There was a time when there were certain words which would never be used to describe another. One of those words was "Nazi." For those who don't know their history, the Nazi party was the National Socialist Party. Yes, socialist. Hitler rose to power preaching German pride and advancing the middle class and poor.
The Nazi's developed an army and navy that waged a terrible war and oppressed a continent for years. Under the guise of ideology, they killed 6 million Jews, millions more gypsies, Christians, homosexuals and innocent citizens of the nations they conquered. This is fact, regardless of what Ahmadinejad or any other hate monger professes.
On "The View" -- the ABC daily show watched by millions -- co-host Joy Behar equated Donald Rumsfeld to the Nazis. There was no reaction from the other hosts or audience that was akin to outrage, when indeed, there should have been. The equating of President Bush and his cabinet to Nazis is not new -- the anti-war types have been using that since we invaded Afghanistan. To this point it has largely been on the periphery of civilized society, out where the Democratic Underground and Daily Kos types choose to live their existence. They even went for the ultimate insult by equating Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to Hitler.
More after the jump.
Back to Behar, this is the second time in a week she's taken political cheap shots, but the Nazi reference is over the line. Note that Rosie O'Donnell seemed quite pleased at Behar's words. The same Rosie O'Donnell who got upset a few weeks ago when Kelly Ripa made a comment about a gay guest putting his hand over her mouth. The hypocrisy of Rosie is evident on a daily basis as the Nazis would've been happy to send the gay Ms. O'Donnell to a concentration camp simply because she is gay.
Note also that you never hear the left equate radical Islam to Nazism (which is quite an apt comparison) or anyone they consider evil to Soviet leader Josef Stalin who killed 10 million+ citizens and sent countless others to the gulags in Siberia. Of course Stalin did it to further socialism and Communism so he had good intentions.
Words do have meaning as when Michael Richards went on his idiotic racist rant awhile back. Calling someone a Nazi is not cool or funny, definitely not at ten in the morning. It is also highly disrespectful during a holiday period for Jews who saw millions of their forebears exterminated by the vicious regime that U.S. military action put an end to.
Video at the previous link or here.
Update (12/20/06): Abe Foxman from the Anti-Defamation League isn't happy. I'm sure Behar will be quick with that apology. Or not.
