Comments made by an Indiana Congressional candidate are stirring up controversy. Last week, Tony Zirkle told a Kokomo newspaper that segregation between African Americans and other races might not be a bad idea.

On a Wednesday morning radio talk show Zirkle’s primary opponent, Luke Puckett, publically denounced those comments. WUBS is a African American radio station on South Bend’s west side.

Puckett called the comments a "travesty to the political system.”

Newscenter 16 also sat down with Tony Zirkle to get his side of the story.

If you were listening to 89.7 FM Wednesday morning, you may have heard some of Reverend William's guests on the WUBS talk show.

Republican second district congressional candidate Luke Puckett appeared on the show to condemn his opponent Tony Zirkle's remarks on segregation. “For me, it's just a shame that in 2008 when we have done so much as a country, as a Republican party… whom I stand for. To have anyone who calls themselves a Republican, to have these bigoted and racist views of any people,” says Zirkle.

But Zirkle defends his comments. He says he's not for segregation in terms of oppression or crime. Rather, he says it's something voters should consider with crime rates and out of wedlock births high among African Americans. “The segregation, when you use that word, it's a loaded term and many people think about oppressing a people and denying the right to vote. And no one is calling for that type of segregation because that was wrong and I even said that was criminal,” says Zirkle. “We could have six states that are African American, 44 states white and Hispanic, because I don't really see much of a difference between the two cultures. Let people vote and let them decide."

St. Joseph County Council President Raphael Morton also appeared on the radio show. Morton Called Zirkle's remarks "ludicrous."

“I have to say this is a ploy for media attention. Have to say that has to be a part of it," says Morton.

Zirkle tells Newscenter 16 that he's very open to speaking in diverse communities and will accept any invitation to do so.

The two candidates have not officially met. Puckett says they've only exchanged e-mails and phone calls. In light of Zirkle's recent comments, Puckett says his opponent has “no credibility” and he has no plans to debate him.