Posted on 10/09/2010 7:26:13 AM PDT by tlb
Rich Iott, the Tea Party-supported GOP nominee for Congress in Ohio's 9th District, is part of a group that likes to don German Waffen SS uniforms and participate Nazi re-enactments, Atlantic journalist Josh Green revealed on Real Time with Bill Maher.
The group, called Wiking, acts out exploits from the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking, an actual Nazi division, which fought on the Eastern Front during World War II .
Iott, who confirms his involvement with the group, denies any belief in the principles of Nazism.
"It's purely historical interest in World War II," he told the Atlantic.
Iott can't remember when he joined the group, although his name appears on a group roster from 2003. He says he participated in the group with his son "as a father-son bonding thing."
While Iott neglects to address Jewish voters he might have offended, he does address veterans in an e-mail to the Atlantic: "Never, in any of my reenacting of military history, have I meant any disrespect to anyone who served in our military or anyone who has been affected by the tragedy of war. In fact, I have immense respect for veterans who served our country valiantly, and my respect of the military and our veterans is one of the reasons I have actively studied military history throughout my life."
Incidentally, there is no longer any mention of Iott -- also a member of the NRCC's Young Guns Program -- on the Wiking website and all photographs of the Congressional candidate have been removed.
And people who dress as Confederate soldiers for CW re-enactments MUST be pro-slavery racists!
yes they do..but they forgave princ harry. why is gop running nut cases? never mind they’ve done it before.
How about those guys who wear Nazi helmets as they ride their Harleys around?
My grandfather said that many of the “german” soldiers he encountered weren’t even german. Many were simply conscripted locals who had no choice.
All the Civil War reenactments I have seen have BOTH Union & Confederate soldiers.
Looks like Dem. Ammunition to come after the Tea Party. Not a smart move regardless of the motivation and intent.
And? So what?
Didnt the flaming Libtard Tom cruise dress up as a nazi and run around with a bunch of other guys dressed as Nazi’s?
There is a huge German-American festival here every year...
Toledo has a lot of german decendants....
I doubt this will go anywhere...the libs will over play it and it will backfire...
Many people in the 9th district are proud of their german roots...
As noted...these are german army uniforms that have no “nazi” ensignia.....no SS badges...no swastika’s...etc..
New anthem for the Tea Party in Ohio?
http://www.worldmilitaria.com/newsite/Media/HorstWesselLied.mp3
Idiots!
This is pathetic. Re-enactments are about the best way there is to really understand history.
Much ado about nothing.
Now, if the guy actually agrees with the philosophy of the Nazis, then that would be a problem. But just dressing like one for a reenactment doesn’t make him one.
A Tea Party candidate looking happy to be in a Nazi uniform is not a good image.
A wise man once said, “Stupid is as stupid does.”
Those who are throwing fits about it are happily taking part in revisionist history.
The guy should have known this would come up. Strange hobby.
dump him/it
“I have often been called a Nazi, and, although it is unfair, I don’t let it bother me. I don’t let it bother me for one simple reason. No one has ever had a fantasy about being tied to a bed and sexually ravished by someone dressed as a liberal.”
P.J. O’Rourke
The Tea Party keeps defeating itself. Maybe it is growing pains on the way up, they have to understand what types of candidates are those who can win elections. Perception is reality. A lie travels around the world before the truth puts its pants on. Learn the medium with the message. Find electable candidates. It is time to stop stepping on your own feet.
The Tea Party is a pure, noble, grass roots effort whose message is true and necessary, but they are inept or willfully ignorant of the ‘electability’ process in the US. Don’t nominate the guy in your club who happens to yell the loudest in your meetings, select and choose your candidate who has the best chance of getting elected. A nazi re-enactment guy is not it. If this story is true someone should be arrested for ‘dangerous and wasteful’ idiocy.
Ouch. Calling that stupid dude who was married to Sandra Bullock.....................
In reading this thread it is disheartening to see how many are willing to jump because the left says to. The right has become filled with many pathetic easily manipulated individuals. It is easy to see why the right has very few real leaders.
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