October 8, 2010 11:23 PM

Atlantic: Ohio GOP Candidate for Congress Dresses as Nazi

By
Ann Binlot
Topics
Republicans ,
Campaign 2010 ,
Congress

Republican nominee and Tea Party-backed candidate for Congress Rich Iott of Ohio (second from right) is pictured dressed in a German Waffen SS uniform.

(Credit: The Atlantic)
Rich Iott, the Tea Party-supported GOP nominee for Congress in Ohio's 9th District, is part of a group that likes to don German Waffen SS uniforms and participate Nazi re-enactments, Atlantic journalist Josh Green revealed on "Real Time with Bill Maher."

The group, called Wiking, acts out exploits from the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking, an actual Nazi division, which fought on the Eastern Front during World War II . 

Iott, who confirms his involvement with the group, denies any belief in the principles of Nazism.

"It's purely historical interest in World War II," he told The Atlantic.

Iott can't remember when he joined the group, although his name appears on a group roster from 2003. He says he participated in the group with his son "as a father-son bonding thing." 

While Iott neglects to address Jewish voters he might have offended, he does address veterans in an e-mail to the Atlantic: "Never, in any of my reenacting of military history, have I meant any disrespect to anyone who served in our military or anyone who has been affected by the tragedy of war. In fact, I have immense respect for veterans who served our country valiantly, and my respect of the military and our veterans is one of the reasons I have actively studied military history throughout my life."

(Credit: Internet Archive/wiking.org)
Incidentally, there is no longer any mention of Iott (also a member of the NRCC's Young Guns Program) on the Wiking website, and all photographs of the Congressional candidate have been removed (although some are still viewable on the Internet Archive).

At left: Iott (center), who is labeled under his pseudonym "Reinhardt," is pictured at the ReenactorFest at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago in 2006. The photo caption says the reenactors are pictured with "Herr Schneider, a REAL Vet of 5.SS 'Wiking'!"

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by csusreenactor October 16, 2010 7:03 AM EDT
over the years since 1945, many Jews have played roles as Nazis and SS in cinema and tv as stars and cast members wearing the corresponding uniforms/regalia. why is it ok for them and no one else? reenacting is educational and supported by various govt entities. just goes to show how ignorant the opposing politician is in this situation; but is that not typical of a politician?
Reply to this comment
by hhandyman October 11, 2010 10:48 PM EDT
Happy Halloween a bit early, Fraudian slip is showing Mr Republican. Why glorify Sargent Shultz ?? or is your hood and robe at the cleaners?
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by Jersey_Dave October 12, 2010 12:22 PM EDT
Ge to know some Civil War (and other) re-enactors. It is _not_ about endorsing Nazism or any other ideology, it is about showing the way the forces were set up, how they fought, and in fact it shows what the world had to overcome to protect freedom.

Saying he is disqualified because of this is like saying Gene Hackman couldn't run for office because he played Lex Luthor in the Superman movies. It is sophistry.
by ky1946 October 11, 2010 12:32 PM EDT
Can't help but add, the TEA PARTY has members dressed as loyalists and colonists.
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by brian_norwood October 11, 2010 1:44 PM EDT
Loyalists (to the Furer) and colonists (er...plantation owners).
by ky1946 October 11, 2010 12:30 PM EDT
If you have a re-enactment, you must have representatives from both sides. Go to a civil war battle and you will have yankees and rebs.
It is what it is.
Most of us here in the U.S. have relatives from all over the globe.
I would suspect these are the same.
Reply to this comment
by brian_norwood October 11, 2010 1:45 PM EDT
Except in Germany, where such glorification of the 3rd Reich is illegal.
by jfb100 October 11, 2010 3:45 PM EDT
Real Historians don't re-write the Nazi atrocities out of history. This so-called "historical reenactment" is twisted, and in fact it will get you 3 years in jails in Germany.
by Bisk1 October 11, 2010 9:06 AM EDT
by songbuff October 10, 2010 10:24 PM EDT
You people don't know what your talking about. Just go to youtube & look up WWII reenactments. These reenactors that portray Germans soldiers or Nazis do not represent any Nazi beliefs. These men (and women) are performers. Living history events happen all over the country. My son (a US ARMY solder) has been a German WWII reenactor for years. They spent $$$'s on uniforms, weapons, tanks, etc, to teach the public about WWII. There is actually a movie coming out in theaters next year about WWII reenactors. Before you jump to conclusions, please do your homework.

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Songbuff, i just had to ask, is your son then meeting with real and actual Nazi's to show him how to really be a Nazi ?? and do you think it's right for this Lott to seek political office ?? Then how would you feel if your son was RE_ENACTING the 9/11 attack, pretending to be a terrorist ?? I hope you're starting to understand why most of us think TeaBaggers are nuts. Dumb Dumb Repugs !
Reply to this comment
by Bisk1 October 11, 2010 9:01 AM EDT
How many reenactors would actually bring an actual living NAZI to show them how to be a Nazi ?? Dumb Dumb Repugs !!
Reply to this comment
by jfb100 October 11, 2010 3:50 AM EDT
"The second-highest Republican in the U.S. House Sunday rejected Mr. Iott?s past actions, saying he would 'absolutely repudiate' them." it appears that there is at least one Republican who in not a Nazi SS propagandist, and refuses to cover up Nazi atrocities.
Reply to this comment
by songbuff October 10, 2010 10:24 PM EDT
You people don't know what your talking about. Just go to youtube & look up WWII reenactments. These reenactors that portray Germans soldiers or Nazis do not represent any Nazi beliefs. These men (and women) are performers. Living history events happen all over the country. My son (a US ARMY solder) has been a German WWII reenactor for years. They spent $$$'s on uniforms, weapons, tanks, etc, to teach the public about WWII. There is actually a movie coming out in theaters next year about WWII reenactors. Before you jump to conclusions, please do your homework.
Reply to this comment
by stn_sage October 11, 2010 12:14 AM EDT
songbuff: Because they're re-enactors, doesn't prevent them from supporting or even advocating Nazi views! In fact, the 'laws of probability' suggest at least a few of them do! You're naive!
by Bisk1 October 11, 2010 9:00 AM EDT
How many reenactors would actually bring a living NAZI to show them how to be a Nazi ?? Dumb Dumb Repugs !!
See all 4 Replies
by stn_sage October 10, 2010 7:03 PM EDT
If this was just a joke, then it wasn't a very funny one!
Reply to this comment
by zekeboy1 October 10, 2010 4:27 PM EDT
And how's this Tea Party candidate workin'out for ya? If this guy was a democrat could you even imagine the outcry we would be hearing?
WAKE UP, AMERICA!!!!!!!!!
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