Mena legislator invokes Nazis in criticism of Democrats
By Arkansas Online Press Services
This article was published July 26, 2011 at 4:29 p.m.
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A Republican lawmaker is facing complaints over invoking Nazis on a Facebook page where he criticizes Democratic-backed legislation. But he says he wasn’t trying to call Democrats Nazis.
Rep. Nate Bell of Mena on Tuesday defended comments he made on his Facebook page. Bell wrote on Monday that comparing Democrats to Nazis is “easy” and referred to bills such as legislation banning private ownership of monkeys and regulating hamburger temperature as examples.
The state Democratic Party on Tuesday called for Bell to apologize for the post. Bell said that the post and the quote were meant to be a warning of what “elected officials should avoid becoming” and that he does not believe Democrats are Nazis.
Arkansas Democratic Party Communications Director Candace Martina also called on caucus leader Rep. John Burris and Party Leader Doyle Webb ti join in condemning the remarks by Bell.
“This kind of hate speech and hyper-partisanship is the kind of Washington political nonsense that we don’t need here in Arkansas,” Martin said. “Nate Bell owes an apology to the people of our state for resorting to this base level of rhetoric and to our World War II veterans who fought on the battlefield against the Nazis."
Bells rants began with a post to his Facebook page Saturday at 10:57 p.m.:
“As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation.-- Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler.”
On Monday afternoon, Bell explained his post:
“Comparing Dems to Nazis is wayyyy to easy. Let's start with banning cell phone use while parked in a school zone,” Bell wrote.
That legislation passed in the most recent general assembly.
Information for this article was contributed by The Associated Press.
Comments on: Mena legislator invokes Nazis in criticism of Democrats
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rainbowharold55 says... July 26, 2011 at 4:41 p.m.
Quick- someone tell him that Nazis were ultra-conservatives that built their power base by denigrating others.
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SgtBob says... July 26, 2011 at 4:58 p.m.
"Ultraconservatives"? Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist German Workers' Party). A two-fer, "Socialist" and "Workers."
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djigoo says... July 26, 2011 at 5:24 p.m.
Another Teabagger Tool. Dime a dozen...especially in Arkansas.
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cmatthews40510 says... July 26, 2011 at 5:29 p.m.
Oh wow.. how many times have liberal bloggers and union leaders called Republicans this and worse and not a word is said. Let one Republican say something and let's start the printing press...
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SgtBob says... July 26, 2011 at 5:46 p.m.
djigoo, so it's OK to call someone a 'teabagger?' Is that Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, or what?
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rememberthealamo says... July 26, 2011 at 5:47 p.m.
I beg to differ. I think Satan was the first demoncrat. All things bad in the Holy Bible seem to be embraced by the demoncrats.
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evanspe04080837 says... July 26, 2011 at 6:40 p.m.
I love the image conjured up by the Democrats calling Tea Party folks "teabagger". I think of that image every time I see Hairy Reid.
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Oldearkie says... July 26, 2011 at 7:21 p.m.
If there are some Ds that can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
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ThirdEye says... July 26, 2011 at 7:34 p.m.
They should get all these kkk representatives in all parts of the south. Harrison as well. Everyone knows about Arkansas and their strategy. Trying to embarrass president by mis-using funds, fraud, republicans trying to make him vote to destroy the poor and middle class, just as they made him do on the bush tax cuts. BTW were is the jobs? Were is the 90 million dollars Arkansas? Ill tell you, in the hand of these rich, conceited, greedy corrupt officials. Investigations need to be done, especially on these "so called" municipal dictating dam cities. Arkansas would rather supply guns then energy. I thought our leaders were good, honest, and fair people. I was wrong. Well guess what! The president is the better man. Why? Because he is doing exactly what Jesus would do. Jesus would never had attempted to do like these Republicans are doing. We are looking at the descendants of the crucifiers of Jesus all over again. Repbulicans are the reason people are looking to another faith, they are the reasons why inmates and others are turning to islam. Locking African American men up like slaves all over again. This is sick, and it makes me sick to know that I live in a country so evil.
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ImUnarmed says... July 26, 2011 at 8:14 p.m.
The article should mention that the "Hitler quote" is a fabrication. Can somebody please teach arkansaonline journalists how to use google???
See Arkansas Media Watch blog, arkansasmediawatch.wordpress. com/2011/07/25/republican-hitler-quote/
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JakeTidmore says... July 26, 2011 at 8:31 p.m.
You want the D-G to check quotes and facts?? That's a laugh!
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trouble06 says... July 26, 2011 at 9:20 p.m.
ThirdEye......Well that's a new one!!!!! Republicans have been called a lot of things but descendants of the "crucifiers of Jesus" is a new all time low for you Libs.........From your other post on a different thread, if you would rather put a Liar like the Pretender-in-Chief above Jesus Christ then I don't think he's lost much. I'm sure if you and others are looking for a new faith, Reverend Jeremiah Wright's Church would welcome you right in.....
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djigoo says... July 27, 2011 at 12:25 a.m.
See how the idiots expose themselves? Thanks for making my job that much easier, dickweeds.
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Aimee says... July 27, 2011 at 2:27 a.m.
ImUnarmed:
It gets even better... Here is the debunk for the "quote" attributed to Hitler...
sydwalker. info/blog/2008/12/08/having-fun-falsifying-history/
Looks like the hoax "quote" was started in Australia in opposition to internet censorship back in 2008... Took it awhile to get here, eh mates..???
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