David Duke doesn't hold a government position. He can speak wherever he likes; running for office (or having held office in the past) doesn't change whether he's a private citizen (he is) acting under color of law (he's not).
Further, even an official can attend an exclusive private event, if they do so in their capacity as a private citizen. But if they go to events and conduct government business, that's problematic.
I wasn't talking about David Duke now, I was illustrating that it's always worked like this by examining the well known historical case of David Duke's public career.
>Further, even an official can attend an exclusive private event, if they do so in their capacity as a private citizen...
This was the entire point of my post.
David Duke is free to be a guest speaker at any private event he chooses. Again, I think he'd even be encouraged to interact with constituents in this capacity. I would think any politician would be encouraged to interact with their constituents in this fashion. It only makes sense. Go to the county fair or the local Kroger or whatever and actually talk to people.
That some would have a problem with the beliefs of the constituents he chose to interact with does not constitute a problem for David Duke. He had a place people could go to see him for the public business of making comments or lodging complaints or whatever, and blacks were perfectly free to go there and do so.
That blacks couldn't go to the Klan rallies he spoke at was not a problem at all. It's not like he was at the Klan rally going over government business or something.
A politician has to conduct official business, in an official place.
But s/he can congregate with constituents and others at as many private places, (like Klan rallies), as s/he pleases. It's not either or, s/he can, and should do both.
Further, even an official can attend an exclusive private event, if they do so in their capacity as a private citizen. But if they go to events and conduct government business, that's problematic.