California GOP Demands Burton Apology Over Nazi Comment In KCBS Interview

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- California Republicans are sending a strong and swift message to their Democratic counterparts gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina for this week's DNC: California Democratic Party Chair John Burton should apologize for suggesting, in an exclusive interview with KCBS Radio, that recent GOP tactics were akin to Nazi propaganda.

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"Inappropriate, disrespectful to Holocaust survivors, very disrespectful to Republicans, and is frankly unnecessary in a civilized society," San Francisco Republican Party Chair Harmeet Dhillon said in summing up her reaction.

"I've learned long ago not to be shocked by things John Burton says because he seems to live in hyperbole," responded California Republican Party Chair Tom Del Beccaro.

Del Beccaro was confident that the controversial remarks would ultimately hurt Democrats on election day.

"It means the Democratic National Convention is off to a poor start because it's divisive rhetoric and voters these days are looking for solutions, not divisiveness."

KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:

"This shows the Democratic party is having a hard time staying on message," added Ron Nehring, past chair of the California Republican Party. "They're not practicing the type of message discipline that they've been known for in the past."

"You have an increasing number of leaders within the Democratic party who are freelancing in the hopes that they will be able to do something or say something that turns around the direction of the campaign, which is not flowing in their direction," Nehring said.

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