Reductio ad Hitlerium: It Never Goes Out of Style

Word had reached me that a previously unknown to me former (and reformed) member of the Hitler Youth, Hilmar von Campe, was to appear on Talk Radio's most notorious enfant terrible, Michael Savage, "to discuss similarities between President-elect Obama and the rise of totalitarianism under Hitler." The event was scheduled for November 18 but I've not found any transcript of it yet.

Minimal background research in to Hilmar von Campe showed this man to be at best a well-meaning simpleton whose core belief revolves around being on the side of truth by believing in God. As if totalitarianism is somehow the sole prerogative of the Godless and the believers haven't found themselves numerous times on the wrong side of truth. To both Savage and von Campe I'd warmly recommend reading (if not studying) 'The Origins of Totalitarianism' by Hannah Arendt, for a better understanding of why evil doesn't reside solely in one corner or another, opposing one.

In the absence of a transcript, I went in search of a suitable rebuttal of von Campe's ridiculous views on America's descent into fascism, led, that goes without saying, by Dear Leader Obama. Nothing surfaced immediately, perhaps this is only gefundenes fressen for the fringenutz? Or perhaps it's a little too early yet...

But I did find this little gem below, with great links too...

Reductio ad Hitlerium: It Never Goes Out of Style

Michael C. Moynihan - ReasonOnline | November 19, 2008.

Now that Naomi Wolf's breathless tale of America's collapse into fascism has been further repudiated (unless, that is, Hitlerian countries routinely elect people like Barack Obama), perhaps it's time for the hysterics on the right to tremble in fear at the forthcoming machtergreifung. First, the psychopathic radio host and "world famous herbal expert" Michael Savage hosts former Hitler Youth member Hilmar von Campe "to discuss similarities between President-elect Obama and the rise of totalitarianism under Hitler." Not much you can say to that, except to point out that beyond the big, excited crowds, there are absolutely no similarities. And then we have 1990s relic Newt Gingrich bemoaning what he views as the thuggish behavior of those opposed to California's Prop. 8: "Look, I think there is a gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us, is prepared to use violence, to use harassment." Gay fascism in America? Perhaps he's thinking of Austria.

After eight years of Bush, remember, it was deeply serious people like the New Yorker's Steve Coll and New York Times columnist Frank Rich that, in the final months of the 2008 election, eluded to a Weimar-like atmosphere at John McCain rallies. But their guy won. And fascism is over, if you want it. No liberal Von Hindenburg will cede power to the forces of darkness! It is early yet, though, and expect much more of this nonsense of the fringes of the right this time around.

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Here he [Savage] is on healthcare, in an old clip. Is he being serious or just being funny? Bit of both I guess... But I'll give him some credit for his fury, real or feigned...