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.
Any reporter who does some digging into Iott's fellow "Wiking" enthusiasts will undoubtedly find some real winners - groups like this are magnets for Stormfront types.
Dressing as a Nazi for WWII re-enactment - yeah, that’s a life, but not one to get elected in this country. Hey, don’t take my word, just watch it melt down. It will be another wasted opportunity, like Paladino in NY.
There is no compromise to political beliefs in finding candidates that are electable. The process, the audience and the media must be studied and understood, throwing people like this out there creates an avalanche of negative press that buries everyone. Now you will hear ‘I told you so’ a thousand times from the liberal media as they have been handed a tailor made spectacle who puts himself in a Hitler uniform. Absolutely great!
Dressing as a Nazi for WWII re-enactment - yeah, that’s a life, but not one to get elected in this country. Hey, don’t take my word, just watch it melt down. It will be another wasted opportunity, like Paladino in NY.
There is no compromise to political beliefs in finding candidates that are electable. The process, the audience and the media must be studied and understood, throwing people like this out there creates an avalanche of negative press that buries everyone. Now you will hear ‘I told you so’ a thousand times from the liberal media as they have been handed a tailor made spectacle who puts himself in a Hitler uniform. Absolutely great!
I really don’t care how you justifiy your fear of upsetting the democrats or your desire to revise history.
You should march right over to the DU and throw yourself at their feet and beg forgiveness.
Don’t worry about losing my respect.
WWII Germany, like it or not, was in the total control of the Nazi party. Anyone with any knowledge at all of the era associates the German army of that time with the Nazis....and in politics, perception is everything.
To have even a HINT or a POSSIBILITY of a hint of sympathies with Germany of 65 to 78 years ago is just unacceptable politically...as not only were these are mortal enemy at the time...but they were merciless butchers of civilians—quite unlike the Confederate States of America—or any other group in reenactments.
To parse whether he was just re-enacting the German army, (which did have some noble folks in it, like Rommel, or Beck) instead of the Nazi Party perverts, is immaterial in the political realm.
Anyone who wouldn’t know that putting on a Nazi-era German uniform wouldn’t be problematic for a political career....lacks the judgement to be elected to any office.
Your first point is duly noted. Given how some in our society are, some probably won’t look for an explanation. Thank you, Lamestream Media and Govt Public Schools.
The second point goes a little beyond what most people in our society think, unless they, like yourself, are personally acquainted with a reenactor. I don’t know reenactors; as far as I’m concerned, they are just actors to me and I don’t see actors as “weird”.
As far as your third point, perhaps. Like I said, I see this as just some dude who likes to reenact WWII history. Now, if he is as sinister as you say, that will come out and then toss the guy over.
Even our military uses a similar helmet design. After a *LOT* of testing we arrived at the conclusion that it’s pretty much the optimal design for balancing protection, visibility and weight. I remember quite a few people freaking out when the design was released
The Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) and TBH-II Army Version are based on the latest performance requirements of the U.S. Army for ballistics, impact, retention and other protective upgrades”http://www.gentexcorp.com/default.aspx?pageid=984
He did do that. He also dressed up as other soldiers who fought in other wars. This is nonsense.
And if a Confederate actor runs for office in a Yankee state, it would unquestionably be made a campaign issue by the usual suspects.
You might be right, but perhaps our fellow citizens can tell the difference between a re-enactor, and other refreshingly non professional aspiring leaders, and slick socialists who may have a polished organization and message but are taking us to hell. I spent enough afternoons second guessing Von Paulus while playing ‘Squad Leader’ to know the difference between a student of history and a *REAL* National Socialist!
Oh for goodness sake. It’s his hobby!
If no one will reenact the part of Nazis then who do the Allied reenactors have to fight at reenactments?
My family are Civil War reenactors. To have a reenactment requires that we have Union and Confederate participants. just sayin’.
Read hte rest of the story. He’s dressed up as Civil War soldiers, American WWI and WWII soldiers. This is just a reinactment and a smear.
I could care less about upsetting democRats, as I'M UPSET at the prospect of a possible neo-Nazi as a Republican, shouldn't you be?
Is your idea of conservative being tolerant of National Socialism?
Actually, as pointed out above this is very weird reinactment group, OF AN SS UNIT, called Wiking, reinacting life on the eastern front. The SS were THE MOST fanatical Nazis of the war...
Would you support a reinactor who loved reinacting the "glories" of Stalin?
It's a free country, if he want's to play-act being a Nazi Fascist, fine, but he shouldn't expect the support of true proud American Conservatives--who believe in constitutional liberty, not playing with murderous socialistic fascism--if he runs for office.
Much ado about nothing.
Mike
And at least half of “WIKING” wasn’t German. The Division was formed with one German Standarte [Regiment] from “DAS REICH” [”GERMANIA”]. The rest consisted of volunteers from western Europe.
Advanced Squad Leader?
I have the game up to G.I. Anvil of Victory.
Mike
I believe that SS unit members were Nazis, and even if they weren't, they were hard-core "true believers." SS units were among the most brutal, and were behind nearly every massacre of civilians. I believe that their commander was Heydrich.
Mark
If the uniform is historically correct they do. The eagle insignia on the hat, over the right breast pocket [or left sleeve, if Waffen SS] carries a Swastika in the wreath. A historically correct Iron Cross I has a Swastika in the center [ditto the German Cross, and the Knight’s Cross. the device on an IC 2d ribbon].
So, instead of coming up with a strategy, you’re crying that the MSM and the professional politicians are mowing down our guys. Our country is hanging in the balance, and this is all you can do.
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