Atlantic: Ohio GOP Candidate for Congress Dresses as Nazi

cbs ^ | October 8, 2010 | Ann Binlot

[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.

[tlb]

oy vey. The dem lady in the lingerie comes off better. I thought this story would be about board games. I'm not clear which one here is the candidate.

[headstamp 2]

These idiots make it too easy for the Democrats and liberal media.

[Dr. Ursus]

So a guy dressed as a Nazi and a woman dressed as a witch
enter a room at a Tea Party endorsement rally!

[1rudeboy]

I still got a chuckle imagining what these guys tell their dry cleaners.

[cripplecreek]

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.

Well if you're going to participate in nazi reenactments, its probably better than dressing as a WWII japanese soldier. We have a civil war muster here every summer. Oddly enough people dress as both union and confederate soldiers.

[Mr. Jeeves]

He couldn't have played dress-up as a Civil War-era Union officer like everybody else does? :)

He lacks the judgment to run for office in these hyper-sensitive times.

[Nateman]

Second man from the right side.

[Dr. Sivana]

Mel Brooks dresses as a Nazi in several of his movies (The Producers, To Be or Not to Be).

When you play Axis and Allies, somebody’s got to be “Axis.”

[Kate in Palo Alto]

Yes. I would have nothing to do with anyone who dresses up in a Nazi uniform for any reason.

[Mr. K]

Pretend commie is still better than democrap real commie!!!

[Dr. Sivana]

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.

First, CBS is a pretty serious source to botch the diting in the very first line ("and participate Nazi" should be "and participate in Nazi").

Second, these are likely not "Nazi re-enactments." They are usually WWII battle re-enactments. Or did the movie "Nixon" feature a "McGovern Re-enactment?"

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Ach du lieber !

[cripplecreek]

We’ve found that it confuses everyone when we have guys dressed as modern special ops soldiers during the civil war muster.

[omegadawn]

Very few Germans were Nazi. There are many reenactments groups in our country. I have a friend that is part of a German historial group that wear German Army Uniforms for reenactments. THey have NO Nazi insignias on their uniforms .

[FrdmLvr]

I honestly wouldn’t have thought a thing of this if it had been a Democrat candidate. So what if the guy does historical reinactments? If this is all they’ve got...

[BigBobber]

Yes. I would have nothing to do with anyone who dresses up in a Nazi uniform for any reason.

Actors in Hollywood do this all the time. Do they get some kind of exemption? Why can't "civillians" do what actors do?

[BigBobber]

Curious why “Lott” is not capitalized throughout the article (in the original also). Looks like they made a botched cut and paste.

[tlb]

>>> Mel Brooks dresses as a Nazi in several of his movies (The Producers, To Be or Not to Be). When you play Axis and Allies, somebody’s got to be “Axis.”

Yes but I suspect the crowds won't see the visuals as comparable.

[dalebert]

oh poop

[atc23]

What a bozo. Next! Try the renaissance faire