My town made international news! Obama/Hitler Tea Party sign

[IsaacMahomie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us+canada-10636746

Wow, things sure flared up big in my little hometown. I didn't even get to see it before they took it down. I should've gotten a picture with it.

[LincM]

The stupid thing is, Nazism was not even socialism, it was extreme right wing, but the "national socialist party" was the name to garner support from naive left-wingers. Obama is actually left wing, just not heavily.

[knives]

I wouldn't call Obama, or most democrats for that matter, left wing. Maybe by the insane standards of the US he's left wing, but by a more realistic measurement he's more like a kindly right winger. You know, reasonable enough to negotiate.

[LincM]

The western world is predominantly right leaning, and moreso in the US than anywhere. For a US politician, he's more left leaning than right, such as the republicans. Ironic that the republicans have the best origins, but the democrat has more modernday balanced policy.

But you're right, the US measurement is insane. Especially given that most policy differences are not left-right polarised, but more "top bottom" so to speak.

[Mongbert]

""When you compare Obama to Hitler, that to me does a disservice to the Jews who both survived and died in the Holocaust and to the Germans who lived under Nazi regime rule," Mr Blakely said."

What the hell?! That seems like madness to me. Hate the way whoever pretends to be the most sensitive wins.

[LincM]

It's funny, though, given that comparing obama to hitler bares no parallel to the holocaust, except that Hitler was involved in it, but... yeah, no sense in that statement.

[mlsterben]

Crap like that is why a lot of debates are simply pissing contests. There are a lot of extremists in the States, and a lot of people are also really dumb.

[IsaacMahomie]

They took down the sign yesterday... Apparently because it was causing more controversy and getting people to reject the Tea Party than it was stimulating good conversation and making comparisons.
I agree that Obama got elected by all the hype surrounding his campaign. A lot of people were obsessed with him, but knew very little about his policies. (famous street quote: "I'm voting for Obama because I want our troops to stay in Iraq!" ) But comparing him to Hitler and Lenin, well... that starts to break down.

I am pretty upset that people are calling the Tea Party racist for this add. seriously? Race has nothing to do with this!

[LincM]

Yeah, otherwise they'd only have black dictators. It's not racist, it's just stupid. The people who pu tit together clearly think that Hitler was a socialist, when in fact he was extreme right wing, but made allegiances with lefties, because they're easy to exploit.

[IsaacMahomie]

Also, (I'm definitely not a fan of Obama), but its rather hypocritical to put "prey on the fear and naive" on such a sign as this.

[IsaacMahomie]

Apparently people around the USA are vowing to "never set foot in Mason City" because of the billboard. - LOL. As if we're soooo important to the world and you're making a righteous protest by avoiding our city. If you're willing to condemn an entire city based on a billboard, then maybe we don't want you here.

[LincM]

No offence Isaac, but I probably was never going to go to your town anyway.

[Tom Brazelton]

That attitude doesn't make Mason City or Iowa look particularly more enlightened, Isaac.

[LincM]

Yeah, it's actually perpetuating the stereotype that appears to have been introduced by this sign that people in Mason City are vaccuous and immovable. Not to mention the common opinion people have of Christians in Iowa and surrounding.

[Mongbert]

I think the reaction to this, more than the sign itself, is way more interesting. The sign just smacks of desperation (comparing someone to Hitler should always be a last resort) but for people to get so worked up about it?! How does it make them look LESS enlightened? What rght do people have to judge a whole town based on it?! Its brilliant that people think the correct response to a sign like this is to be MORE prejudiced.

Also everyone is vaccuous and immovable; you think ANYONE stopped to actually consider this sign?