Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen Walks Back Holocaust Reference

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, participates in a ceremonial House swearing-in ceremony for Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen is attempting to do some damage control after likening Republican rhetoric to Nazi propaganda.

In a statement released today, the congressman did not apologize for his remarks, which he made Tuesday night on the House floor while debating the Republicans' bill to repeal the Democratic health care reform package. However, Cohen did say that with his remarks "taken out of context, I can understand the confusion and concern." He added that it was "disappointing" his remarks distracted from the larger health care debate.

In the Tuesday night debate, the Tennessee Democrat compared the Republican attack on health care reform to the propagation of false rhetoric in Nazi Germany.

"They don't like the truth so they summarily dismiss it," said Cohen, who is Jewish. "They say it's a government takeover of health care, a big lie just like [Nazi propagandist Joseph] Goebbels. You say it enough, you repeat the lie, you repeat the lie, you repeat the lie, and eventually, people believe it."

"The Germans said enough about the Jews and the people believed it and you had the Holocaust," he continued. "You tell a lie over and over again. And we've heard it on this floor: Government takeover of health care."

In his statement today, Cohen suggested his remarks were blown out of proportion.

"While I regret that anything I said has created an opportunity to distract from the debate about health care for 32 million Americans, I want to be clear that I never called Republicans Nazis," he said. "Instead, the reference I made was to the greatest propaganda master of all time. Propaganda, which is called 'messaging' today, can be true or false. In this case, the message is false."

Cohen cited the fact-checking website Politifact.com's declaration that the Republican warning against a "government takeover" of health care amounted to be the "lie of the year" last year.

The congressman also said he regrets if anyone in the Jewish community was offended by his remarks. He pointed out that he helped create one of the first state Holocaust Commissions in America and actively served as a Commission member for over 20 years.

"I would certainly never do anything to diminish the horror of the Nazi Holocaust as I revere and respect the history of my people," Cohen said. "My comments were not directed toward any group or people but at the false message and, specifically, the method by which is has been delivered."

[1ManNamedDan]

I'm a Proud Liberal and I REALLY HATE the fact that BOTH parties sooner or later bring up or liken the other party to Hitler or the Nazi's!!
It's as old no, older than "Drink the cool aid" Jonestown was 1978 WW2 1945. But these idiots are so brain dead that they keep throwing the same school yard taunts at each other- It's like being stuck in a country run by perpetual 6th graders running around telling Joe Blow jokes and trying to convince us the other side has moral Cooties!

Grow up you damn idiots! And try and focus on the crap that matters instead of trying to distract or polarize us!

[RobAla]

This guy is totally disgusting, and every Jewish American should be furious over him comparing health care discussions to the extermination of 6 million Jews. There is plenty of "propaganda" (along with pure bull crap)issued from members of both parties in Washington. Seems like we had a Presidential candidate that promised 8 times to show the health care discussions on CSPAN - and it never happened. There were promises of bipartisanship and transparency that never happened in the development this health care law. There were politicians promising Americans the same coverage as those in Washington (anyone believing that is truly gullible), and the health care law exempts members of the Senate and Congress from even being under this law (that they passed for the rest of us). They have their health care coverage, and we have the crap contained in this law.

This guy is way over the top in vomiting out hateful speech. It is his right to do it (freedom of speech), but he should be held accountable by voters in Tennessee.

[dennisall77]

It is time to stop lamely accepting the Repug tactics and call them out every time they LIE. They say govt healthcare and everyone just shrugs. They called Obama a Nazi and no one on the right cared. Look at the venome and violence on the right and you will see how fear and intimidation are their main weapons to get elected. Two things can be seen as differences between conservatives and Liberals: fear and empathy. Conservatives react to fear messages and lack empathy when people need help> Liberals do not react to fear messaging and have more empathey for those in need. Notice how the right in 2004 used the terror alerts to scare everyone and build up the vote for Bush. Funny how immediately after the election, they stopped. Bush actually lost twice

[thatavkguy]

Everyone has a right to speak their mind. Even this guy. People are offended way too easily nowadays. People need to let go. As for you, you have a lack of history knowledge. First off "fear" is used by both sides to get what they want. The world is about to end if you listen to all the FEAR about AGW you liberals spout. All to get more taxes. Fear had nothing to do with the "welcoming committee" at the pole in Chicago a few years ago when the Black Panthers were holding batons. "Fear" has nothing to do with it when my government says "we need to raise taxes because the kids will suffer if we do not". Hatred toward big business is good, but toward government bad? What's the difference? Yes there is a major difference philosophically. TEACH a man to fish, we say, you want "the rich" to give him a fish every day for life. So sad. He'll never learn that way.

Back to he history lesson. Go look up what party the KKK was attached to. Not to mention The Black Panthers. The Tea party (or republicans) has NOTHING racism wise compared to them.

[YrWrongAgain]

He meant "Joltin' Joe" Goebbels, who played for the St. Louis Browns in the 1940s. Spent most of that time injured, would have appreciated some health insurance.