I've always found the original quote apt. The statement is NOT that Christians and patriots are the harbingers of fascism, but that fascism, in America, has a greater chance of success if it can appeal to religious and patriotic sentiments (
a wolf in sheep's clothing). It is an important difference - we must be on the watch for the subversion of our most cherished notions.
I endorse similar warnings when it comes to medicine - fascism could well manifest itself through the subversion of the medical establishment, which a great deal of public trust is also invested in. There are other avenues susceptible to subversion as well. Fascism is inherently more insidious than its cousin, communism - historically it appears under veil of legitimacy.
However, I don't think the comment was appropriate in the context used, and Ron Paul should get a lot of flack for making a pretty low attack. I will not bestow my sympathy to Ron Paul for taking additional flack from those who misunderstand the original quote.
I've always found the original quote apt. The statement is NOT that Christians and patriots are the harbingers of fascism, but that fascism, in America, has a greater chance of success if it can appeal to religious and patriotic sentiments (a wolf in sheep's clothing). It is an important difference - we must be on the watch for the subversion of our most cherished notions....However, I don't think the comment was appropriate in the context used, and Ron Paul should get a lot of flack for making a pretty low attack. I will not bestow my sympathy to Ron Paul for taking additional flack from those who misunderstand the original quote. You're absolutely right, though the message that a fascist might use religion/patriotism is irrelevant as that's not the message Paul sent. I agree, he deserves all the flack he's going to get.
244 posted on
12/18/2007 9:35:20 AM PST by
SJackson
(uh, Congressman, you know, uh, Gov Huckabee is not selling fascism, he's sending a Christmas message)