ATLANTA (AP) — The pastor of the spiritual home of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. says GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is using insulting racial stereotypes to fire up Republican voters.
The Rev. Raphael G. Warnock criticized Gingrich during the annual holiday service marking King's birthday at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. On the campaign trail, Gingrich has referred to President Barack Obama as "the food stamp president" and suggested that African-Americans seek paychecks instead of public assistance.
Gingrich defended his comments at a black church in South Carolina on Sunday. Warnock says such discourse is sickening.
The pastor also warned against "those who want to remember Martin Luther King and dismember him at the same time," citing voter ID laws that he says are hurting the people King tried to help.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
