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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Why is this moron:
a) still talking?
b) still being listened to?
c) still in office?
He has a point, notwithstanding the Hitler comparison.
And the GOP wonders why they can't win an election. Because of fools like this guy. Divisive and has no need to open his mouth because he spews hatred. Sounds like the male version of Sarah Palin.
Hey anti palin pro.................why is he in congress??? cos he can be thats why..........
get over it fool...............
Congratulations! You have been designated a member of the Crazy Caucus along with Michele Bachmann!
Sad day that a Congressman makes such comments in 21st century and even appears to justify his Hiterlish comments about Obama. This Congressman sounds like a sidekick of KKK spewing hate and venom. Shame of this low life. Republicans have lost me for a long time for their despicable behavior.
Give this man his banjo and overalls back..he doesn't belong in congress.
Republicans in the HOUSE and representin'!!!! Nothing makes the GOP look better than this guy! Congrats on your "new brand of conservatism".
This is the type of thinking that is damaging and dividing our country. President-elect Obama is the most inclusive, inspiring politician to arrive on the American scene in 40+ years. Because he has made a call to service to the country of the people, it in no conceivable way makes him dangerous, or even remotely Hitleresque. Is it hard to decipher why this country cannot get anything done in Congress? You have members of the opposing party believing that the leader of the Democratic party is capable of the world atrocities that Hitler carried out. This truely leaves me flabergasted.
Republicans proving they are out of touch, have no listened to the American people and are in touch with only their own conservative ideology not willing to compromise or just try others ideas.
But Hitler was a democratically-elected CATHOLIC and his policies and approaches evolved out of what he learnt.
Gee, I wonder why the Republican party's in trouble? Still out of touch. Still not getting it. The fear is in you, Congressman Broun, not in us. If you're scared, you can go home and hide. We'll carry on just fine without you. I love how the Republicans scream "socialism" every time a Democrat mentions government reform for the people. There wasn't any help available for the residents of New Orleans, but let a bank go broke and we can't get our checkbooks out fast enough. Sickening.
Idiot! What state and district is this guy from, the deep south?
Make this man the Republican presidential candidate in 2012!
(seriously, I want an easy victory for us Democrats...)
Of course he is sorry. Sorry in every sense of the word. They all are.
Someone needs to introduce Mr. Broun to reality. This is the worst apology I've heard in a while.
He should say: "I'm sorry, I made a personal attack to mask the fact that I have no effective solutions for national problems. I was hoping people would jump at words like Hitler, Marxist, and socialist because fearmongering is the only reliable tool my party has left."
It takes one to know one. You would know EXACTLY what Hitler did in Naza Germany because you are one and you studied your leader well. I am not sorry for what I said because I mean what I say. Red nacks like you day's are numbered. The people are going to see to it that those thoughts that you have of our America is a thing of the past.
and the retractions shall come... a lot of loud mouths are going to get shut..With president elect getting such resounding support from 'W' it will be interesting as the republicans realign themselves...
Of course, never mind the fact that communism and fascism are pretty much at opposite ends of the political spectrum....
Anyone with a brain should know that Hitler was a fascist, i.e. ultra-right wing. Marxism is ultra-LEFT wing. This idiot needs to go back to school and study some history.
Be carful Broun the more accusations you make the more you have to hide.
Love newstories about Americans working hard to solve our current problems. Stories about the KKK, rush on gun sales and now this.
Isn't this this same state with Obama Tshirts with monkeys on them? The "new" South sounds just like the "old" South to me.
Thats funny! A Republican comparing a Democrat to Hitler. There's irony for you!!
this sort of talk really scares me! the original comment by the congressman was reported on FOX NEWS the other day (go figure)... and i was reading HUNDREDS of responses to his comments... i could not BELIEVE how many people (read: xenophobic rednecks, fundamentalists, etc.) were AGREEING with him!!! what can we do, as a country, to end the hate??? i have a lot of hope and faith that obama will do an amazing job– he's seriously inspring millions!!!– but i worry that the politics of fear and hate (read: the GOP platform) would rather derail efforts to help this country than to actually concede their loss gracefully, and work toward the greater good.
Oh so little this guy knows. Fascists like Hitler and Communists absolutely hate each other; they are almost polar opposites if not completely so.
Calling a "Marxist" as resembling Hitler therefore makes no sense whatsoever.