Congressman sorry for likening Obama to Hitler
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/12/art.broun.ap.jpg caption="Rep. Paul Broun is sorry for seemingly comparing Obama to Adolf Hitler."]
(CNN) - Republican Paul Broun is sorry for calling President-elect Barack Obama a 'Marxist' and comparing him to Adolf Hitler, the Georgia Congressman said Tuesday.
“I regret putting it that way,” he told WGAC radio in Augusta, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I apologize to anyone who has taken offense at that.”
In an interview with the Associated Press earlier this week, Broun admitted to calling the future commander-in-chief a 'Marxist' at a recent Rotary club meeting, and said Obama has expressed support for policies similar to those of Hitler.
"It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is, he's the one who proposed this national security force," Broun told the AP. "I'm just trying to bring attention to the fact that we may– may not, I hope not - but we may have a problem with that type of philosophy of radical socialism or Marxism."
Broun was specifically referring to a July speech by Obama, where the then-Democratic presidential nominee said he supports a civilian force helping the military when it comes to national security: "We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded [as the military]," Obama said in the speech that was largely a call to national service.
Responding to those comments, Broun told the AP Monday: "That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did. When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist."
"We can't be lulled into complacency," Broun added. "You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential."
The Obama transition office did not respond to Broun's comments, and in his interview Tuesday to WGAC, the first term congressman said, “The point I tried to make is that he is extremely liberal, he has promoted a lot of socialistic ideas, and it just makes me concerned."
From CNN Politics
- Untitled
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Lawmakers reluctant to pursue gun control measures following Nashville school shooting
- DeSantis plans to travel to Jerusalem as tumult strains Netanyahu-Biden relationship
- Harris faces painful Black history in emotional slave outpost visit
- Kentucky law aimed at increasing parental oversight in education takes effect
Campaining is over and I think what these people are doing is not having respect to the President-elect Obama!
Wow – and southern conservatives don't know why they have a bad image?
All I can say is wow, all these people shooting Obama down even before he is sworn in?
You betcha, they don't respect him. They are all white males either in goverment,tv shows or Radio shows. Looks like white males are loosing power in this country........
Where has he been? Why did he ever think an apology wouldn't be required after those comments?
Idiot.
Kissing makeup?
What a hyp
No one cares what Republicans think of have to say. So just go away!!
This guy is an idiot. No wonder the republican party is in the shape it is..with this mindset...this is not working together.
This man is simply another of the narrow-minded, insular, retrograde poliicians so prevalent in the south. It's good to shine a light on him so that people learn about some of the complete nincompoops we have serving in Congress. Unfortunately, it's the people who put them there, and this congressman probably just reflects the backwards views of a lot of his constituents.
These leaders that call other leaders names show what is wrong with our government- it's being run by children.
These comments are playground tactics, not something an educated, grown up would do.
Both parties do it but t seems to be more prevailent in the Republicans than Democrats. Its childish and makes our country look like its run by bafoons.
WHAT SOME PPL WONT SAY TO MAKE THE POLITICAL TICKER...hehe 😀
He's very close
Jack Carlson
Seattle WA
--and why this guy is in our congress ?????
i have no respect for people like him.....
This is the republician party at its best.
They have not learned anything new
This is sad he hasn't even taken office yet
These politicans are really stupid for people who are expected to be intelligent. How many times do these stories happen? A politician makes a really stupid comment and a day later takes it back. They of all people should know the weight of their words and should measure them carefully before speaking.
PEOPLE LIKE HIM IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE GOP,THE GOP NEED TO WEED OUT BUMS LIKE HIM AND STOP WITH THEIR NASTINESS AND DIVIDING PEOPLE OR WE WILL SEE THE DEMS AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME!
People called Obama a Marxist, socialist, and a bunch of other names without having read, studied, or understood any of the words they used. Now what does that say about them? Stupid, mean, uneducated? Its incredible to me that after Bush's disasters, many are just ready to repeat his failures. McCain spent very little time in ACTUALLY distancing himelf from Bush's so called policies. No wonder! The republican party had nothing NEW to say. No new direction. Nothing solid for the direction of this once great nation.
Welcome to America where every progress is shot down before it's actually implemented!
I wish that some people would get over their bitterness and move on!!!!
I'm sure Barack Obama will accept his apology, as he is a gentleman and a man who believes in moving forward.
As for me – not so fast. We saw too much filth coming from the Republicans in their desperate attempt to win, and slandering a potential president just doesn't cut it. Broun is a bigoted fool who has no place in our government.
Ha! Because Hitler and Marx had all the same Ideals....what a maroon.
We can thank Senator McCain and Gov Palin for inciting such foolish chatter. We now need to do everything to support our new president.
Amen brother Broun. Finally someone who has the nerve to speak out against what otheres of us also see. Of course, instead of stepping back and saying, he has a point lets talk about this, the talking heads try to drum him out of town.
Obama made these remarks, I heard them, there is no way to have taken them out of context. We do not need a presidential police/para millaray force out side of what we currently staff. If Obama starts to form such a force, this should be the biggest most important topic above and beyond the economy. Not one American should remain silent.
WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, November 11, 2008.
YEAH RIGHT! Typical GOP talking points.
McCain was dumb enough to pick Palin.
I doubt if he has the intelligence to regret that pick.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, just call me "John McCain".
Dee-dee-dee!