Capitol Report: Republican congressman apologizes for linking Obama to Hitler in tweet
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) A Republican congressman from Texas apologized Tuesday for comments that compared President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler, saying he now realizes the invocation of the dictators name invokes pain and emotional trauma for victims of the Holocaust.
Democrats blasted Rep. Randy Weber for making comments in a now-deleted tweet about Obama for his failure to go to Paris last weekend for a march supporting free speech.
In a statement on Tuesday, Weber said he needed to apologize to those offended by his tweet. He said it wasnt his intention to trivialize the Holocaust or compare Obama to the Nazi dictator.
In his original tweet, Weber said Even Adolph [sic] Hitler thought it more important than Obama to get to Paris. (For all the wrong reasons.) Obama couldnt do it for right reasons.
Josh Schwerin, press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Webers comparison was beyond vile and insulting. Schwerin called on House Speaker John Boehner and other Republican leaders to condemn Weber.
Rep. Steve Israel, a New York Democrat, said Weber was desecrating the victims of the Holocaust to make a political point.
Hitler visited Paris after his troops invaded the city during World War II.
On Monday, the White House said the Obama administration should have sent a high-level official to Paris for the march. Leaders from across the world, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron attended the march, held following the attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. The perpetrators of the attack were later killed during a standoff with police. Earnest said there were security concerns with sending Obama to the event.
It wasnt the first time Weber has made inflammatory remarks about Obama. Before last years State of the Union address, Weber tweeted he was waiting for the Kommandant-In-Chef [sic] to speak.
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Capitol Report: Republican congressman apologizes for linking Obama to Hitler in tweet