June 25, 2023

Moms For Liberty Can't Unring That Bell. They're Public Nazis Now.

Last Wednesday, the Indiana chapter of the right-wing extremist pressure group "Moms for Liberty" posted a e-newsletter which unironically and uncritically quoted Adolf Hitler.

They subsequently apologized then retracted the quote. But here's the thing about that: some bells, they can't be unrung. Once you uncritically quote Hitler, in a way that supports whatever thesis you're trying to sell, that gives you away. You don't get to pretend that you somehow don't know how horrible Hitler was. You don't get to pretend to that ignorance. You don't get to act like you were ironically trying to prove your point.

People don't quote Hitler this way unless they somehow like Hitler. And we know what people who like Hitler are called, right? You can't say you did Nazi this coming.

Besides, there are other ways to make the point. The quote was "He alone, who gains the youth, owns the future". I suppose if you adore or admire (you sick SOB) the erstwhile Herr Schicklgruber, you might think that deep, but it's actually quite banal and obvious. I mean, if you're devoted to demonstrating your profundity by stating this, how about this verbiage:

"I believe the children are our future ... teach them well and let them lead the way".

I mean, you're not going to get accused of being a white supremacist if you quote one of the most popular African-American singers of the last 40 years. Who doesn't love Whitney Houston at her prime? But no, Moms for Liberty wasn't going to have that. They had to quote Der Fuehrer.

Not only that, it's not the first time they did it. Media Matters reported that another chapter did it another time. And if two documented instances of this happens seems small, understand that the quota for quoting Hitler and not getting blowback for it is exactly zero. After that, any credibility you might have had amongst anyone that isn't as far right as you has been shot.

I mean, fly that red-white-and-black flag if you want. But once you unfurl it, there's no turning back.

You can't apologize your way out of that hole.

You're a Nazi now.