SS Reenactor makes national news

[DennyB]

His political career vanished the moment this story hit the news. He will never get past this issue while other candidates will refuse to take him seriously. He was foolish to run for office with this in his background.

Bob Hritz

You are right. He is probably saying to himself "Why didn't I join the unit portraying Easy Company 506th?"

[hcliffe]

If he had reenacted US or Brit, the media would probably have still said, "hey you were a WWII reenactor. Weren't you friends with some of those guys who dressed up as Nazi's?" And of course, he would have to say yes. Doomed either way if you ask me.

If Tom Cruise now ran for office, would they say, "hey, you dressed as a Nazi in that movie. Does that mean...."

[DaveNZ]

I'd love to be a fly on the wall in years to come when some of the forum's grandchildren "re-enact" as Taliban.

I wonder what type of justification they might give you ...

"Oh it happened long ago ... it's History"

"No there was "Good and bad Taliban", don't tarnish all the heroic "freedom fighters" this way".

"They were only taking orders"

"Both sides were as bad"

"These were elite fighting soldiers only fighting for their country"

"I collect AQ"

All sounds a bit familiar ....

thats because there is an element of truth in all these statements. it all depends on ones perspective dunnit.

re-enactment is just that. no big deal.

but yeah that guy is now well and truly fooked.

[DaveNZ]

1. The fact is that the SS was the military arm of the Nazi party and the Nazi regime's ultimate shield and sword. SS members were fully indoctrinated.

I thought that towards the end guys were just thrown into the WSS regardless.

[DennyB]

I thought that towards the end guys were just thrown into the WSS regardless.

I know a man (he is in his 90s now) who was in the Latvian Army and conscripted into the Red Army, then captured by the Germans and put into the Waffen SS. He was later captured by the British and used as a translator.
I always told him there should have been a movie made of his service time.

[DennyB]

I saw where this SS reenactor is still in the news. It was just on the news that he is being accused of exaggerating his military service. I didn't catch all the details but it said something about him having served in a militia.
I think I would drop out of the race.

[PlaceOfBayonets]

Wow what is worse for a politician? SS re enactor or militia ties? Personally I don't fear the militia. I mean what if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?

W.

[deiter]

Relax guys, it was the Ohio State Militia. Yes, a State militia. I read that supposedly he was wearing some federal awards that he didnt earn....blah, blah blah.

What i am surprised about is that no one ever accused him of being a Nazi? Implied possibly, but accused....no. Why didnt he ever bring this up against his running mate? Make her answer a yes/no question? It would a win-win question. Either she says yes, and then she has to prove it. Or she says no, and it then takes away that question.




DL

[Tim O'Keefe]

Disagree, playing at being in the ss is a no win situation.....

[DennyB]

[QUOTE=deiter;4288348]Relax guys, it was the Ohio State Militia. Yes, a State militia. I read that supposedly he was wearing some federal awards that he didnt earn....blah, blah blah.

What i am surprised about is that no one ever accused him of being a Nazi? Implied possibly, but accused....no. Why didnt he ever bring this up against his running mate? Make her answer a yes/no question? It would a win-win question. Either she says yes, and then she has to prove it. Or she says no, and it then takes away that question.DL[/QUOTE

On MSNBC Chris Matthews said something to the effect of "Why are (political party name here) always siding with the Nazis" or something similar to that. There were many mentions made of this on national TV and radio. Accusations of being a Nazi, well, I think some did basically accuse him of being a Nazi sympathizer although they didn't call for him to be charged with war crimes.

[Gary Jucha]

Would

Would you vote for someone who in middle age who still plays "cowboys and indians" .....

[DennyB]

Would you vote for someone who in middle age who still plays "cowboys and indians" .....

Gary, I have been to reenactments in the 80s where real WW2 vets participated.

[KwK36]

junk journalism

Just saw the Anderson Cooper interview. Using this so called "journalist's" rational, Civil war rebel soldier reenactors must support slavery, British Colonial war reenactors imperialism, ect........The world was a lot different seventy years ago. As the congressional candidate clearly pointed out, many who joined the Wiking division loathed Communism. Also had Mr Cooper done his homework he would have discovered the Waffen SS was one of the first true modern multinational fighting forces (predating NATO or the Warsaw Pact).

[PlaceOfBayonets]

I saw something on the news on this thread. But all I caught was a photo they showed of Waffen SS where they pointed out it was not a real period photo but that of re enactors. I missed everything but that that end part and it had to be relaed to the politician.

Showing photos like that on national TV will only swell our ranks

[Robert H]

I don't get this reenactment thing anyhow, very weird to see Americans playing German soldiers in 2010... very wierd for me and I am not alone with it