An Apology to Richard Iott

I haven't written any more of my promised columns about the 2010 candidates because something bothered me greatly about the one I wrote about Iott.  While on the one hand, what he did and what he said in his defense shows either an incredible ignorance or an abhorrent insensitivity about the Holocaust, he certainly is not in any way a Nazi.  You can judge his judgement, but you can't judge his politics.  This is different than the following individuals:

• Art Robinson, who is running to represent the 4th district of Oregon.  He believes AIDS is not a disease, but merely what God uses to kill gay people.  He also believes blacks are inferior to whites, a belief which he teaches to his homeschooled children.
• Sharon Angle, Harry Reid's main opponent in Nevada, told members of the Hispanic Student Union “Some of you look a little more Asian to me.”  I’m not sure if that’s racist or just stupid, but it's something worth noting.
• Tom Emmer, who is running for of governor of Minnesota, gave money to a group called “You Can Run but You Cannot Hide,” whose leader said on the radio, “If America won’t enforce the laws [of the Bible], God will raise up a foreign enemy to do just that!”  When asked about his ties to the group, Emmer said, “They come across as really nice guys."  No.  They are saying a frighteningly similar thing to the Westboro Baptist Church, the radical Christian group lead by Fred Phelps who carry their "God hates Fags/America" signs to Army funerals, saying the deceased was killed by God for fighting for America.
• Joe Miller, senate candidate for Alaska, had his security team arrest a reporter who was asking questions.  Miller also praised Soviet-Era East Germany for their success at securing their border, and said this should be the model for protecting America's borders.  The Soviets were not trying to keep outsiders from getting in, but were trying to keep their own citizens from getting out.  This is an appalling amount of ignorance.

These are the kinds of people we need to watch.  These are the folks who we need to worry about being elected.  Because their POLITICAL VIEWS are ridiculous.

So, Richard Iott, I am sorry I might have implied you are a Nazi.  I know nothing of your views, but am confident it in no way resembles the Nazis.  That said, you're still kind of an idiot or an ignorant ass for dressing up as SS-Waffen and calling it war re-enactment.  I am allowed to judge you for that bad call, but to imply anything about your views would be overreaching.

Christine O'Donnell also needs mention.  There are a ton of reasons to rally against O'Donnell.  That she dabbled in witchcraft in the 80s is not a valid reason.  That she did not realize the 1st amendment specifically forbids congress from establishing a state religion, however, is a good reason.

I think for 2012, I'm going to focus on, well, focusing on the important stuff and ignoring all the extra (however interesting) political dirt.

Art Robinson believes AIDS is what God uses to kill gays.  And people are still going to vote for him.