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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Another sore loser.
To all Republicans in the United States: The American People have spoken. Barack Obama will be our 44th President.
Get over it.
Your party is dead. Hate, the religious right and racism killed it.
"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."
~~~~~
Where's this guy been for the last 8 years? THAT was the administration that not only showed the potential but expressed it in various ways.
If the shoe fits...
This man is not fit to be a Congressman-nor a Republican. Just because your side lost does not mean you vilify the US President-if anything, the Republicans have brought us closer to a dictatorship by completely ignoring the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I think of what Obama has proposed as like the CCC of FDR or the Peace Corps of President Kennedy. It is thinking like this that just lost the election for the Republican party and was a rejection of Conservatives who were stuffing their past century thinking down our throats.
This person was elected? It's a sad state of affairs.
Piece of crap republicans.
Oh yeah – same sort of "BS" the GOP presidential campaign ran on – more FEAR & LOATHING IN POLITICS! The GOP ticket lost because of negativity and unqualified VP choice.
The President-elect has proposed a lot of changes.
We need a lot of changes.
Do we want to change into a socialist society?
It's worth keeping an eye on.
I am truly offended at the idea that those who disagree with Republicans are traitors, Marxists, unpatriotic, socialists, and unAmerican. Idiots like Broun are why the Republicans lost the election.
Given how Nazis felt about blacks, it's kind of historically ironic. What do you think? Organized civilian militias or vigilantes?
The harm has been done, so apologizing for it now doesn't carry much wait!! and that was his intention! The republicans are trying to desperately create hysteria in this country about Obama and it really makes me sick!
Republicans are fear mongers, bigots and/or hysteria driven! They want you to panic...
Wow. I'm at a loss for words. I hadn't even heard about this before. What's wrong with people? Obama won. Get over it. P.S. he's not even a socialist.
How can someone be both a Marxist and Hitler? Perhaps he's just confused. Isn't it good to know we have such people in Congress?
Who elected this idiot???
Broun... Obama's the President-elect. The American people have spoken clearly. If you wanted to use the same Republican fear tactics in order to prevent a Democrat from from being President you should have used them in 2000 or 2004.
The entire republican party are wack jobs...
Censure this dangerous man. This man is comparing our president to Hitler & Karl Marx. That kind of rhetoric is anti-american and DANGEROUS.
Don't bite your tongue now. We'll remeber your words come next election congressman.
It's ok... no big deal, you screwed up... now instead of saying sorry etc, just go outside and play hide.
Tool.
And this guy is from Georgia, I have a lot to be proud of. Not really.
I believe Congressman Broun hit the nail on the head.
I hope that Obama isn't Marxist, or have fascist-leanings like Hitler, unfortunately early indications say otherwise.
He has 4 years to prove otherwise, for sure.
Wow – typical Southern evangelical nutjob.
Congressman Paul is an extremist and this is what is wrong with the GOP. A non diverse shrinking party with no new ideas.
All he's saying is that there's potential? Is he also saying there's potential for the Christian Right to drive us towards fascism? Come on, man, at least be "fair and balanced" about it....