WASHINGTON (AP) — A top congressional Republican is criticizing a House GOP candidate from Ohio who wore a Nazi uniform during reenactments of World War II battles.
The Atlantic magazine reported last week that Ohio Republican Rich Iott has participated in the reenactments wearing a Waffen-SS uniform since 2003. Iott says he has been a historical reenactor in other venues for many years.
House Republicans’ No. 2 leader, Eric Cantor of Virginia, says he repudiates Iott’s actions and would not support someone who would do that.
Cantor’s remarks came after Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida cited Iott as an example of GOP candidates she said are extreme.
Cantor and Wasserman Schultz appeared on “Fox News Sunday.”
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Comments (44)
redvelvet
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 3:00pmThis article is so dumb, I wouldn’t even dignify by commenting! As for Eric Cantor…I watched him last nite on Chris Wallace (Brett Baier was the stand-in)….he was opposite Debbie Wasserman….She just showed him for the weaking he is. Good Grief the man doesn’t even have a spine! And she has the biggest, loudest mouth I’ve heard….all she did was laugh at him and constantly interrupted him. So how does he respond…..by offering to take her to dinner to “talk” out their differences! GIVE ME A BREAK!
Report Post »roninshaman
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 1:54pmI’m certain there are those in Washington who would like us to forget all about history. If we don’t understand what monsters like the Nazis did and what tools they used to enslave Europe, then we will be much easier to control. Now close your eyes and take a nap while Nannystate puts all your liberties to sleep. The soft droning of politically correct discourse from your TV will be your lullaby. Tomorrow you will wake up perfectly safe and perfectly helpless.
Report Post »TedPearson
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 2:33pmGreat point Roninshaman. Liberals only want evil to be described in their terms. The last thing they want is for anyone to understand how the citizens in Germany were manipulated and how a group of politicians who have no care of human life can victimize whole classes of people and convince the lemmings of society to do the same. Now that would be letting the liberal agenda’s ‘rabbit out of the hat’.
Report Post »Falconer
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 12:54pmIn my life, I’ve been the Cowboy, and I’ve been the Indian. The US Soldier, the German, Japanese. I’ve been the cop, and the robber! Guess I’m a mess!
Report Post »TedPearson
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 12:51pmThanks for the tip Doucher. I have a friend who played the part of a serial-killer in school play. He was not paid either so I better get the police on the phone right away.
Report Post »Deutscher
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 1:28pmNamecalling is the usually the recourse of a weak mind.
You missed the point. If he plays a serial killer as a hobby with a group of other guys who want to play serial killers so they can understand and honor the common serial killer and the tough life he had. Then maybe he should be prepared for some questions if he runs for office.
Report Post »No one suggested he broke any laws.
TedPearson
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 2:23pmNo ‘weak-mindedness’ in saying that your opinion of him is similar to a rinsing of useless ***********. Your elliptical reasoning just does not hold here. Implying that candidates can only be selected from the ‘The Good Guys’ if they participate in reenactments, is ridiculous. Trying to bolster your argument by asserting that he has a secret wish of being an SS officer or that the typical group photos taken at the events somehow proves that he likes hanging-out with Nazis in any real sense shows your simple-mindedness. If there was any point missed here Deutsch-man, it may be your knee-jerk reaction to European guilt making you lose sight of the fact that playing the opposite side of a confrontation can give one a deeper understanding of the conflict.
Report Post »Deutscher
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 2:46pm“doucher” is not name calling? I stand corrected.
I dont care what he does. I like re-enactemnts. Yes I think they can make history interesting for a whole group of people that might not otherwise pay attention.
My point here ( which keeps getting missed I think by knee-jerk reactions, is that the SS were NOT the German army. Some seem confused about this point.
No where on the Wiking website does it mention any historical information about the SS origins or crimes. They have only the obligatory disclaimer. Again the SS was not the army and did not represent the German solider. There were 3 branch of actual military to use as basis for these demonstrations. The ONlY question is why the SS?
As for german guilt. Most if the guilty are long dead, but thier actions are hammered into every German schoolchild.
Report Post »TedPearson
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 3:22pmOK. So now your point is simply about the definition of what the SS was and that Rich Lott was actually doing something constructive. I seemed to have been confused on that latter point from your earlier posts and I therefore retract and apologize about the ‘doucher’ statement.
Report Post »I admire the fact that Rich gets out with his son and participates in the historic activities. It is far better than leaving him at home to rot under the care of some maid who speaks broken English.
I also feel outraged about these German children you speak of who have the Nazi guilt hammered into them. It is exactly the same situation with white people in this country being hammered about the real racism of our forefathers whenever we disagree with liberals or try to keep the playing field level.
shannonals
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 12:13pmWith as many American lives lost fighting the Nazi’s during the war, dressing up as one is a disgrace to all veterans.
Report Post »Deutscher
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 11:06amAgain. I enjoy the re-enactments, the thing that bothers me us why on earth would you want to romanticize the SS? They were the Nazi party’s force. They protected the party. The German armed services ( Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, Kreigsmarine ) were the military force ( and not all loyal to the party over the country ). It’s a poor, misinformed choice at best.
Report Post »sun569
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 10:29amI also live in this district, have persoanlly met Rich Iott, and am in support of his campaign. He has my vote!! In my opinion he is an outstanding individual and will do many good things for this state, and this coutry when elected. Apparently Eric Cantor and Wasserman-Schultz never watched a movie where you take on the character for which you were getting paid to play. Vote them all out !!!!
Report Post »Deutscher
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 10:34amHe was not getting paid. It was his hobby to play a Waffen-SS officer
Report Post »sun569
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 10:51amSorry, need to clarify my comment. I meant that they must not watch movies or plays where the actors are getting paid for playing the less desireable characters. Rich Iott in fact, as stated, was not getting paid. He did it with his son for father-son bonding time. He has played many different parts over the years. They chose to pick this one out of many photos to cause an attack on his character.
Report Post »Joisey
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 12:37pmPaid acting or volunteer acting, it doesn’t matter. This is a non-issue that is irrelevant to one’s qualifications for office. Meanwhile, the libs backed a PRACTICING, TRUE BELIEVER in Communism for President who is now destroying the American economy with his marxist policies. Take your hypocrisy and go back under the rock you climbed out from.
Report Post »Joisey
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 9:58amEric Cantor, you’re an idiot!
Report Post »ToledoTea
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 9:35amI live in the district where Iott is running. He‘s a great man who’s dead on when it comes to policy ideas. He stated the reenacting was an opportunity to bond with his son as they shared a mutual interest in WWII history. I was recently at a Civil War reenactment and felt bad for all the folks playing confederate soldiers–apparently they are now disqualified from running for public office! What a bunch of crap!!!
Report Post »guinganbresil
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 9:07amGetting your opponent to impugn the actions, intent or character of an ally without full information is a cheap rhetorical trick.
“It is my policy not to impugn the actions, intent or character of a individual without the full facts…”
This implies, without supporting the target of the attack, that the attacker may not be fairly characterizing the situation (almost always true…). It also implies that the attacker WOULD impugn character without the facts (also almost always true…)
Report Post »starman70
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 9:06amCantor, OPEN MOUTH AND INSERT FOOT! You have your head so thoroughly inserted in your anal canal, you need a glass bellybutton in order to see!
A re-enactment on any historical event doesn’t make the actor the person. Cantor’s idiocity is becoming more evident every day.
Virginia TAKE OUT THE TRASH ON NOV. 2!
Report Post »Paleo Archer
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 8:20amCantor needs to research this before He insert his foot! Remember just cause you have a “R” behind your name doesn‘t mean you won’t be unemployed too!
Report Post »SingerGuy
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 8:30amThat’s right. Just ask Bob Bennett (R), Utah! :-)
Report Post »Total Lame Arse
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 7:32amI guess Tom Cruise needs to be drummed out of Hollywood for his recent Nazi sympathies too. Cantor’s a chump.
Report Post »Deutscher
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 9:51amCruise played a Wehrmacht officer, not a Waffen-SS officer. And it was his job, not his hobby.
Report Post »EthicalChaos
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 7:32amDear Eric Cantor,
Just because someone portrays a Nazi in a WWII reenactment does not mean they are a real Nazi. There is really no need for you to condemn their actions, because they didn’t actually kill any Jews. Now stop flapping your lips and put them back on Paul Ryan’s buttocks where they belong.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 5:04amSo who is more “extreme ” ?
Report Post »A real life “ Exalted Cyclops”
or
an actor playing a part in a drama
or
a real life selfish killer
or
an actor playing a role in a re-enactment ?
A Minnesotan
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 4:40amRemember when the Union forces took on the Union at Gettysburg? Grant led the Union to victory against the evil Union, led by Grant.
Report Post »Peter Mazzoni
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 4:19amCantor was running for cover because we all know if no one did the left would have made it a national issue since it is what they do best. I am sure the left does not like kids and families engaging in role play civil war battles, ww2 battles,cow boys and Indians,or any major even they find not worthy.
Report Post »KnightErrantJR
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 4:16amToday’s GOP: Desperately trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory!
Report Post »Paleo Archer
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 8:21amTrue That!
Report Post »uhadenoughyet.com
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 3:54amOk so if you are a re-en-ACTOR at a civil war themed event or maybe a battle and you portray a rebbel confederate are you automatically a racist slave owner? I think not…. Cantor was just shooting from the hip and covering is assessment, he played right into that dude wasserman shlitch’s hand,,, lol
Report Post »Contrarianthinker
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 3:35amTypicl for an establishment Republican.
Report Post »Goohuman
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 3:12amGive us credit for knowing the difference between an actor and a real Nazi. We can see the difference in Cantor between a conservative and a politician.
Report Post »EthicalChaos
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 7:17amBrilliant, and I completely agree. This guy just lost the last smidgen of respect that I had for him. Cantor, you are a moron.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 3:10amA Public Service to Eric Cantor :
Eric all of us were kids @ one point & we loved to play cops vs bad guys , for example we were like 8 kids & everybody wanted to play the cops always but few of us had to play the bad guys or else the game won’t be fun , so are you gonna repudiate the kids who played the bad guys ?
Let me know if this was too hard for you to understand cause WE THE PEOPLE will explain it to you @ the Voting Poll .
Robert .
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 3:04amCantor…what a whiny p**sy …missed a golden opportunity to smackdown an idiot of the lunatic left.
Report Post »Sometimes I wonder if these GOP types even KNOW how to think and speak like normal people.
LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 2:46amIDK, I hate Nazis as much as the next girl, but it’s fun to dress up and do stuff. I was a pirate a few summers ago and it was awesome. Some people go to rendezvous’, some people do civil war, I guess some people do WWII, would it be better if they were playing the Japanese? Can you imagine the backlash if a bunch of white guys went around pretending to be Japanese?? Sometimes you just can’t win, to this story I say……. eh : | wha-ev
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 2:46americ cantor is an idiot………….please vote him out Virginia being in any reenactment requires somebody to play the bad guy, and everybody has done it if they ever played cowboys and indians or cops and robbers. anyone who has a problem with this needs to check their bags at the nearest psych hospital.
Report Post »snowleopard3200
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 3:45amthe key word for the GOP canidate is this “REENACTMENT” which is common in many movie sets, and people who love to recreate old battles – from the yearly renassance jousting and festivals, to those of the civil war, frontier settlers, and the like – someone does have to be the bad guys.
Doing this to remind people just what real evil looks like so we will not forget (seems though we have for the most part) is good.
However the caution is that it is just a reenactment, anyone who has sympathies with the Nazi in any shape or form needs to take a close look at their outlook on life.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mixed art)
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 5:42amEric Cantor is phony, fake and not to be trusted. I saw him in an interview with Laura Igraham. When she pressed him on some things he painfully avoided directly answering the questions. He’s just as fake as John Edwards and Charlie Crist. The type of politician we’re all trying to get rid of.
Report Post »Total Lame Arse
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 7:30amTom Cruise obviously needs to be drummed out of Hollywood for his Nazi sympathies too.
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 7:50amAren’t 98% of the left loons Hollywood actors? A re-enactment is a SHOW, not real life! Is everyone on the left got brain damage? Even a FIVE YEAR OLD can see through this BS! The left is so desperate they will stoop to anything they can to get their point across. The American public is not as STUPID as the loony left wants to believe they are. People will make their voices heard starting on November 2nd!!!
Report Post »ImFromTexas
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 2:23pmI have done a couple of reenactments and it was great fun. They are always in need of people to play the Germans. Its like being on the the team that plays the Harlem Globetrotters, you always have to loose. There is a splendid one put on in Waxahachie Texas once a year. Here is a great clip of it on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kWbUVRn03g&feature=related
So if this is the best dirt they can get on this guy, its pathetic.
Report Post »