Tuesday 26 July 2011

Glenn Beck compares Norway shooting victims to Hitler Youth

Beck then goes on to say that he had warned about such a scenario happening before, and attempts to separate himself from the shooter, a devout anti-Muslim who feared large government. Beck then goes on to warn that Europe is about to be taken over by radical Islam, a fear shared by the Breivik.

The summer camp in Norway did have a political purpose, but that hardly makes it comparable to something from the days of the Hitler Youth. There are multiple political camps in the United States for both liberals and conservatives, including at least one camp for Tea Party youth. For some reason Beck never dared to compare the Tea Party youth camp to the Hitler Youth. In addition, the summer camp in Norway was for the Labor Party in that country, which generally trends toward the left side of the political spectrum. Hitler’s regime was seen as an extreme right-wing government.

When discussing the tragedy in Norway on Monday, the radio host compared the Labor Party youth camp to the Hitler Youth.

"As the thing started to unfold and there was a shooting at a political camp, which sounds a little like the Hitler Youth," he said. "Who does a camp for kids that's all about politics? Disturbing."

Ironically, Britain's Daily Telegraph points out, there are also such camps in the United States - hosted by the Tea Party, a political movement that makes up a large part of Beck's fan base.

A former press secretary to Norway's prime minister, Torbjørn Eriksen, told the newspaper that Beck's comments were "a new low."

"Young political activists have gathered at Utoya for over 60 years to learn about and be part of democracy, the very opposite of what the Hitler Youth was about," he told the Telegraph. "Glenn Beck's comments are ignorant, incorrect and extremely hurtful."

Beck's remarks came after he praised himself for not jumping to conclusions about who was shooting at the youth camp.

After making the comments, Beck took credit for warning that something like this would happen.

"I warned that this would happen last fall," he insisted.

The Washington-based Coalition to Stop Gun Violence described his remarks to the Telegraph as "absolutely disgusting.

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