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A Republican candidate for the Florida House of Representatives is in hot water after he agreed Monday that President Barack Obama should be hanged for treason.

Joshua Black, an African-American, agreed to the idea of hanging the president after a Twitter user sent him the following public message: "I'm past impeachment. It's time to arrest and hang him high."

"Agreed," Black tweeted in response.

A Republican candidate for the Florida House in a nearby district, Chris Latvala, was quick to denounce Black.

"[Y]ou aren't seriously calling for the killing of Obama are you?" Latvala asked, adding that Black is an "embarrassment."
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Black remained defiant, explaining that Obama could only be executed after he has stood trial.
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Black then took to Facebook to explain himself:

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It wasn't long before the local GOP chairman, Michael Guju, Republican Gov. Rick Scott and others joined Latvala in calling on Black to abandon his bid for congress.

"It is impossible to accept this statement," Guju said. "This is wholly unacceptable and unduly provocative."

"Joshua Black's comments on President Barack Obama are outrageous," Gov. Scott tweeted Tuesday. "Floridians expect more from our leaders and he should immediately withdraw his candidacy to represent families of Pinellas County."

Black resigned Tuesday from a liaison position with the Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee, according to WTSP-TV. But he said he would not drop out of the race.

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry condemned Black's tweet: "That garbage does not represent the values of the people I know whether R, D or I."

Black said Tuesday that he has been paid a visit by the United States Secret Service.

(H/T: Mediaite and Tampa Bay Times)