Democratic Flashback: Truman Compared Dewey to Hitler

Newsmax ^ | 3/14/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

President Bush's decision to invoke the Sept. 11 attacks in a campaign commercial has Democrats livid.

But when it comes to politicizing America's wars, Bush has nothing on Democratic icon Harry Truman, who actually demonized his opponent by comparing him to Adolf Hitler in campaign speeches.

The New York Times chronicled some of Truman's incendiary rhetoric in its Oct. 26, 1948 edition, in a report on a Truman campaign speech in Chicago against New York Republican Thomas Dewey.

"President Likens Dewey to Hitler as Facists' Tool," read the Times headline, followed by the subhead, "Dictatorship Stressed."

The Times headline writer continued, "Truman Tells Chicago Audience a Republican Victory Will Threaten U.S. Liberty - Says When Bigots, Profiteers Get Control of Country They Select 'Front Man' to Rule."

This from the hero of the party that goes ballistic today at the mere hint that a Republican is "questioning our patriotism."

[Prince Charles]

Geez, what a bad pic, all it needs is a booking number.

[shrinkermd]

"I don't know if Brit Hume and Paul Hume are related or not; until your post of a couple of days ago I had never heard the matter raised (and wasn't even aware that the music critic had the same last name as Brit's). Had you heard or read something to that effect? Brit was born in Washington, D.C

I seem to remember Brit speaking about this at one time. But, then again, I often engage in wishful thinking and especially when I personally recall an event.

[Zack Nguyen]

There is still a real question in my mind as to how much Truman really did to clean Communists out of his own administration. Truman ridiculed Whittaker Chambers on the stump during the 1948 election.