"Watch out! Obama is another Hitler!"

[GW in Ohio]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A Republican congressman from Georgia said Monday he fears that President-elect Obama will establish a Gestapo-like security force to impose a Marxist dictatorship.

"It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is, he's the one who proposed this national security force," Rep. Paul Broun said of Obama in an interview Monday with The Associated Press. "I'm just trying to bring attention to the fact that we may—may not, I hope not—but we may have a problem with that type of philosophy of radical socialism or Marxism."

Broun cited a July speech by Obama that has circulated on the Internet in which the then-Democratic presidential candidate called for a civilian force to take some of the national security burden off the military.

"That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did," Broun said. "When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist."

Obama's comments about a national security force came during a speech in Colorado in which he called for expanding the nation's foreign service.

"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set," Obama said in July. "We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

The Obama transition team declined to comment on Broun's remarks. But spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama was referring in the speech to a proposal for a civilian reserve corps that could handle postwar reconstruction efforts such as rebuilding infrastructure—an idea endorsed by the Bush administration.

Broun said he believes Obama would move to ban gun ownership if he does build a national security force.

Obama has said he respects the Second Amendment right to bear arms and favors "common sense" gun laws. Gun rights advocates interpret that as meaning he'll at least enact curbs on ownership of assault weapons and concealed weapons. As an Illinois state lawmaker, Obama supported a ban on semiautomatic weapons and tighter restrictions on firearms generally.

"We can't be lulled into complacency," Broun said. "You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential of going down that road."

[heh, heh] These right wingers are just an endless source of amusement, n'est-ce pas?

[avatar4321]

[heh, heh] These right wingers are just an endless source of amusement, n'est-ce pas?

So when you personally yell hitler, perfectly alright.

Someone else does it, they are nuts.

[manu1959]

[heh, heh] These right wingers are just an endless source of amusement, n'est-ce pas?

so a "police" force as well funded and as well armed as the us military that reports to the president and serves him...would be what exactly...

[hjmick]

so a "police" force as well funded and as well armed as the us military that reports to the president and serves him...would be what exactly...

The Sturm Obamung.

Like it or not, it is difficult to deny the similarities between Obama’s idea of a “civil security force” and Hitler’s Ordnertruppen.

For those unfamiliar, the Ordnertruppen was a group of civilians, mostly ex-soldiers and beer hall brawlers, organized by Hitler to protect Nazi Party meetings from being disrupted. After a particularly nasty confrontation in November of 1921, they became the Sturm Abteilung, also known as “brownshirts.” Sturm Abteilung groups formed throughout Germany. They were essentially a civilian paramilitary force loyal to Hitler. The SA became so hungry for power; they eventually saw themselves as the replacement for the German army.

End of history lesson.

Unless and until Obama explains what he meant by a “civil security force,” we are left to wonder it’s meaning; with nothing but history upon which to draw comparisons.

Whether you think people expressing concern over Obama’s vague mention of a civil security force are “an endless source of amusement” or reactionary alarmists, ask yourself this: Do you want an armed and empowered group of individuals running around your city, righting wrongs? What would their mandate be? Would they take oaths to protect and defend the Constitution, or the President himself? Who would make up this force? If it were Bush talking about a “civil security force” what would your reaction be?

Every state already has a civilian defense force; it’s called the National Guard. Every city already has a police department. Every county a sheriff’s department. Ask yourself what will be the “Sturm Obamung’s” purpose?

Sixty years from now, will children read in history books about the Sturm Obamung “protecting Democrat Party gatherings from disruption by the Conservatives and Christians?”

[namvet]

The Sturm Obamung.

Like it or not, it is difficult to deny the similarities between Obama’s idea of a “civil security force” and Hitler’s Ordnertruppen.

For those unfamiliar, the Ordnertruppen was a group of civilians, mostly ex-soldiers and beer hall brawlers, organized by Hitler to protect Nazi Party meetings from being disrupted. After a particularly nasty confrontation in November of 1921, they became the Sturm Abteilung, also known as “brownshirts.” Sturm Abteilung groups formed throughout Germany. They were essentially a civilian paramilitary force loyal to Hitler. The SA became so hungry for power; they eventually saw themselves as the replacement for the German army.

End of history lesson.

Unless and until Obama explains what he meant by a “civil security force,” we are left to wonder it’s meaning; with nothing but history upon which to draw comparisons.

Whether you think people expressing concern over Obama’s vague mention of a civil security force are “an endless source of amusement” or reactionary alarmists, ask yourself this: Do you want an armed and empowered group of individuals running around your city, righting wrongs? What would their mandate be? Would they take oaths to protect and defend the Constitution, or the President himself? Who would make up this force? If it were Bush talking about a “civil security force” what would your reaction be?

Every state already has a civilian defense force; it’s called the National Guard. Every city already has a police department. Every county a sheriff’s department. Ask yourself what will be the “Sturm Obamung’s” purpose?

Sixty years from now, will children read in history books about the Sturm Obamung “protecting Democrat Party gatherings from disruption by the Conservatives and Christians?”

and the brown shirts???? Hitler executed them.

[Yurt]

The Sturm Obamung.

Like it or not, it is difficult to deny the similarities between Obama’s idea of a “civil security force” and Hitler’s Ordnertruppen.

For those unfamiliar, the Ordnertruppen was a group of civilians, mostly ex-soldiers and beer hall brawlers, organized by Hitler to protect Nazi Party meetings from being disrupted. After a particularly nasty confrontation in November of 1921, they became the Sturm Abteilung, also known as “brownshirts.” Sturm Abteilung groups formed throughout Germany. They were essentially a civilian paramilitary force loyal to Hitler. The SA became so hungry for power; they eventually saw themselves as the replacement for the German army.

End of history lesson.

Unless and until Obama explains what he meant by a “civil security force,” we are left to wonder it’s meaning; with nothing but history upon which to draw comparisons.

Whether you think people expressing concern over Obama’s vague mention of a civil security force are “an endless source of amusement” or reactionary alarmists, ask yourself this: Do you want an armed and empowered group of individuals running around your city, righting wrongs? What would their mandate be? Would they take oaths to protect and defend the Constitution, or the President himself? Who would make up this force? If it were Bush talking about a “civil security force” what would your reaction be?

Every state already has a civilian defense force; it’s called the National Guard. Every city already has a police department. Every county a sheriff’s department. Ask yourself what will be the “Sturm Obamung’s” purpose?

Sixty years from now, will children read in history books about the Sturm Obamung “protecting Democrat Party gatherings from disruption by the Conservatives and Christians?”

what concerns me is that many on the left are so riled up with irrational hatred for the right that this possibility is not a tin foil hat conspiracy. hopefully it will not happen, but as you said earlier, he has given no assurances that it won't and all indications that he is planning a revolution.

[hjmick]

and the brown shirts???? Hitler executed them.

Not until he rose to power, and the Night of the Long Knives only resulted in the execution of the SA leadership and a few others. After that, they were pretty much marginalized in favor of the SS in the Nazi power structure. Another factor in the decline of the SA was the buildup of the German army with the return of conscription.


what concerns me is that many on the left are so riled up with irrational hatred for the right that this possibility is not a tin foil hat conspiracy. hopefully it will not happen, but as you said earlier, he has given no assurances that it won't and all indications that he is planning a revolution.

Absolutely, as I said, what would their response be if Bush was suggesting such a plan? They'd be absolutley apoplectic and screams of "Facism!" would rock the rafters. While I truly don't see anything along the lines of what happened in Germany in the '20s and '30s taking place here, let's not pretend it not possible. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, as they say.