Teabagger Billboard linking Obama, Hitler draws complaints

[jefferson_dem]

Billboard linking Obama, Hitler draws complaints

By LUKE MEREDITH
The Associated Press
Tuesday, July 13, 2010; 10:30 PM


A billboard ordered and paid for by the North Iowa Tea Party shows President Barack Obama, Adolf Hitler, left, and Vladimir Lenin, on South Federal Avenue in Mason City, Iowa, July 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Globe Gazette, Deb Nicklay) (Deb Nicklay - AP)

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A billboard created by an Iowa tea party group that compares President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin is drawing sharp criticism - even from fellow tea party activists who have condemned it as offensive and a waste of money.

The North Iowa Tea Party began displaying the billboard in downtown Mason City last week. The sign shows large photographs of Obama, Nazi leader Hitler and communist leader Lenin beneath the labels "Democrat Socialism," "National Socialism," and "Marxist Socialism."

Beneath the photos is the phrase, "Radical leaders prey on the fearful & naive."

The co-founder of the roughly 200-person group said the billboard was intended to send an anti-socialist message. But Bob Johnson admitted Tuesday that the message may have gotten lost amid the images of fascist and communist leaders.

"The purpose of the billboard was to draw attention to the socialism. It seems to have been lost in the visuals," Johnson said. "The pictures overwhelmed the message. The message is socialism." He said he didn't know of any plans to remove the sign.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/13/AR2010071304213.html

[ck4829]

1. Hitler didn't run on anything resembling "change" at all

All of his speeches were about the "good ol' days", getting back at the people who supposedly "stabbed us in the back", the successes of the Holy Roman Empire (which was in the past), etc.

If anything, Hitler's National Socialism draws a closer parallel to the "Remember how good life was back in the 1950's" brand of conservatism than actual socialism.

[Name removed]

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[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. He also knew how to give a swell speech, dontcha know?

Do I really need the :sarcasm: here?

Sheesh.

[Name removed]

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[LostinVA]

9. And Mussolini made the trains run on time

:wtf:

It was an artificial economic boom.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

11. You forgot to mention that Stalin loved squirrels.

:)

[catgirl]

12. Saved the german economy with his policies?

Last I heard, he left the country in shambles with his "policies". His policies included mass murdering
citizens too. Just saying.

[Name removed]

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[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. "Radical leaders prey on the fearful & naive."

Oh, the irony. The irony is so thick and....well, stupid.

[jobycom]

3. Yep. nt

[flpoljunkie]

6. Talk about textbook projection!

The teabaggers have been thoroughly indoctrinated by their messiahs--Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity--who are nothing more than 'empty shills' for corporate America.

[rfranklin]

4. Obivously they will have to choose the second alternative...

offered by their "live free or die" slogan. Hopefully they will do it without shooting up a school or church.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. That phrase applies to perfectly to Fox News or talk radio.