Below is my column in the New York Post on the latest attack on Elon Musk from the left. There is a mania on the left in calling people with opposing views “Nazis” and referencing the Third Reich. The left has jumped the Nazi shark in this rhetoric as the public tunes out these increasingly hysterical voices.
Here is the column:
One of the least successful efforts of the left and many in the media this election was to paint Republican voters as “Nazis” hellbent on destroying democracy.
While once verboten as a political comparison, liberal politicians and pundits have developed something of a Nazi fetish, where every statement and gesture is declared a return of the Third Reich. It seems like each news event presents a Rorschach test where every inkblot looks like a Nazi.
That mania reached absurd, even comedic, levels with the attack on Elon Musk over an awkward gesture during the inauguration celebration.
An exuberant Musk told the crowd, “My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.” As he gave those words, he placed his right hand on his chest and stretched his arm outward, his palm facing the floor. He then repeated the gesture before putting his hand on his chest again.
It was all done in a matter of seconds, but it was enough for the usual mob to erupt in faux outrage.
Pundits insisted that Musk had chosen the moment to come out as a Nazi on national television. The Washington Post breathlessly reported this week how the “Nazi-style salute” had “invigorated fans on the far right.” The usual liberal professors were rolled out to offer a patina of authority to the ridiculous claim.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor of history at New York University, declared, “Historian of fascism here. It was a Nazi salute and a very belligerent one too.”
Mike Stuchbery went on X (the company owned by the man he now suggests is a Nazi reenactor) to declare, “I studied the Nazis at university, taught the history of Nazi Germany on two continents and wrote for major newspapers about Nazi Germany. I am internet famous for fact-checking chuds [gross people] on the history, ideology and policy of Nazi Germany. That was a Nazi salute.”
Well, that settles it.
As the outrage continued, any doubt or dissent was denounced as evidence that you are obviously a Nazi as well.
That became a bit embarrassing when the leading Jewish organization, the Anti-Defamation League, stated the obvious: This was not a Nazi salute but rather an “awkward gesture.”
The core principle of liberal mob tactics is that there can be no divergence, even by a group like the ADL. The way to deal with opposing ideas or writings is by making someone persona non grata. If you do not cancel others, you will be canceled.
So the ADL was effectively declared soft on Nazis by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY): “Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity. People can officially stop listening to you as any sort of reputable source of information now. You work for them. Thank you for making that crystal clear to all.”
We’ve reached a level of absurdity where Jewish advocates are treated like they are virtual Nazi sympathizers.
This is not the first time the Democrats have labeled Trump and his supporters “Nazis.”
It started years ago as Democrats repeated analogies of Trump to Hitler and his followers to brownshirted neo-Nazis. Defeating Trump has been compared to stopping Hitler in 1933, and media personalities like Rachel Maddow went on the air with a hysterical claim that “death squads” were authorized by the Supreme Court.
When Trump held a massive rally in New York’s Madison Square Garden before the election, the media were apoplectic and immediately declared it … you guessed it … akin to a Nazi rally. From the Washington Post to the New York Times, the media formed an affinity group meeting to fret over “echoes of 1939.” In case anyone missed the message, Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz emphasized “a direct parallel” with the Nazis.
Over at the Nation, David Zirin treated Madison Square Garden (known for everything from cage fights to dog shows) as an almost Vatican-like space: “With his fascist New York City rally, Donald Trump has befouled what many believe to be a sacred space: Madison Square Garden.”
So Trump is a Nazi. Musk is a Nazi. Half the country are Nazis.
The problem is that, if you say everyone is a Nazi, then no one is a Nazi. It loses its meaning.
That includes Ocasio-Cortez, who appears to have joined the ranks of the Reich after critics posted her making a Musk-like gesture during a speech.
There was no torrent of media fretting about how the gesture reflected the extremism of AOC’s questioning need for a Supreme Court, seeking to bar Trump and dozens of Republicans from ballots, or supporting censorship. AOC is a certified Nazi hunter, a license that seems only to be available to figures on the left.
Of course, labeling political opponents as diabolically evil fanatics and seeking to bar candidates from ballots sounds a lot like … well … it sounds familiar.
There is an alternative. We can put the rage rhetoric aside and have honest debates over differences on politics and laws. In other words, we can fight over policy … and leave the Nazis out of it.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University. He is the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
I must say that I’m more than a little embarrassed to find this image of our Lord and Savior giving the Nazi salute! (at marker 27 seconds)
I certainly hope that Bishop Mariann gives him “what for” in her next sermon!
He is holding a torch up.
“He is holding a torch up.”
A Nazi salute denier would say!
Democrat-Media Propaganda Complex Decides To Attempt Charlottesville v2.0
That would have been a better title for this column. I remember watching the video clip of Musk doing that: putting his hand to his heart and then throwing his arm out to the crowd.
Clearly he’s a “Nazi” – as soon as the media and their social media apparatchiks edited out the moments of the video where Musk first put his hand to his heart and then threw his hand out to the audience. The Democrat-Media Propaganda Complex decided that Americans’ attention span is so short they only need to see the extended arm, not the entire gesture.
Pretty much a carbon copy of the accusations of Gigi and the rest of the Soviet Democrats back in 2017 that Trump said ‘neo-Nazis are very fine people” in Charlottesville – promoting that lie by editing out where Trump specifically said neo-Nazis should be condemned.
Give George and the Democrats credit for repeating that lie ad nauseum: for many Democrat Marxist Useful Idiots, the lie that Trump said that neo-Nazis are very fine people is still verified fact in their minds.
I doubt this is going to fly for very long, although police state fascists like George have swiftly jumped on board to proclaim that, yes, this is indeed proof that Musk deliberately threw out a Nazi salute.
Old Airborne Dog
Airblown Puppy, what were your MOS, Awards, Campaign, and Theater?
If anything, Trump is proving us all right.
Also take a history lesson:
https://thevitalcenter.com/fall-2024/is-trump-a-fascist
tldr: Yes.
SAYS A BOZO!
How dare you insult BOZO!
f anything, Trump is proving us all right.
YOU, not Trump, proved that the neo-Nazi New Hitler Youth Movement of the Democrats are failures as political hypocrites, as well as failures as cowardly Anonymous apparatchiks in using that lie to get Harris elected.
I appreciate you taking some time from attending your local meeting of Hamas supporters to chant “From The River To The Sea Will Be Clean Of Jews” however.
Run with this strategy in the next two elections, you feckless Anonymous New Hitler Youth activist.
Old Airborne Dog
“I have often been called a Nazi, and, although it is unfair, I don’t let it bother me. I don’t let it bother me for one simple reason. No one has ever had a fantasy about being tied to a bed and sexually ravished by someone dressed as a liberal.”
-P. J. O’Rourke
Check out this Russian Airborne music video.
Other Babylon Bee headlines:
– Fire survivors drive back toward flames after hearing Kamala speak
– Sad: Hunter Biden wondering why no one buying his paintings anymore
– Coast Guard rescue swimmer disappointed he can no longer work from home
– Biden takes comfort in fact that at least he did his best to ruin the country
– ‘Scram, ya dirty rats’ shouts tommy-gun-wielding Melania, chasing Democrats out of town
– Heroic woman proves once and for all why only men should be pastors
– Superman under fire after hundreds of images surface of him giving Nazi salute [image shows Superman flying with one arm out in front]
– Journalists horrified as Village People perform double Hitler salute [image: head-dress wearing YMCA singer with both arms out and up in the air]
– Clump of cells dies [Cecile Richards] dies at 67
The story on this latter headline:
NEW YORK — A clump of cells became no longer viable earlier this week at the age of 67.
The clump, which had been birthed by Democrat uterus-owner and former Texas governor Ann Richards, was in its 205th trimester. It presided over nearly 333,000 terminations of unwanted clumps of cells like itself during a 12-year stint as president of a philanthropic organization 3% dedicated to ripping apart clumps of cells and selling the remains.
Sources say that the non-viable formerly 67-year-old clump of cells lost a battle against glioblastoma, a much smaller clump of cells which got too big in the brain of the 67-year-old clump of cells.
The ex-clump of cells became no longer viable as it was surrounded by clumps of cells that were genetically related to it and a dog named Ollie.
At publishing time, the non-viable clump of cells had narrowly avoided having its parts sold to make money for other clumps of cells within its clump-of-cells-killing philanthropic organization.
😉 Good ones!
Oh yes the notorious Ann Richards and her daughter. One could not walk past a drink and the other ran an organization dedicated to the death of hundreds of thousands of human beings. What a family heritage.
Liberals Briefly Pause Chanting ‘Death To Israel’ To Call Elon Musk A Nazi
U.S. — With the uproar over President Donald Trump returning to the White House with a flurry of sweeping actions, the nation’s liberals took a brief pause in their standard daily routine of chanting “Death to Israel” so they could call Elon Musk a Nazi.
Outrage spread across the country as liberals expressed shock and disgust after Musk motioned with his hands while saying his heart went out to everyone at Trump’s inauguration rally. The egregious act caused the liberals to call a temporary halt to their quest to see Israel destroyed.
“Elon Musk is a total Nazi!” Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib shouted to the media. “I’ve never seen such a blatant display of antisemitism from a prominent figure in the United States. It’s sickening and has no place in this country. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a ‘The Jews Must Be Annihilated’ rally I’m scheduled to speak at this afternoon. But Elon Musk is a Nazi!”
Fellow Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seconded the sentiment. “Musk is who we thought he was,” she said in a video posted on TikTok. “I was just speaking to all of my friends at a ‘Death to Israel’ march, and they thought the same thing. I haven’t been this upset about an incident since Israel started bombing Hamas terrorist hideouts like the dirty Jews they are. It would serve them right to be exterminated. But Elon Musk? Antisemitism cannot be tolerated.”
At publishing time, congressional Democrats said they were calling for an investigation into reports that Elon Musk was secretly a Jew and therefore part of a global conspiracy to take over the world.
Nonsense. The unfettered, near unanimous, *bipartisan* support for Israel in the halls of congress, the U.S. media, academic institutions and among western billionaires is deafening.
None of them are chanting ‘Death to Israel’.
*another bee in my bonnet .. .
“Salute truthers”. No one believes your hoaxes anymore.
The Nazi conclusion goes way too far, but Trump doesn’t seem to understand that the American loyalty oath (oath of office) pledges supreme loyalty of job authority – to the U.S. Constitution (the constitutional rule of law system).
Probably due to ignorance, not Nazism. It’s seems fair to point out that World War Two era Germany pledged supreme loyalty to a single person. Trump naively seems to support that foreign model.
Maybe Trump should start promoting the American model? Two wrongs don’t equal a right.
Trump doesn’t seem to understand that the American loyalty oath (oath of office) pledges supreme loyalty of job authority – to the U.S. Constitution (the constitutional rule of law system).
This cowardly Anonymous Democrat is about four years of police state fascist lawfare late delivering their analysis and lecture regarding presidents.
That would be the entirety of Biden’s term in office and that of his most trusted capos like Alejandro Mayorkas and Merrick Garland.
Oh, cowardly Anonymous Democrat! Where were you with your analysis and warnings about presidents and the oath of office when your country needed you?
Old Airborne Dog
Speaking of cowardly, why won’t you tell us what you did in the war, “Lil Bow Wow?”
SAME post repeated over and over! ANONYMOUS?
And no MOS yet!
Speaking of cowards, why are you terrified of choosing a username to put your daily attacks under, cut like a marshmallow pedophile Airsoft Gun Bunny?
Fear your probation officer will revoke your parole for using the internet to lure little kids again with your stories of being an Airsoft Commando door gunner on a nuclear submarine?
Old Airborne Dog
So no MOS?
Speaking as a cowardly, anonymous, commie, pinko, socialist, liberal, marxie, lefty, Dem: Nobody was listening to us back in 2016 when the orangutan first appeared in the political jungle.
An oath of office is “an American model”? I didn’t know we were so innovative.
Trump doesn’t seem to understand that the American loyalty oath
You notably did not give even a single example of what you’re talking about.
How the Left peddles its poison: It was a “Nazi gesture.” No, it was a Roman gesture — which the Nazi’s got from the Romans.
The Left gets you to swallow that poison by dropping the context. Many of the images and video clips they use start in the *middle* of Musk’s gesture — with his arm outstretched. They edit out the *beginning* of his gesture — with his hand on his heart. I do not know of a single Nazi salute that is the *totality* of Musk’s gesture.
And just to give this nonsense more traffic than it deserves:
Neither Musk’s *nor* the Nazi’s is a Roman salute. That the Italian and German fascists got their salute from the Romans is a 19th century fiction. And largely a creation of filmmakers. (See in particular the movie “Quo Vadis.”)
According to reputable Roman scholars, there is not a shred of evidence — not in Roman literature, art, from Roman historians — of that salute being used in ancient Rome.
And yet you can’t name said “reputable Roman scholars”. Perhaps you should back up your claim with the names of the scholars.
Elon’s salute speaks for itself. That’s why everyone immediately knew what it was.
George’s attempt at intelligent bias speaks for itself. That’s why everyone immediately knew what it was.
“And yet you can’t name . . .”
For you?
Something about pearls and swine.
You made the claim Sam. You’re obviously peddling BS.
George if Sam were peddling BS, it would be worthless, for you have flooded the market.
PS Lincoln is dead
Elon’s salute speaks for itself.
George’s complete lack of credibility here speaks for itself. Every. Single. Time.
George; do a little experiment to assure yourself that readers here find you believable and credible: Just put up a post that simply says:
<All of you who read my posts, this is a poll to determine my credibility. If you find me believable and credible, please give this post a ‘like’
AOC’s gesture speaks for itself. That’s why everyone immediately knew what it was.
If Trump and Musk truly were a “Hitler” there would be a lot of dead Bolshevik Democrats right now, but alas there are ZERO.
Funny how many unexplained deaths, destruction and mayhem under the Clinton’s, Antifa and BLM there were that went unchecked and yet the left always yaps about what a dictator Trump is.
I predict Biden is going to be indicted and those pardoned are going to have to testify against him, should they perjure or obstruct they are fair game for prosecution. It’s going to get worse before it gets cleaned up in DC. When you drain a swamp the poisonous snakes slither to the top and try to bite you with their poison.
The Left has to stimulate their crazies to keep them in the herd, or they won’t have any power at all.
Here’s a fool-proof photo of Elon Musk secretly communicating with UFO Martians
https://img.hi-label.nl/opt/gewoonvoorhem-nl/2022/10/elon-musk-triljardair.jpg
And here’s another photo of him hand-signalling classified information to the Italian Mafia.
https://images.everyeye.it/img-notizie/elon-musk-pagato-giocare-suo-sente-un-dio-videogiochi-v3-773300.jpg
signaling. sorry
Lin,
OMG!!!!! Not only is Musk a Nazi but communicating with Nazi Martians!!!!! The WH has been taken over by Nazi Martian lovers!!!! Whatever are we to do?? Somebody, quick, get AOC on the line!! She will save us all!!!!!
/sarc
OMG Upstate! Hide your livestock!
Here is Elon sending code that 6 out of 10 people believe in Nazism!
https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/gettyimages-1821107484.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_833,w_1480,c_fill
And here he is giving the finger to all those Jews, Blacks, LGBQTs!
https://media.newyorker.com/photos/64c03754ada160419b41fc93/master/pass/Elon-X-Company.jpg
(good to see you up and in a state of humor!)
Lin,
OMG!!! I am so triggered right now!!! Now I understand what it is like to be a low IQ woke leftist!!!! I need a safe space with coloring books, kittens, milk and cookies!!!
/sarc
“. . . communicating with Nazi Martians!!!!!”
No, no, no. Clearly, you have problems with reading comprehension.
Lin is implying (inferring?) that Musk is communicating with Italian Mafia Martians. That’s the real purpose of Starlink and SpaceX.
/sarc (for the sarc challenged)
Sam,
Italian Mafia Martians??? Just when I did not think it could get any worse!!! And Starlink!! Musk is transmitting Nazi signals directly into my mind!!!! Quick!! Get me the heavy duty tinfoil to make a hat out of!!!!
/sarc
“. . . heavy duty tinfoil to make a hat out of!!!!”
Don’t do that!!!
Starlink targets tinfoil.
Wear a plague mask, like this one: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/plague-doctor-in-spooky-setting-gm1333171915-415776794
A good Black Russian on ice will settle your nerves. Very smooth.
Enjoying the humor today.
GEB: “Black Russian.” Is that an oxymoron?
Thanks to you and Sam for contributing to the fun. yours truly, lin.
(I guess I lied when I said I wouldn’t come back today. sorry. This time I mean it.)
“A good Black Russian . . .”
Careful. You’re verging into “Putin stooge” territory.
At the risk of being racist, I prefer the white. Or a yummy toasted almond.
Upstate: AOC= Alarmist On Call!
(OK, I’m done for today.)
Lin,
Good one!!!
Not /sarc, while this has been fun, it is also a display of exactly how dumb this whole Nazispolozza thing is and those who believe it really are. That is what you sound like.
Quick! Someone queue up Slim Whitman’s “Indian Love Call”…
Can I do the Nelson Eddy one, instead???
It is deliciously ironic to see the ADL’s preferred tactics and language turned on the ADL. It seems the left will continue to consume their own young until, hopefully, there is nothing left.
Dear Prof Turley,
Sigh. It was a Martian-Vulcan hand gesture from one deep-space alien species (Musk) to humans on earth saying ‘Greetings’. Nothing sinister. (see also, Star Trek ‘Wrath of Khan’)
Levity is good .. . it relieves tension and fear of death.
In any case, if we’re seriously turning over rocks looking for modern Nazi, U.S./Nato have been arming and funding literal neo Nazi (see Bandara/Azov) in Ukraine since the coup in 2014. The largest major power ground war since WWII. The ongoing death and destruction there are on a biblical scale.
And of course, most ironically, the U.S./Israel wholesale genocidal destruction of Gaza hasn’t been seen since Hitler’s Nazi Germany destroyed the Warsaw Ghetto.
Elon Musk once said the best way to resolve the conflict in the Holy Lands was with ‘a few conspicuous acts of kindness’ and the Trump Apostle enforced a ceasefire there on day one. Blessed are the peacemakers.
Hitler’s advance on Stalingrad was defeated in Ukraine .. . Trump says he will have a peace deal there soon!
*for the time being. .. it’s the thought that counts.
“And of course, most ironically, the U.S./Israel wholesale genocidal destruction of Gaza hasn’t been seen since Hitler’s Nazi Germany destroyed the Warsaw Ghetto.”
Are you pretending to be the mental midget, George Svelaz?
It’s just me here, Meyer. .. get ahold of yourself.
@dgsnowden, why would anyone need to steady themselves when facing a spineless, ignorant individual like you who has a fraction of the courage shown by the Jews who fought the Germans in the Warsaw Ghetto? You inspire neither fear nor anxiety, only laughter.
Cool, Turls. Rough job having to go be the guy who actually tries to clean up for the guy who made a couple Nazi salutes by maintaining he didn’t really make a couple Nazi salutes. But someone has to do it…, and since your Hunter and Joe character assassination campaign can’t monetize anymore it looks like you’re the guy.
Congrats???
Bonus points for not talking about Elon’s support of neo nazis in Germany. I’d have thought that’d deserve a little coverage. Not in your world though. Hilarious.
You’ve got your Nazi muddled. The German alternative to herr Stoltz are not Nazi.
*If it’s any consolation, it will always be the Gulf of Mexico to me.
The sweet goofies whom Professor Turley showcases are not just some random, marginalized crackpots. These are the high priests of that 48% I call “Dingbat America.” 48% is a big number–too big. It fuels my skepticism about humanity. They are proof that purple hair dye can cause significant brain damage. Many are nasty neurotics and beyond fixing. Sincerely wish it were otherwise.
Yes, it’s a bunch.
Alert, Alert.
Stinky the pet skunk got lose & is somewhere in Wash. DC. Stinky could be anywhere. If you smell him call the capital police.
I would have thought with the New Hitler Youth Movement wing of the Democrats that has pushed so hard to protect Gaza’s government of Arab hajji terrorists in Hamas trying to fulfill Hitler’s promise to eliminate the world’s Jews, a man giving a Nazi salute would once again be embraced and feted by Democrats.
Old Airborne Dog
To a hammer, everything looks like a nail.