Congressman Admits 9/11 Error

[Poiuyt]

The nation's first Muslim congressman said Tuesday that he erred in comparing the Bush administration's response to Sept. 11 to an event that led to Adolf Hitler's consolidation of power in Nazi Germany.

At an appearance before a group of atheists in Minnesota on July 8, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., called Sept. 11 "the juggernaut" that led to war, tolerating torture and increased discrimination against religious minorities.

"It's almost like the Reichstag fire, kind of reminds me of that," he said. "After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the Communists for it and it put the leader of that country in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted."

Hitler used the 1933 burning of the Reichstag, the German parliament building, to suspend constitutional liberties.

"In hindsight, I wouldn't have used that reference point," Ellison told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday. "It was probably inappropriate to use that example, because it's a unique historical event, without really any clear parallels."

more -

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/18/politics/main3069391.shtml

[ORDagnabbit]

1. he was spot on and shouldnt apologize!

[sampsonblk]

2. NO reason to apologize!

[Dhalgren]

3. Bullshit!

There are glaringly clear parallels between the Reichstag fire and Hitler's use of it and 9/11 and Bush's use of it. The congressman used all the qualifier that he needed when he started his sentence with, "It's almost like" - that is more than enough (maybe too much)! The two events are so analogous to one another that it is only the collusion of the US media that has kept it from being commonly referred to...

[jobycom]

4. He made a political mistake, not an historical one.

The parallels are clear, but our MSM will start a crusade against anyone who criticizes Bush that honestly.

[bdamomma]

5. nah he should of not apologized he was pretty much on the mark.

[Bonhomme Richard]

6. There is one "really any clear parallel".

September 11, 2001

[zabet]

7. oooh...looks like someone,

maybe the cheneyator, made Ellison 'rethink' his statement.

Call me crazy but, tinfoil looks sooo good on me!:tinfoilhat:

[Richard Steele]

9. Not Cheney- I'll bet he got a "talking to" from the DLC types within his own party. nm

[zabet]

10. Probably but, I bet Cheney made his opinion known through the WH grapevine. nt

[BlooInBloo]

8. In a country of white christian folks, the brown muslim guy doesn't have much of a choice....

... No matter how right he is.


EDIT: Added "christian".

[hootinholler]

11. In Hindsight...

What I should have said is that this criminal cabal declared they would use any "new Perl Harbor" type event to assume control and go on the offensive before I pointed out the tactics used in 1933 Germany.

I've been advised by some smart people that there are seldom coincidences at this level of politics.

If only.

-Hoot