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."
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First, Hitler was a facist. That is not the same thing as being Marxist. Second, by Rep. Broun's definition, anyone who supports any degree of socialist programs would be a Marxist. If that's the case, I would expect him (and anyone who supports this line of thinking) to be against programs like Social Security. Anyone out there want to give up their Social Security, especially after seeing what the market can do? (Didn't think so.) It's fine to disagree on policy, but let's cut the meaningless rhetoric that serves no purpose but to play to a segment of the population that doesn't really know what it means to be Marxist, nor such economic theories relate to the policies that Obama is likely to promote. As a society we should be better than that.
How in the world can he even compare President Obama to Hitler when there are people right there in his political party that have past relatives that sent money to and supported Hitler. Typical and hypocritical. Get over the fact that Obama won. Just get up everyday and look in the mirror and say, "I must now accept the fact that Obama is our new President." You would think he would need to heal from the last 8 years rather than try to heal from this election.
The facts are Republicans are fascists, bigots and socialist war loving individuals. Do not underestimate how low they can go and this has been displayed by their leadership from the top i.e. W, McCain, Plain (dump & dumber) etc. Go back and see the tape of their convention of hate.
Georgia,
Couldn't you have elected someone who's just a little smater and a little less bigoted?
It amazes me how so many people wear their bigotry as a badge of honor.
It's hard not to like a crazy guy who has no problem with being crazy. Do the republicans still wonder why they lost? Call a press conference and then just let er' rip. He had on a nice looking suit. I wonder where the one was that has the sleeves that tie in the back? Dingoes stole my baby. Here's some free advice. Don't say crazy stuff to begin with and then you won't have to apologize for it later. Obama isn't Hitler and Cheney isn't Darth Vader. Honestly...who can't figure that out? Show me the Death Star in orbit THEN I might reconsider about Dick.
I hope he just resigned... How shameful.
I wonder if he realizes that fascism (Hitler) and socialism are on opposite ends of the political/economic spectrum? His argument makes absolutely no sense!
Mr. Broun, for one thing, doesn't even know what a "Marxist" is, or the difference between communism and fascism. He probably does not realize that the "co-op" farms in his state are actually modelled on Marxism.
There will always be ignorant, frightened people who resist any sort of change. I am not so surprized by his comments...more shocked that someone that out-of-touch with reality could actually be elected to Congress. At least this election proved the majority of Americans do not think that way, thankfully.
Sounds like an elected member of congress. Irresponsible and making accusations for self purpose. Folks in his state must be real proud.
It goes to show the comment comes from a "red" state that cannot get with the program and try to work together. We live in a different time and era and development. Unfortunatley Paul Broun does not. People like this should not be in politics if they make comments like this. Suggests he moves up to Alaska to cool off with Gov Palin.
"I apologize to anyone who has taken offense at that" is not an apology – he is saying it's your own fault for being offended, but not backing away from his comments. Just his way of helping the country to unite, I guess...
Is he actually saying that Fascism and Marxism are the same? Huh?
Just trying to understand what this yoyo is talking about- he is rather pathetic, no?
yeah we know just how "SORRY" he is
and they wonder why the REPUGS lost
get over yourselves people
The republicans will never learn!!! They have a very narrow scope of thought that is not conducsive to the present diverse politicaL map of America. All the republicans do is "cry Wolf" and spread lies and hate and division in America. Americans are tired of this and are tired of the hate mongering. They want sound policies and direction and respect for all.It is the very core of American beleifs and this party is no where relative to that. They must have taken the RIGHT turn at Albquerky as Daffy Duck used to say. There is no point building a house on a faulty foundation!!!
How pathetic. This is what the Republican party is all about. Paul Brown is a complete loser. If anyone who post comments here said something like this about a co employee, you would be out of a job.
hahahaaha. this guy is hilarious. i mean i really have no words to describe. the supidest or the dumbest or what should I say a baffoon person i have ever seen/heard of!
I wonder why Broun is so BITTER?
Its comments and behavior like this that has led this lifelong Republican to vote Democratic this year.
The Republican Party has become a hypocritical, bigoted, close minded party with very few members to be proud of.
Fear, hate mongering, and self righteous arrogance has pushed me to look elsewhere for the leadership to vote for.
This type of wrong leadership is a cancer to our society and nation!
You see Republicans its the Likes of this Man and Sara Palin with their Hate,Division that has destroyed your party, drop the Haters and the Religious nuts or the Democrats will be around for a very very long time!
Most of what ths congressman said about Obama is true – factually accurate. Take away the references to Hitler and marism and 100% of the underlying allegations are true. Sp, I say to our Dem friends, chill out. And for you Dems out there who agree with the NY Times Magazine article which likened Obama to Jesus Christ, that is far more horrible than anything that this Congressman said.
Wow! He made such a remark and now he is "APOLOGIZING." Give a a break. The "conservatives" including sean hanninity are trying to divide this country. I hope people are paying attention to this.
so precisely which group of people does he propose obama wishes to enslave, torture, and try to eliminate from humanity? if he's going to make the reference, he should at least give holocaust survivors and their descendants a real point of reference so that they understand how a democratically elected community organizer who is sympathetic to families with financial hardship is like the man who orchestrated the murder and attempted eradication of thousands of innocent men, women, children.
While I completely disagree with Obama on pretty much everything, I'm not ready to declare him even closely equivalent to Hitler. This civilian security force is a very bad idea, however. Because Obama gives little to no detail on basically any of his plans, we're left to wonder what in the world he's really going to do. This civilian security force has so much room for abuse, not unlike the Hitler Youth or the Gastapo. Remember, I'm not likening Obama to Hitler, but without details, his plans sound way too similar for a whole lot of us to buy in to this.
This man is sick. Hopefully everyone like him will be gone in a few years.
What took him so long?