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Judi Lynn

(160,527 posts)
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 02:34 PM Jun 2014

State senator backs off Hitler-unions comparison

Source: Associated Press

State senator backs off Hitler-unions comparison
Jun. 6, 2014 2:17 PM EDT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Republican state legislator from Pennsylvania is backing away from a comment he made comparing labor unions to Adolf Hitler.

Sen. Scott Wagner said Wednesday on the Senate floor that labor unions, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hitler are about "power and control."

The senator wrote in a letter posted Friday (http://bit.ly/1lbva2w ) on the York Daily Record/Sunday News website that he "used an unfortunate analogy" and has contacted union leaders to tell them that.

Wagner doesn't want public sector unions to have their dues collected by the government, and his comment came during a debate to end that practice.


Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/state-senator-backs-hitler-unions-comparison



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State senator backs off Hitler-unions comparison (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jun 2014 OP
Ah, Hitler! Without you, political hyperbole (to say nothing of stupidity) would be impossible . . . Journeyman Jun 2014 #1
Republicans like to insure Hitler's immortality. Turbineguy Jun 2014 #3
Could that be because leftynyc Jun 2014 #2
UUMMM Does he realize Hitler abolished the unions? Omaha Steve Jun 2014 #4
He probably doesn't sakabatou Jun 2014 #10
As did Mussolini... awoke_in_2003 Jun 2014 #11
On Thursday, he added Saddam, Stalin and Gadhafi to the list muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #5
"Power and control" atreides1 Jun 2014 #7
the union-busting antisocialist? MisterP Jun 2014 #6
Power and Control? november3rd Jun 2014 #8
Maybe because he discovered what a colossally fucking stupid thing it was to say. Aristus Jun 2014 #9
Is this the same PA Senator that said "We ALLOW gay people to exist" blkmusclmachine Jun 2014 #12
No, that was John Eichelberger Fortinbras Armstrong Jun 2014 #13
Kick Omaha Steve Jun 2014 #14

Journeyman

(15,031 posts)
1. Ah, Hitler! Without you, political hyperbole (to say nothing of stupidity) would be impossible . . .
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 02:43 PM
Jun 2014

What this nation needs is fresh, original hyperbole, some more nuanced stupidity.

How about some outrageous comments comparing politicians we don't like to tyrants and despots of the distant past, so we can at least enlarge the public's ignorance to include false comparisons to lesser known and even more misconceived analogies.

How about Tigleth Pilesar III? Or perhaps Yang Guang? Two especially fertile tyrants from which we could all draw some wickedly stupid comparisons to all sorts of people.

I grow tired of Hitler. I'm bored with Stalin. Castro and Chavez and such were never more than a regional distraction. Let us seek out new fields of ignorance, and boldly go where our stupidity beckons.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,311 posts)
5. On Thursday, he added Saddam, Stalin and Gadhafi to the list
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 03:03 PM
Jun 2014
During a news conference at his district office on Thursday, Wagner added more people to the list.

"Let's talk about Moammar Gadhafi, let's talk about Saddam Hussein," said Wagner, who also mentioned Josef Stalin.

He said there have been "dictators around the world. And when you have power and control with a few people, it is not good."

Wagner said on Thursday he didn't make his comments to offend anyone, but he wanted to explain about "power and control." Wagner said a large number of lawmakers have received money from unions.

When Wagner was asked about a union member who objected, Wagner said he "should grow up." He said opponents of the union dues legislation would use his comments as a "smoke bomb" to distract from the real issue.

http://www.ydr.com/state/ci_25901595/scott-wagners-comments-unions-hitler-criticized

atreides1

(16,076 posts)
7. "Power and control"
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 03:31 PM
Jun 2014

Maybe someone should point out the similarities between those dictators and how the Republicans rigged the Congressional districts in the states they controlled after the 2010 census, to gain power!

Wasn't Pennsylvania one of those states that made sure the Republicans would have "power and control", like those dictators that Wagner describes!

 

november3rd

(1,113 posts)
8. Power and Control?
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 03:31 PM
Jun 2014

hey, at least unions aren't pushing for the right to carry loaded guns in the workplace.

Aristus

(66,328 posts)
9. Maybe because he discovered what a colossally fucking stupid thing it was to say.
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 03:45 PM
Jun 2014

(Granted, not every repuke considers that to be a deal-breaker...)

As posted above, Hitler busted the unions. Outlawed them. Made advocating them, or supporting them a "Knock-knock, open up, it's the Gestapo" offense. He founded the National Labor Front, which was work-camps with a little military drill thrown in. Distantly related to what the Jews were forced into, only with better food, and no gas chamber at the end. Not exactly the AFL-CIO...

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