Echoes of Obama-Hitler comparisons heard in Quist's Mankato health care forum

Back in October, the Minnesota Independent reported in Speaker for local rightwing fundraiser likens Obama to Hitler:

The New York Times noted on Monday that rightwing opposition to the Democrats’ health care reform plans contains plenty of references to Nazis. On Wednesday, a Minnesota-based, rightwing health care group offered a local example, announcing a former Hitler Youth who has compared Obama’s policies to the rise of Nazi Germany as its headliner at an upcoming fundraiser.

Citizen’s Council on Health Care, a conservative outfit that lobbies against government involvement in the health care industry, is bringing Maria Anne Hirschmann, a former Hitler Youth turned evangelical Christian (complete with her own ministry), to Minnesota for its $100 a plate “Freedom Celebration Dinner” on Nov. 9.

Hirschmann stirred controversy this spring when she was tapped to speak at the Air Force Academy, a government institution, in Colorado Springs. Her previous public statements led to outcry from a variety of groups and the subsequent cancellation of her speech. . . .

The fundraiser featuring Hirschman happened last night. Twila Brase referenced the speaker during Allen Quist's forum at noon today at the Mankato Happy Chef:

I just started reading the Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany, to get an idea of history ...and last night we had Maria Anne Hirschmann for a speaker and she was a Nazi youth leader...

Brase then launched her own comparison between Hitler devaluing Germany's currency and spending in the Obama administration, noted in Bluestem's live blog. 

I am a bit baffled by the labored rhetorical comparisons I heard at the Happy Chef between the current state of the United States and Germany under Hitler. Should Ms. Brase truly want to battle Nazis, Bluestem knows that the phone number for the Southeast Minnesota leader of the National Socialist Movement (profiled beginning here) is widely available online. Perhaps she could give him a call.

Image: A 1976 Christian comic book about Hirschman's life.

Comments

[Govtmule]

But lets not forget that the left is also fond of comparing Obama to Hitler. The most prominent protesters at Walz's Mankato health care town hall was the LaRouche supporter

[Sally Jo Sorensen]

It seems an odd defense of Brase's statements to evoke a "But LaRouche does it too!"

After all, Quist invited Twila Brase to speak at his forum.

Walz, on the other hand, had a policy leader from Mayo, a representative of Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and the head of the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce, while a Republican former former U.S. Senator respected for his expertise in health care reform moderated the panel.

When Congressman Walz asks LaRouchians to be panelists at his Town Halls, you might have a valid analogy.

Additionally, if a Tea Party activist's YouTubes online from that Town Hall are to be trusted, only Tea Party protesters from the right cheered the LaRouchian image, not those from the left who were gathered outside of the local school.

Finally, I would disagree with your characterization of LaRouche as being "left," at least not since the mid-1970s. Crazypants mostly. Like Sharon Anderson and the Italy-dwelling fugitive Jack Shepard for Minnesota Republicans, Democrats can't stop Lyndon LaRouche and his followers from trying to lamprey themselves on the party.

[Govtmule]

I am in no way defending Brase. Just pointing out that it goes both ways.

The fact remains that Hitler was a statist and I think that most Bush/Obama to Hitler comparison are focused to that point. Given the degree of Hitlers statist beliefs and his genocidal tendencies comparing US Presidents to Hitler is as silly as comparing cats to tigers because they are both felines.

Hope my analogical efforts fare better this time;-)

[Sally Jo Sorensen]

But it didn't go both ways.

Quist's special guest made the comparison from the head of the panel. No one in the Quist-friendly audience objected; indeed, they picked up on the thread.

The LaRouchian was outside, not on the stage with Walz, and only the Tea Party protesters outside cheered him on. People from the left, on the other hand, objected to the sign.

Your point in bringing the second example up was what, exactly? To demonstrate that people on the right on two occasions in Mankato approved of the Obama-Hitler comparison?

Are you sure you want to continue with this?

[Govtmule]

Sure. Hitler was a statist, Obama is a statist. It is an apt comparison. The fact that Hitler and Obama are not similar in many ways does not make the similarity go away. Folks on the left and folks on the right have made the comparison - you not liking the comparison does not make it untrue, nor does it negate the fact that it was made. Moveon.org had their Bush is Hitler moment if you need a more mainstream left leaning organization making comparisons - or is that one okay because Bush really was like Hitler?

The two dominant parties use surrogates to throw out the red meat when ever debating the issues proves to be to much. The phony outrage at such tactics is just as weak.