Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Republican Party of Duval County, FL recently promoted an event that featured several controversial comparisons of President Barack Obama with German Dictator Adolf Hitler.
Held at the Jacksonville Landing on July 2, and organized by the First Coast Tea Party, the Duval County Republican Party promoted the event through e-mails that stated “Paid by Republican Party of Duval County.”
The event was attended by Florida State Representatives Lake Ray, Charles McBurney and Mike Weinstein and Florida State Senator Stephen Wise, drew about 1,000 people. Local party officials were on stage, along with numerous members of the Jacksonville business community.
While partisan rhetoric is expected at any rally, controversy has arisen over numerous signs that were prominently displayed at the gathering, including two that featured President Obama in Nazi SS drag. The Nazi SS organization is responsible for enacting the Holocaust and the group responsible for most of 6+ million deaths committed by the Third Reich.
The Duval County Republican Party featured pictures from the event, with the Obama/Hitler comparisons on their Facebook page too. To their credit, Facebook has since removed the page.
From the Left 
Florida is a scary place.
It’s filled with religious conservatives and to see the Duval Republican Party sponsor an even comparing the president with Hitler, attended by elected U.S. lawmakers, is a testimony to the party’s desperation.
I had the chance to retire to Florida and refused. It isn’t a nice place. If you’re thinking of moving there, please visit first. I did and it was awful.
It takes a lot to anger me when it comes to politics but this is beyond acceptable. I just fired off emails to Florida Reps. Lake Ray, Charles McBurney and Mike Weinstein and Sen. Stephen Wise, taking them to task for attending this hate fest. Wrong on every level.
Every state has its scary spots. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, even Vermont (!!!) has two KKK chapters. I guess it’s some scary, backwards hick state too?
The poster is correct.
I checked the SPLC website and Vermont indeed has two hate groups.
However, Florida has 56.
These include, Brotherhood of Klans Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Christian National Socialist Party, Neo-Nazi, Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Knights of the Nordic Order, National Socialist Movement, League of the South, United Northern and Southern Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Independent Skins, Skinhead, National Aryan Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Truth Triumphant, Jewish Defense League, and the Nation of Islam.
There is no question that the election of Barack Obama has fueled hate group activity — just look at the Southern Poverty Law Center website if you doubt this.
But regardless, these groups do enjoy safe harbor among the GOP. Many members of hate groups are also conservative Christians.
How come the Klanservatives never, ever have an answer besides “THEY DO IT TOO!!!” when their racism, hypocrisy, perversion, and greed is pointed out?
This shows us how completely deranged the GOP has become.
Hyperbolic vituperation. It’s all the extreme right wing has left.
Frankly, though, I do not think all ‘hate groups’ are bad. I belong to one. It’s called BROCCOLI SUCKS. It’s a well known fact that Hitler loved broccoli!
Billions in tax cuts for the rich at the same time the country went to war in Iraq and the deficit and the national debt just keeps growing and growing. How do these braindead conservatives think we’re going to pay for the cost of running this country if we keep cutting taxes? Do they think the military comes cheap? Homeland Security? You can’t operate a nation the size of the U.S. without taxes.
I visited Ft. Lauderdale a few years ago and I hated it. It was hot and humid, the drivers were rude and the bugs were prehistoric. Florida is terrible.
Harry-I never had a desire to return either. I can’t for the life of me figure out why northerners go THERE on their summer vacations.
I don’t know how anybody in their right conscience can make this comparison.