TPM LiveWire

Obama Quotes Anon. World Leader: 'We Don't Understand' Hitler Comparisons

Spread the word and support this article. Share it on Digg!


Pres. Barack Obama

Share

Twitter Facebook Fark Reddit Send to a Friend

Send to a friend!

To email:    Your Name:    Your email:

Speaking about health care reform at the Congressional Black Caucus gala Saturday night, President Obama relayed an anecdote from the G-20 Summit, in which an anonymous world leader said he was dumbfounded over the health care debate -- especially the comparisons to Hitler.

"One of the leaders, I won't mention who it was, he comes up to me and ... he says, 'Barack, explain to me this health care debate.' He says, 'We don't understand it. You're trying to make sure everyone has health care and they're putting a Hitler moustache on you. That doesn't make sense to me, explain that to me,'" Obama said. "He didn't understand."

Signs of Obama sporting a Hitler moustache, mostly from supporters of fringe figure Lyndon LaRouche, have popped up at town halls and anti-reform rallies. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) famously took one such LaRouchie to task, asking her what planet she was from.

Join the Conversation!

35 comments

Recommend Recommend (4)

September 28, 2009 11:47 AM   

Mr. President,

Many of us don't understand the fake outrage coming from the right wing, but i think we have an idea!

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 11:48 AM   

Even the brightest historians of the future will be hard-pressed to find an explanation for some of the ridiculii that we have seen directed at Obama.

I would guess the majority of those historians will profer something along this order,"

Some early 21st Century political and religious groups, put Hitler-style facial hair, or sickle and hammer backgrounds on banners and posters and photos of Obama, in an attempt to equate the newly elected President to images and individuals ingrained as evil in the public psyche, despite the fact that many of those images represented diametrically opposed political ideologies. Many contemporary historians have recognized these acts as a time of desperation for what was once known as The Republican Party, before it splintered into four separate parties, each with a different political agenda."

That's a bit crude, as wording goes, but it pretty much sums it up.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 11:52 AM   

The President is compared to Hitler and called a socialist or a fascist or a communist by people in certain circles because you can no longer call someone a nigger in public in this nation.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 11:57 AM    in reply to LarsThorwald

This is exactly it. They don't know what these things mean, only that they can yell and scream them and (for some reason...) it's socially acceptable. As Barney Frank also said, "it's a testament to the First Amendment."

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 2:45 PM    in reply to LarsThorwald

Hammer meet nail! Never once have I ever heard a reporter ask one of these (AOATs) Against Obama All the Time, who claim that Obama is a Socialist, Marxists, Communists, Fascist if they even knew the definition of their rhetoric.
Bush spent, spied, lied, circumvented justice & Executive Office, socialized medicine & education, as well his inaction when it came to Katrina - HOW QUICKLY THEY FORGET! Where were the teabagging protests then?!

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 11:52 AM   

It makes me want to cry.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 11:57 AM   

It makes me want to puke.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:06 PM   

There were such comparisons when GW was President. Many just as unflattering.

It reminds me of the movie the "Untouchables". When the Canadian mounted police officer tells Eliot's Ness's character:

"I do NOT approve of your methods, Mr. Ness."

And Eliot replies, "Well, you're not from Chicago."

Same thing.

World Leader: "We don't understand the Hitler comparisons, Barack."

Barack: "Well, you're not from the United States."

Trying to tear down the President, any President, in such fashion, says more about who WE have become as a Nation, than it does about anything else. We're just unbelievably and irrationally brutal to our leaders when we don't agree with them. Calling them every name imaginable and comparing them to Satan if need be. Its simply part of who we are.

Just saying.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:21 PM    in reply to willia451

Torture, warmongering, spying on his own citizens, suppression of opposition and utter disregard for the rule of law earned Mr. Bush's critics some latitude. Bush wasn't as bad as Hitler, but he was heading in the same direction.

In contrast, Obama wants to help millions of Americans get lifesaving treatment and avoid bankruptcy in the process. Where is the equivalence?

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:21 PM    in reply to willia451

Except the difference is that with GW it was a small and marginalized fringe that was not receiving the exposure that today's loonies are. I'm sure that there were plenty of people who called Bush a fascist in private conversations. But it's a whole different level when you have it on a national scale; celebrated and even encouraged by the media.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:21 PM    in reply to willia451

When there can no longer be civil discourse with those we disagree with, instead we much tear them down to make 'US' seem bigger, better, more successful (a winner) - well, that may well be symptomatic of the beginning of the end.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:22 PM    in reply to willia451

Yeah a President who attacked another country based on proven lies, raped the Environment, lead to the largest transfer of wealth from the middle class to the top .005% of the population, and restored torture as a method of the State being called "Hitler" does not = wanting to provide a health care system that is affordable.

Perspective, why don't you try working on that willa.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:42 PM    in reply to willia451

There was certainly no wide-spread, corporate funded effort to link Bush to Hitler and/ or Stalin during his presidency. There were many who were suspicious of his executive branch power grab, which was reminiscent of Hitler's early moves once he was in office. And while Obama's grandfather fought against Hitler; Bush's grandfather financed Hitler.

But none of these comparisons make sense and they should not be used in any forum, because they cheapen the horror that Hitler was and remains.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 1:15 PM    in reply to MyMy

"There was certainly no wide-spread, corporate funded effort to link Bush to Hitler "

Excellent point, MyMy, and it was quite the contrary.

Those same "corporate" entities and their toady MSM and the radiohead wingnuts vehemently attacked anyone who even suggested Bush's well-documented family ties to Hitler might be worth some serious scrutiny.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:52 PM    in reply to willia451

"There were such comparisons when GW was President. Many just as unflattering."

But certainly, especially in terms of the mustache, much more accurate.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 5:55 PM    in reply to willia451

Too many people want to mitigate the attacks on Pres. Obama by saying that the same happened to George Bush. Already you all are forgetting something. The Bush administration was an eight-year long cluster f*** of willful destruction of everything good about the United States. The Obama administration? I don't think so.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:26 PM   

How fortuitous. An "anonymous world leader" conveniently parrots a talking point. Why "anonymous"? Is this world leader afraid the right-wing-lunatic-fringe-teabaggers will come and get him?

If Obama couldn't source the comment, he shouldn't have quoted it.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:51 PM    in reply to The Reluctant Conspiracy Theorist

I don't think "Reluctant" belongs in your name.
1. He is not a journalist.
2. He was talking in a group meeting; although it is a public stage, he still has a right to speak an relate his experiences.
3. Generally, conversations between leaders are confidential.
4. There is no fear of teabaggers; there is an alarming popularity of facism in France; in Germany, Hitler is just not talked about in polite company;
5. I believe him.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 5:59 PM    in reply to davcbr

Good job!

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:57 PM    in reply to The Reluctant Conspiracy Theorist

In what part of bizarro world is questioning Hitler comparisons to Obama a "talking point"?

You need to get out more.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 1:18 PM    in reply to igotmyreasons

talking point:
Something, such as an especially persuasive point, that helps to support an argument or a discussion.

The argument or discussion being supported here is that Obama shouldn't be compared to Hitler because he wants to bring healthcare to all.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 1:30 PM    in reply to The Reluctant Conspiracy Theorist

" Is this world leader afraid the right-wing-lunatic-fringe-teabaggers will come and get him?"

Oh, you mean "them."

Well, Ms. Reluctant, lets be honest here, do you consider yourself one of "them?"

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 5:19 PM    in reply to JEP07

No, I don't, yet I'm not democratically inclined, either. Apparently there is no middle ground anymore. Just right-wing teabaggers and left-wing frothers.

My whole point was who knows if someone really said that to him or not? His speech writer probably put it in there so he could address the Hitler thing through an "anonymous" world leader. Obama is a politician and therefore agenda driven. Truthfulness is not really required as long as the agenda is put forward. The agenda is to put down dissent and pass whatever bill he wants to shove at us.

And yeah, yeah, Bush lied, people died. I know....

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 6:02 PM    in reply to The Reluctant Conspiracy Theorist

You know?
If you're Cindy Sheehan, you might "know."

Otherwise, you presume too much of your own knowledge.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 7:29 PM    in reply to JEP07

What I presume is that any negative comments on Obama are usually replied to with George Bush's Top 10 Evil Deeds. My last sentence was intended to avoid that and focus on our current president.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 1:43 PM    in reply to The Reluctant Conspiracy Theorist

Right, and who's supposedly having this "argument"? Stupid, ridiculous things don't need talking points, that was my point.

Most sane people say that's stupid and ridiculous. Any talking point would be wasted in this case, as Barney Frank famously pointed out. Maybe there's a special book of talking points for "arguments" with dining room furniture?

Maybe you missed that Obama wasn't making a presentation to a crazed Tea Party crowd.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 2:08 PM    in reply to igotmyreasons

" Stupid, ridiculous things don't need talking points,"

Careful, you'll put Boortz, Lumpaugh , Malkin, Savage, O'Rielly, Hannity, et al and their ilk out of business with that attitude.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 1:28 PM    in reply to The Reluctant Conspiracy Theorist

I wish there was a word that could adequately convey the level of my amazement after reading that comment.

You're special.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:31 PM   

There is no valid comparison to GW expletives. Racial prejudice is particularly heinous ; the euphemisms are used because to call the President an uppity niger would be political suicide! So the retards resort to code words. There is no sane way to explain why some Americans justify letting other Americans die for lack of insurance coverage.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 12:58 PM   

Wow. I will say unpleasant things about ANYBODY who pushes bloodletting and death with deception and bullshit, while draining the U.S. treasury to do so. This even without knowing for sure just how bankrupt and venal the actual objectives of such horrors may be in fact.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 2:25 PM   

dear world leaders:
please understand that no matter what problem pres. obama had chosen to address first in his time in office, you'd still be asking, "We don't understand it. You're trying to [insert any obama policy] and they're putting a Hitler moustache on you. That doesn't make sense to me, explain that to me."

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 5:16 PM   

I wonder what will happen if the 2010 mid-term election throws more Republicans out of office? Will the Party that has decimated the middle class and lower class over the past 20 to 25 years change their tune....of are they going down for the count?

Maybe the Republicans will go for this ideas.... Let's outsource the health care payment system to Japan. We can sweeten the pot for them by letting them believe thousands of union workers will lose their jobs when we outsource the payment system. What they don't know won't hurt 'em - Japan has a government run single payer system and it's a very-very good system.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 8:12 PM    in reply to go2goal

I've always found it puzzling that big business doesn't support single-payer, considering it'd allow all the companies that currently provide health insurance coverage to their workers & retirees to drop their plans. It'd be like them getting a bailout.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 7:23 PM   

I don't understand it either Mr. President.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

September 28, 2009 8:54 PM   

"I've always found it puzzling that big business doesn't support single-payer, considering it'd allow all the companies that currently provide health insurance coverage to their workers & retirees to drop their plans. It'd be like them getting a bailout."

Let me explain it. Big, Big businesses (think Walmart, Home Depot, Federal Express, IBM, etc.) want to draw the best employees and retain them for the least money. They use their scale to get the cost of insuring the health of their workers to the lowest possible level, sneakily pass on more and more of the costs to the workers each year, have the advantage of the upper income workers getting this type of compensation tax free and needle at the margins by denying / delaying claims many of which don't get fought. They spend far less than most of their workers think the insurance is "worth", and therefore the raise everyone would expect them to be able to shell out when they theoretically are on an "even" playing field than their competitors and no longer have to buy all that health insurance would actually not amount to squat if they maintained the same level of profitability.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

Leave a comment

Your response:

Follow us!

Most Popular