homosexual men preying on boys.”

Hansen gave no details, nor did he publish his list, nor did he explain how he knew the sexuality of the alleged molesters. Moreover, all his political enemies are homosexuals: Apparently never expecting public sentiment on gays to change, Hansen defined gay candidates by their sexuality, using the term “homosexual” as a weapon. He labeled some candidates he opposed according to what he believed was their sexuality — “homosexual activist Kendall Stagg”. In his writings, no other candidates than those he opposed were identified by their sexuality.

Ira Hansen on black people “darkies” and Democrats “masters”: In an attack on public education and teacher unions, Hansen wrote, “The Democratic coalition would split asunder if the NAACP & co. actually promoted what black Americans truly desire — educational choice. The shrewd and calculating [black] ’leaders’ are willing to sacrifice the children of their own race to gratify their lust for power and position. The relationship of Negroes and Democrats is truly a master-slave relationship, with the benevolent master knowing what is best for his simple-minded darkies. For American blacks, being denied choice and forced to attend the failing and inferior government school system is a form of involuntary servitude. Let us call it what it truly is — educational slavery. “And when he’s not calling them “darkies,” he just plain calls them “negroes”:

Hansen tends to use the term “Negro” (much like Cliven Bundy ) and often does not capitalize it. In one column, he described Washoe Republican Sen. Maurice Washington (whom he supported) as black but in the same column called President Obama (whom he opposes) a “negro” — lower case.

Ira Hansen on women in the military: “Today, when Army men look at women in the ranks with ’longing in their eyes’ it very well may constitute ’sexual harassment.’ The truth is, women do not belong in the Army or Navy or Marine Corps, except in certain limited fields.”

As a classical conservative, what I find most disturbing and intellectually sickening, is not that he is a homophobic, racist, bigot, anti-Semitic, misogynist and paranoid conspiracy theorist. He has already convinced me through his own words and editorials that he is firm in his convictions and since prior to his pathetic elevation he has never retracted his asinine commentaries.

Until now!

Ira Hansen’s public statement: "I am deeply sorry that comments I have made in the past have offended many Nevadans. It is unfortunate that these comments, made almost 20 years ago as a newspaper columnist and talk radio host, have been taken out of context and are being portrayed as intentionally hurtful and disrespectful.

These comments were meant to be purposely provocative in various political, cultural and religious views. I have the utmost respect for all people without regard to race, gender, religious or political beliefs."

"I am committed to showing that actions are much louder than words and my office will always have an open door to all backgrounds and political viewpoints. This will not distract us from finding solutions to building a brighter and more prosperous Nevada."

All Hansen is trying to do now, is save his political ass! Sorry, Ira, too little, too late! Go back to being a plumber, you were never a qualified journalist/columnist/ or a talk-show host, let alone qualified to be a lawmaker.

Here is what scares the hell out of me...he got elected to the Speakership of the Nevada Assembly by his peers...which means by default they have given tacit approval and agree with his homophobic, racist, bigoted, anti-Semitic, misogynist and paranoid conspiracy theories.

Is this really the image and thinking, we as rational thinking citizens of the Great State of Nevada wish to present to the world?

Are Ira Hansen’s positions the new face and policy positions of Nevada’s new “conservative majority?

Does anybody really want to challenge me as to why I left the Nevada Republican Party?

I now call upon Congressman Mark Amodei, Senator Dean Heller, The Nevada Republican Party, the Carson City Republican Central Committee, the Carson City Republican Women’s Club, and Governor Brian Sandoval, to disavow and publicly denounce Ira Hansen.

Collectively, they should demand that he be stripped of his status as the newly elected Speaker of the Assembly. If not, then I can only logically assume that the aforementioned people agree with his degenerate character and existence.

In writing this opinion piece, I must give credit to Mediaite, Reno News and Review, and all others who I may have quoted without proper attribution.

— Karl Neathammer resides in Carson City. He does not respond to his critics.