There are times in one’s life when silence is the better option, when explanations are better left to your press person, marketing manager or maybe a group of people who are your friends and are the same ethnic or religious group you offended, but apparently, this does not apply in the Tennessee State Office as one of their Republicans is shoving both his feet and legs in his mouth.
Tennessee State Sen. Stacey Campfield (R) made a comment comparing the Affordable Care Act to the train ride 6 million Jews and non-Aryans rode during Nazi Germany. In Campfield’s blogpost he wrote
Thought of the day.
Democrats bragging about the number of mandatory sign ups for Obamacare is like Germans bragging about the number of manditory[sic] sign ups for “train rides” for Jews in the 40s.
Posted by The Sen. at 9:21 AM
Then he writes a non-apology apology:
I regret that some people miss the point of my post. It was not to offend. It was to warn. To draw attention to Obamacare and the slippery slope that I see occurring in the lives of myself, my constituents, and the rest of the country with the continued taking of freedom by the federal government.
In no way was my post meant to diminish or detract from the pain, suffering and loss of human life that occurred during this dark time in human history. Instead the post was meant to draw attention to the loss of freedom that we are currently experiencing. I stand by my steadfast opposition to Obamacare.
My position and record on the sacredness of human life and protecting that life speaks for itself. 300 million Americans are at risk from government bureaucrats deciding who should be given life saving medications and who should be denied. Every citizen now faces the possibility of their tax dollars going to pay for a government funded abortion. At no point in our history have we ever faced a federal government and administration with a lower regard for human life, and that is something that I cannot and will not allow to go unchallenged.
I will continue to stand up against the government takeover of the nations healthcare. I will continue to support freedom and life.
Stacey Campfield
So what was the non-apology apology?
I regret that some people miss the point of my post. It was not to offend. It was to warn. To draw attention to Obamacare and the slippery slope that I see occurring in the lives of myself, my constituents, and the rest of the country with the continued taking of freedom by the federal government
In other words, the people who were offended by his comment are missing his point…the ACA IS comparable to that of the train ride to the Nazi death camps. That by signing up for the ACA, you will DIE…
According to the Nashville Scene,
(1:10 p.m.): The Knoxville News Sentinel’s Tom Humphrey talked to Campfield:
Campfield, contacted by phone, said “it was never my intent to insult anyone,” but he is not making an apology and believes the analogy is appropriate.
“I think Jewish people should be the first to stand up against Obamacare,” Campfield said. “If government is controlling people’s health insurance, they are potentially controlling people’s lives….letting the government choose who lives and who dies.”
Update (3:30 p.m.):
The Tennessean reports that Campfield now regrets his comment:
“It was not meant to offend, but rather to warn. My intention was to draw attention to Obamacare and the slippery slope that I see occurring in the lives of myself, my constituents and the rest of the country with the continued taking of freedom by the federal government. In no way was my post meant to diminish or detract from the pain, suffering and loss of life that occurred during this dark time in human history.”
Update (4:00 p.m.): From the Associated Press…wow:
Campfield said Monday he was unmoved by the criticism from the chairman of his own party.
“He never called me,” he said. “If he wants to apologize to Obama, he can.”
Update (4:10 p.m.): A statement from House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick:
“I was shocked by Senator Campfield’s disgraceful blog post that compared a policy dispute with the suffering of an entire race of people. The far-reaching effects of the Holocaust are still felt today, and any effort to cheapen that suffering is distasteful and classless. I call on Senator Campfield to apologize immediately.”
Update (4:13 p.m.): Campfield’s Democratic opponent Cheri Siler chimes in:
“With so much at stake in the state of Tennessee, we cannot afford to have our elected officials making inflammatory statements of this magnitude. It is deplorable that Campfield is trivializing the loss of millions of Jews. He is clearly politicizing this sensitive subject to get free earned media. By his own words, he proves that he is as cheap as he is classless.”
With the power of the Internet, Campfield’s opine has struck a nerve with the Jewish community. One such person is Professor Donna Halper Ph.D. Dr. Halper is a Boston-based historian, college professor and radio consultant, she was a music director at WMMS in Cleveland and was pivotal in introducing the progressive Canadian power trio Rush to the United States. Halper is a devout Jew.
Halper read the comment made by Campfield and said:
I’d like to say I’m surprised, but the kind of hateful rhetoric we hear from all too many Republicans is a sad reminder that courtesy and civility are in decline in society today. I’m Jewish, and I fail to see any comparison between the brutality and violence of the Nazis in killing my ancestors and President Obama trying to give people access to health insurance. That Sen. Campfield didn’t think there was a difference is shameful.
William Ronald of Chicago Illinois, teacher also a devout Jew said of Campfield’s comments
“The gentleman from Tennessee — to use the word loosely — has shown that he is ignorant of historical facts, ignorant of the feelings of those who faced the death camps and those who care for them, and proven himself ignorant in the field of public discourse.”
Ronald was on the Head on Radio Network with Bob Kincaid, online talk show host and co-founder of the ACHE Act brought up the story, in an emotionally-packed conversation with Kincaid. Ronald’s conversation (2:18:46) expressed disgust and anger, and yes, he wants Campfield to resign as Senator.
On the conservative side of the Jewish faith, devout conservative Jewish blogger Debbie Schlussel said:
I think it’s reprehensible to compare the already failed, disastrous ObamaCare to the Holocaust in which 6 million Jews, including many on both sides of my family, were murdered by the Nazis. That said, a different word, such as catastrophe, would have been more appropriate to describe this looming healthcare disaster that will ruin America.
Though angered by Campfield analogy, Schlussel said…he doesn’t need to resign over it but it was a poor choice of words and move on…though there are those who want Campfield to resign. Either way, the insensitivity from an elected official from a predominately Christian conservative state can cause friction and possible problems from here on out.
The comments written by Campfield is offensive and has offended many in the Jewish community. To compare the ACA to Nazi Germany is abhorring. Generally speaking, the Republican party and the Jewish community tend to have a respectful relationship, but when one of their own express themselves contrary to their close-knit relationship, then that cancer must be removed.
Yet does the RNC in Tennessee truly care about the Jewish community? Or is it merely a play in words? Here again is a timeline of comments after the incident:
Update (10:22 a.m.): A statement from Tennessee Republican Party chairman Chris Devaney:
“While Stacey Campfield routinely makes remarks that are over the top, today’s comments are ignorant and repugnant. No political or policy disagreement should ever be compared to the suffering endured by an entire generation of people. Those comments have no place in our public discourse. He should offer an apology to members of the Jewish faith immediately.”
Update (1:10 p.m.): The Knoxville News Sentinel’s Tom Humphrey talked to Campfield:
Campfield, contacted by phone, said “it was never my intent to insult anyone,” but he is not making an apology and believes the analogy is appropriate.
“I think Jewish people should be the first to stand up against Obamacare,” Campfield said. “If government is controlling people’s health insurance, they are potentially controlling people’s lives….letting the government choose who lives and who dies.”
Update (3:30 p.m.):
The Tennessean reports that Campfield now regrets his comment:
“It was not meant to offend, but rather to warn. My intention was to draw attention to Obamacare and the slippery slope that I see occurring in the lives of myself, my constituents and the rest of the country with the continued taking of freedom by the federal government. In no way was my post meant to diminish or detract from the pain, suffering and loss of life that occurred during this dark time in human history.”
(4:00 p.m.)
: From the Associated Press…wow:
Campfield said Monday he was unmoved by the criticism from the chairman of his own party.
“He never called me,” he said. “If he wants to apologize to Obama, he can.”
Update (4:10 p.m.)
: A statement from House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick:
“I was shocked by Senator Campfield’s disgraceful blog post that compared a policy dispute with the suffering of an entire race of people. The far-reaching effects of the Holocaust are still felt today, and any effort to cheapen that suffering is distasteful and classless. I call on Senator Campfield to apologize immediately.”
Apparently, Campfield feels he said nothing incorrect, while the Tennessee Republican party is scrambling for damage control. Campfield apparently feels satisfied with his anti-Semitic comments and only “apologized” after getting pressure from his party…as well as his Democratic challenger Cheri Siler who said:
Update (4:13 p.m.)
: Campfield’s Democratic opponent Cheri Siler chimes in:
“With so much at stake in the state of Tennessee, we cannot afford to have our elected officials making inflammatory statements of this magnitude. It is deplorable that Campfield is trivializing the loss of millions of Jews. He is clearly politicizing this sensitive subject to get free earned media. By his own words, he proves that he is as cheap as he is classless.”
Going back to Campfield’s blog, Campfield has not removed nor corrected his “mistake” and seems steadfast on his comparison. Truly, if the Tennessee Republican Party wishes to strengthen the relationship between the party and the Jews, they need to look deep into their party as well as their elected officials and teach their colleagues to think before they speak or write what is on their mind. Resignation or not, there is a divide between conservative Christians and Jews that can rip the relational fabric apart…Campfield is proof.
Tim’s first experience into journalism was at East Los Angeles College. Then Tim was a stringer for a local Japanese American Newspaper in Los Angeles. He then completed his Bachelors in Business and RECEIVED his MBA, but his desire to seek the truth has not been assuaged by fear of the 1% or their followers. When Tim isn’t doing his liberal thing, he enjoys sitting back, relaxing and listening to Rush…the band folks!
Poor Campfield. He has no idea that he is comparing the Jews to his own constituents WITHOUT healthcare
This man fu*ked up with his ignorant ass. You don’t get the chance to express your feelings then when people front you on the shi* you want to take it back. You fu*ked up and it’s really too late for your bullshi8.
With the alliance of the young, non-whites, non-Christians, women etc how can the GOP ever hope to rule again.. most of them are like walking advertisements of bigoted ignorant lunacy… and the brush paints broadly.
He needs to sit next to Donald Sterling
They can hope by cheating. Vote server takeovers, redistricting, voter suppression. They may well get their desired results
Gets both feet in his mouth and still manages to scoot around on his ass to get into more trouble. Now that’s talent!
And sadly this fool will be re-elected overwhelming by the stupid brainwashed people in his district. Makes me sick some Americans are so idiotic like in the movie Idiotacy.
If this fool is so concerned about people dying then maybe he needs to develop a plan under which all Americans have the medical care they need. Otherwise he needs to shut the hell up.
LMAO, whats going on with the GOP ??? lets see, you’ve pissed off black people to the point the ONLY FEW blacks you get are upper middleclass BA$TARDS who tolerate your crap to get a tax break or you get the hopelessly ignorant religious black person who thinks rubbing elbows with caucasians gets them in “THE IN CROWD” (MY MOTHER & FATHER) you get the log cabin republican who dislikes themselves so much they occasionally need external verbal BEATDOWNS!! well GOP , you’ve spit at the pope! your pissing off catholics! you’ve pissed off muslims, you’ve pissed off people of science, you’ve kicked the hell outta WOMEN!! now your going after JEWS?!! do the koch brothers and adelson REALLY have that much money?? because in November you’ll be apply for unemployment benefits!!
Who is left for these idiots to insult? Women, Muslims, Gays, Blacks, Jews……….I guess anybody who is not white and male?
Bingo!!! Another GOP/Teabagger has opened his stupid mouth and showed is true colors. Then makes matters worse trying to take it back. I suppose when you are filled with so much evil and hatred, eventually will come spilling out. It’s really a shame that their hatred is like turning the lights out in a roach filled room. Their hatred for our President caused the lights to go out and now we can see the racist, bigoted, evil roaches coming out of the cracks. Now it’s our duty to get them out of our government and send them back where they came from. Maybe, just maybe someday they will realize that hatred breeds stupidity.
My dear, you would probably be well-served to sit shiva for this imbecile’s political career. Are these people blind to how condescending they are?
“Generally speaking, the Republican party and the Jewish community tend to have a respectful relationship”.
Why is there a respectful relationship between the republican party and the Jewish community? Or the Hispanic community? Between the Islamic community? Even some in the black community?
I have no idea what you are trying to say, but you dont need to call me dear. This version of Shiva is male
Campfield is the same guy who introduced a bill in Jan. 2013 to cut welfare for families if their kids’ failed to make “satisfactory academic progress,” because nothing motivates poor folks to academic achievement like being even poorer.
Like President Obama said,
Just let them keep talking……….
The classic anti-semites are those of the right-wing…
It is amazing that what comes out of republicans mouths up for election or already in office is so hateful and so despicable. It should be turning off more republicans who have any common sense.
Perish forbid. He can’t sit next to our FORMER Basketball Team owner. Because, sadly, the owner is Jewish. Bad Karma.
Why do you think I call them “RATpubliKKKans” ?
That any person of the Jewish Faith or race can
call themselves a member of today´s GOP(Grand Old Problem) is truly mind boggling !
In the Jewish faith, since the article is about anti-semitism, the term ‘shiva’ relates to the one-week mourning period after a close relative’s death when the family receives guests; hence the use ‘sit shiva.’
This is contrary to your use of the Hindu diety Shiva.
I am not jewish, but looking at the picture of this
grossly ignorant man who has no idea what he is talking about makes me sick and makes me sad.
I am pretty old and lived through this experience, growing up in WW2 UK, being bombed by Nazis, seeing
neighbors who lived through Nazi war camps coming home with shattered bodies and minds.
I cannot stand it when republicans talk about Hitler, Nazis etc as a comparison to anything they do not like, they use it as a casual slur, I don’t think I am evil but sometimes wish they could live through the experience they talk about.
Even Ripley can’t believe Campfield, the ultimate contortionist.
How did he manage to insert both feet into his mouth while keeping his head lodged so firmly up his ass.
Campfield isn’t paying for his health insurance, if he’s going to make a ridiculous statement like he did, he ought to have to pay for every bit of his insurance. I’m Tim from Tennessee and I approve this message.
Another warped, prejudiced statement from a TGOP!
Those such as these need to be kicked out of office so they could drown in their own words or their feet stuffed in their mouths so they could choke on their words.
Quote, …300 million Americans are at risk from government bureaucrats deciding who should be given life saving medications and who should be denied.
Who are trying to deny Americans from life saving medications? None other than government bureaucrats such as Campfield.
Oh yes, I can see how giving people a way to get the health care they need is exactly like Nazi trains carrying Jews to certain death.
Exactly the same.
Please.
Millions of people will have health insurance they can afford; they won’t have to worry about getting sick and not being able to afford doctors; anyone with insurance, be it through ACA or their employers won’t need to worry that their insurance company will kick them off the insurance plan if they get sick; it doesn’t matter how much it costs to treat an illness because now the insurance company can’t impose a lifetime cap on you; children can stay on their parents’ plan until they’re 26; everyone with insurance have coverage for preventative care; and so on.
Yes, I can see how saving millions of lives is exactly like taking millions of lives.
What planet are these people from and can we send them back?
People like this guy think it’s better for the Nation if greedy, self-serving oligarchs control our lives. Government was created by God as a way to prevent chaos and a way to have order and some degree of fairness and justice.
“Are these people blind to how condescending they are?”
Yes.
Big time.
There is absolutely no excuse for his comments. Anyone who hasn’t an inkling of the difference between the brutality and violence of the Nazis and his political agenda against the ACA has no business in politics or public service of any kind.
It’s illusory. Most Jews tend to vote Democratic and for good reason. We know the strong undercurrent of antisemitism that goes on in the Republican Party. The Jews who do join the Republicans think that they can buy their way into respectability and overlook the contempt and whispers the GOP says behind their backs.
The rest of us know better than to stick our feet in that steaming pile of shit called the GOP.
Though this village idiot manages to stick his foot in his mouth on an almost daily basis (not easy, considering his head is up his own ass), I don’t think his intent was to make a racist remark, but rather that he’s so profoundly stupid, he doesn’t know how offensive his screed can be. In other words, he doesn’t get it — and he doesn’t get that he doesn’t get it.
Better to direct our outrage toward the other village idiots that elected him. And the best way to prevent them from doing it again is to give them ballots that have “Turn Over” printed on both sides of the sheet!
The sad part is, he isn’t in any trouble in his district, his constituents think exactly like he thinks!!
An elected republican with healthcare paid for by the American taxpayer, calling healthcare for Americans paid for by the American taxpayer a crime against humanity. The disgust, lies and hatred the republicans have for everyone and everything not them is despicable. The hateful, hate filled, hate mongering republican liars are a disgrace to America, they are sickeningly disgusting.
What Is A Devout Jew? The Jews Using The Holocaust Have Garnered Trillion’s Of Dollar’s And Billion’s Of Tear’s….The Holocaust Is A TOOL…..Because People Only Will Listen To Extreme….I Dont Like Him Because he Is An Amerikan Republikan, That Is All…Fuck That He Compares Healthcare With Mass Murder…I Still Get Charged To Cash My Social Security Funds..F**k The Jew Banker…
Why are they not auto deposited into your bank account? Thats the only option I had for getting mine
WHOSE God created this government? A Christian god? Jewish god? Muslim god? Buddhist god?the god of the ancient holy tomato monster? the god of the dust balls under my bed?
I go with G. None of the above
I’m thinking some of these Rethugliclown lawmakers have completely lost it. Perhaps a few counseling sessions with a psychiatrist would help. Maybe such sessions would be covered under the Affordable Care Act!
This bible thumping inbred is from my neck of the woods. He called an 8 yr old girl a “prop” to her mother’s face because they protested his bill that cuts SNAP for families if their child fails in school. Protesters & reporters followed him around the day they were going to vote on it. Republicans backed down. I think he’s a closeted homosexual who hates gay people, minorities & women.
Stacy’s around 45, never married & claims to have girlfriends that don’t exist. A pasty white miscreant with a girly name. Media whore who thrives on “controversy”.