When the left compared Bush (or Bush I or Reagan) to Hitler, it was clearly a smear.
When we compare Obama to Hitler it is being declared a smear tactic like the left used. The Obama/Hitler parallels are starting to becomre more than just coincidental though. It is becomming hard not to notice them.
Regardless of ideology, far left, far right or just plain dictatorial, the subjugation of a democracy or republic will take the same path. Venezuela is a perfect example. Chavez was elected the first time and did win that election fairly. He did not win the second election despite what Jimmy Carter said. Once elected Chavez systematically went about accruing power through intimidation and unconstitutional changes to their constitution which was rubber stamped by a packed supreme count in Venezuela.
To take over a democratic country you must first have a real enemy or invented one. You then acquire more power step by step, because you need this power to fight the enemy.
Other Examples:
Franco of Spain, the enemy was the communists and they were real.
Pinochet of Chile, the communist in power and they were real.
Chavez of Venezuela, rampant corruption in the government, and it was real.
Barack Obama, social justice, equality, saving the environment, global warming, saving the children, saving the economy, etc etc etc.
As Rham Emanuel says, 'NEVER LET A GOOD CRISIS GO TO WASTE." In his case the enemy has been invented.