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Barack Obama speaking at a rally at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque in October. (AP)
Last update - 11:51 26/10/2008
Pennsylvania GOP disavows email likening Obama vote to rise of Hitler
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Tags: John McCain, U.S. elections 

Pennsylvania Republicans are disavowing an e-mail sent to Jewish voters that likens a vote for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to events that led up to the Holocaust.

"Jewish Americans cannot afford to make the wrong decision on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008," the e-mail reads. "Many of our ancestors ignored the warning signs in the 1930s and 1940s and made a tragic mistake. Let's not make a similar one this year!"

A copy of the e-mail, provided by Democratic officials, says it was Paid for by the Republican Federal Committee of PA - Victory 2008.
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It warns "Fellow Jewish Voters of the danger of a second Holocaust due to the threats to Israel from its neighbors" and touts Republican presidential candidate John McCain's qualifications over those of Obama.

State Republican officials disavowed the e-mail and said the strategist who helped draft it had been fired.

"The Republican Party of Pennsylvania did not authorize that e-mail," Michael Barley, communications director for the state party, told The Associated Press on Saturday evening.

Barley said a correction would be sent out to everyone who received it.

The e-mail was sent Thursday morning to 75,000 Jewish voters.

The McCain campaign also repudiated the e-mail. Spokesman Peter Feldman said Saturday night that McCain rejects politics that degrade our civics.

Political consultant Bryan Rudnick was identified as the person responsible for it. Rudnick, reached Saturday night, confirmed that he no longer works for the party, which employed him a few weeks ago as a consultant to do outreach to Jewish voters.

"I had authorization from party officials to send the e-mail," Rudnick said, but he declined to say who had signed off on it. "I'm not looking to drag anyone else through the mud, so I'm not naming names right now," he said.

The e-mail also accuses Obama of teaching members of the community group ACORN to commit voter registration fraud during his years as a community activist.

Democratic Sen. Robert Casey said the e-mail was part of "a smear campaign that was among the worst he had seen in his state."

The email appears to refer to the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany. (Click here for the full report)

According to The New York Times, the email was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Republican Party's "Victory 2008" committee, and "was signed by several prominent McCain supporters in the state: Mitchell L. Morgan, a top fund-raiser; Hon. Sandra Schwartz Newman, a member of Mr. McCain's national task-force monitoring Election Day voting, and I. Michael Coslov, a steel industry executive."

The report goes on to say that the leaders of the state party have "repudiated" the email, which also refers to William Ayers and the ACORN organization. The report also quotes the party leaders as saying that the strategist who helped write the email has been fired.

Meanwhile, The Forward reports that Obama's campaign "is refusing to participate in debates with representatives of a Republican Jewish group that is behind an advertising blitz attacking the Democratic nominee."

The report states that the campaign has "instructed its representatives not to participate in forums with representatives of the Republican Jewish Coalition. So far, Obama campaign representatives in California and Pennsylvania have canceled their appearances at previously scheduled debates in front of Jewish audiences."

The Forward says that former California congressman Mel Levine, now an advisor to Obama on the Middle East, earlier this month dropped out of a debate with the RJC head in California, Larry Greenfield, which was set to be held a Jewish community center in Los Angeles.

In Pennsylvania, state representative Josh Shapiro reportedly also canceled his appearance at a debate scheduled for this coming Sunday at a synagogue in Dresher against Scott Feigelstein, the RJC regional director.

According to the report, the Obama campaign "has been making efforts to replace its campaign representatives with supporters who can address the Jewish community but are not officially tied to the campaign."

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      1.   Going down with their tongues flaming 15:13  |  Mark Lincoln 25/10/08
      2.   Fear, fear and more fear. 15:29  |  Baz Mann 25/10/08
      3.   Haaretz - The link to the report goes to a Times commentary only 15:35  |  B`Galil 25/10/08
      4.   Simply shows what Republicans would-stoop-to 15:43  |  Esther 25/10/08
      5.   What do U.S. Republicans and Haaretz TB "bigots" have in common ? 15:43  |  Swiss (Dino) 25/10/08
      6.   As an Obama supporter, thanks much guys 15:52  |  newageblues 25/10/08
      7.   Biased Haaretz.com: Boring SHAME, unread! 15:52  |  Terrorists for Obama 25/10/08
      8.   Got your joke, haters! :-) 15:54  |  Joker 25/10/08
      9.   The Republicans are such lovely people. 16:26  |  Gabriel 25/10/08
      10.   rise 16:31  |  Shmuelshachor 25/10/08
      11.   And a vote for McPain and Painlin is a vote for Anti-Semites.... 16:35  |  Rabbi Izzy Lahm 25/10/08
      12.   Obama`s refusal to debate 17:11  |  Harley Feldman 25/10/08
      13.   #9 Just google Powers interview at Berkely 17:30  |  Lynn 25/10/08
      14.   Playboy`s going down in flames 17:51  |  Mark Lincoln 25/10/08
      15.   The Only Hitler Today Is Ahmadinejad 17:58  |  Yosemite 25/10/08
      16.   #9 Harley 18:08  |  Lou Medel 25/10/08
      17.   I`ll Tell You Something Really Scary 18:14  |  Yosemite 25/10/08
      18.   Obama Has Shown a Great Tolerance for Jew Haters 18:21  |  Tod Zuckerman 25/10/08
      19.   As an American Harley, I am concerned about folks like you... 18:45  |  BBSNews 25/10/08
      20.   #10, Harley, yeah I`d like to see Obama crack some ME heads too 19:01  |  newageblues 25/10/08
      21.   I thought he was a socialist 19:23  |  muggles 25/10/08
      22.   Why isn`t the McCain campaign using content that would sink Obama 19:30  |  redmike 25/10/08
      23.   #8 Rabbi Lahm 19:46  |  Jew by Choice 25/10/08
      24.   Incredible! 19:53  |  KR 25/10/08
      25.   swiss dino = pseudo liberal 19:54  |  Jonny moses 25/10/08
      26.   untrueths 19:59  |  Ethan 25/10/08
      27.   Hitler ran (and won) on a promise of Economic Protectionism, 20:12  |  Avram 25/10/08
      28.   I can understand.. 20:32  |  hollingsworth 25/10/08
      29.   Zuckerman on Jeremiah Wright... 21:26  |  BBSNews 25/10/08
      30.   A Pennsylvanian Israeli Jew responds 21:43  |  Ben 25/10/08
      31.   #14 Mark Lincoln...a house in FL shot up 22:31  |  Lynn 25/10/08
      32.   redmike 00:08  |  Mark Lincoln 26/10/08
      33.   Lynn - it does little good to point out 00:23  |  Mark Lincoln 26/10/08
      34.   Sarah Silverman 00:25  |  Marc 26/10/08
      35.   No need to debate PA Republicans 00:32  |  marc 26/10/08
      36.   #5 Actually, I think you are the winner in the smear category 00:50  |  McQueen 26/10/08
      37.   The Reverends Robertson and Wright 01:03  |  Mark Lincoln 26/10/08
      38.   To Marc from PA Republican 02:28  |  Ben 26/10/08
      39.   Grumpy Old Partisan tactics 03:15  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 26/10/08
      40.   Ben, What can I say??? 03:38  |  marc 26/10/08
      41.   Swiss (dino):commentary from purchased swiss "neutrals" 04:06  |  Arie 26/10/08
      42.   Typical attacks 04:33  |  Dean 26/10/08
      43.   Curious question 04:35  |  Arie 26/10/08
      44.   # 1, MARK LINCOLN 05:20  |  indrajaya 26/10/08
      45.   To Marc 05:47  |  Ben (Pa Republican) 26/10/08
      46.   To Arie (Ba Golan) 05:55  |  Ben 26/10/08
      47.   Ben, I have no poll, just my statistics 05:59  |  Mark Lincoln 26/10/08
      48.   Honor in Politics 06:46  |  Deb 26/10/08
      49.   I agree Mark Lincoln... 07:47  |  BBSNews 26/10/08
      50.   Ben, are you a David Horowitz fan? 08:05  |  BBSNews 26/10/08
      51.   #50 michael at b/s bad news is right 08:43  |  victor hardman 26/10/08
      52.   What is wrong w/being cautious about his backround? 09:07  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 26/10/08
      53.   Obama 10:20  |  Scared 26/10/08
      54.   Marc in NYC 10:28  |  rich 26/10/08
      55.   # 53, SCARED 10:29  |  indrajaya 26/10/08
      56.   More of the same from the GOP 10:45  |  Danny 26/10/08
      57.   Indrajaya 10:51  |  Yosemite 26/10/08
      58.   Indrajaya 11:01  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 26/10/08
      59.   i disagree its more like mussolini 11:17  |  victor hardman 26/10/08
      60.   # 11 11:33  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 26/10/08
      61.   # 57, YOSEMITE 11:34  |  indrajaya 26/10/08
      62.   Harley Feldham. Not negotiate... 11:36  |  Maureen Ann 26/10/08
      63.   #59 Victor Hardman. Seen America lately? 12:01  |  Maureen Ann 26/10/08
      64.   #63 moaning ann and the economics of boom and bust 12:35  |  victor hardman 26/10/08
      65.   Violence Begot Violence 12:57  |  Ben Lolo 26/10/08
      66.   Ben - enjoy being lonely 13:08  |  Mark Lincoln 26/10/08
      67.   63 Maureen Ann 13:44  |  Ibn Musa 26/10/08
      68.   Obama and the Jews-wait until he gets there 13:44  |  Simon 26/10/08
      69.   funniest line I`ve seen all day 13:55  |  bbl 26/10/08
      70.   #1 Mark Lincoln....good news 13:56  |  Lynn 26/10/08
      71.   Obama`s ideology 14:08  |  Bobolou 26/10/08
      72.   #63 Maureen......it is a "global financial catastrophe" 14:15  |  Lynn 26/10/08
      73.   GOP "Disavowal" - Yeah, sure. 14:20  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 26/10/08
      74.   #66 Mark Lincoln....Murtha has also created 14:28  |  Lynn 26/10/08
      75.   #62 Maureen....no, Obama campaign is not 14:59  |  Lynn 26/10/08
      76.   #63 Maureen Ann....I hate to tell you this 16:54  |  Lynn 26/10/08
      77.   Mainstream did the right thing 17:02  |  American 26/10/08
      78.   #5 Swiss Dino 17:36  |  John Allen 26/10/08
      79.   Disavowal and Harley Feldman 18:47  |  Eli 26/10/08
      80.   Of course McCain approved it 18:52  |  Marilyn 26/10/08
      81.   The ever-handy Hitler 19:01  |  David 26/10/08
      82.   Swiss (Dingbat) Talking About Bigots 19:01  |  Tex 26/10/08
      83.   my response 19:35  |  Penina 26/10/08
      84.   good god this is so dirty 19:36  |  suad 26/10/08
      85.   If a Holocaust were to happen in America ... 19:38  |  Morris Valentine 26/10/08
      86.   To LCC (#73): A stinking correction to your spelling 19:41  |  Morris Valentine 26/10/08
      87.   Obama vote to rise of hitler 19:42  |  milton gitter 26/10/08
      88.   Victor paul harris hardman 19:45  |  Labhras. 26/10/08
      89.   PA GOP Emailing 20:23  |  Warren Guykema 26/10/08
      90.   There is much to fear about a Scialist Obama 20:52  |  Eli 26/10/08
      91.   #79 Eli....people debated Ahmadinejad 21:00  |  Lynn 26/10/08
      92.   #5 Swiss 21:02  |  Joy 26/10/08
      93.   #11 "Rabbi" a vote for Obama is for the Marxist-Islamic alliance 21:06  |  JM 26/10/08
      94.   Mark Lincoln and Tex 21:20  |  Howard 26/10/08
      95.   #89 JM 21:27  |  Howard 26/10/08
      96.   wartime propaganda 21:44  |  kay 26/10/08
      97.   #90 Eli 21:46  |  Howard 26/10/08
      98.   #3 - NY Times link - here`s Chicago-Tribune 22:34  |  Michael B 26/10/08
      99.   # 78 John Allen 22:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/10/08
      100.   #88 labarse of arabia is going to break the habit of alifetime 22:38  |  v.hardman 26/10/08
      101.   # 92 Joy 22:41  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/10/08
      102.   McCaine for Israel P.M. in case he loses in U.S. 22:42  |  Helm of Chelm 26/10/08
      103.   Messenger of Allah 22:52  |  Jameela 26/10/08
      104.   Ugly becomes uglier 22:52  |  Zamarah 26/10/08
      105.   #Lynn. Collapse of US Sub Prime Mortgage Market/Greedy Wall ST. 22:54  |  Maureen Ann 26/10/08
      106.   #90 Eli if you think Obama is a socialist 22:55  |  examiner 26/10/08
      107.   Pa. GOP relates Obama to Hitler 23:17  |  Robert 26/10/08
      108.   # 82 The "Tex-clown" and the "Green party"...... 23:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/10/08
      109.   #102 MOANING ANN AND MORE AND MORE TRIPE 23:54  |  victor hardman 26/10/08
      110.   Small minded liberals 23:56  |  Harley 26/10/08
      111.   #102 Jameela 00:15  |  Howard 27/10/08
      112.   #105 Maureen....why so hot under the collar 00:20  |  Lynn 27/10/08
      113.   An Observation From David Brooks 00:30  |  Mark Lincoln 27/10/08
      114.   #110 Harley 00:33  |  Howard 27/10/08
      115.   #113 Mark Lincoln. 00:50  |  Howard 27/10/08
      116.   Excrement is much better, Morris! 01:02  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 27/10/08
      117.   Another Holocaust? Look to Your Right. 01:09  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 27/10/08
      118.   Examiner - they don`t know what socialist means 01:13  |  Mark Lincoln 27/10/08
      119.   I never knew that Humpty Dumpty was such an autocrat.... 01:25  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 27/10/08
      120.   #112 Lynn. America bites the dust. 01:32  |  Maureen Ann 27/10/08
      121.   #11 - Right on Rabbi 01:46  |  Zamarah 27/10/08
      122.   #79-Eli & #91-Lynn-BO not looking for debate.Watch for his 30.. 01:47  |  PK 27/10/08
      123.   #103 Jameela....sweety, you really should speak 01:48  |  Lynn 27/10/08
      124.   Mark Lincoln...Today I heard what I was 01:59  |  Lynn 27/10/08
      125.   #22-redmike if BO is US Prez victor & is shown to be conman.. 02:02  |  PK 27/10/08
      126.   #121 PK....he said the magic words today 02:03  |  Lynn 27/10/08
      127.   Howard - David Brooks 02:03  |  Mark Lincoln 27/10/08
      128.   #11 Rabbi Islam....yeah, right 02:06  |  Lynn 27/10/08
      129.   Dumping Humpty 02:06  |  Mark Lincoln 27/10/08
      130.   Zamarah 02:12  |  Mark Lincoln 27/10/08
      131.   Four time looser wants one more round 02:17  |  Mark Lincoln 27/10/08
      132.   120 Maureen Ann - Australia has it`s own problems 02:35  |  Ibn Musa 27/10/08
      133.   #118, MarkL, they do not know what socialism means 03:02  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/10/08
      134.   #129, "that`s a great deal to make one word mean" 03:07  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/10/08
      135.   # Ibn Musa. You have your potatoes mashed. 03:47  |  Maureen Ann 27/10/08
      136.   Cipora - Lewis Carrol 05:29  |  Mark Lincoln 27/10/08
      137.   A "correction"??! 05:43  |  MJ 27/10/08
      138.   Diverting attention from the troublesome Palin 07:30  |  Shai 27/10/08
      139.   #136, MarkL, not "childish" 08:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/10/08
      140.   Ad designer has no conscience 14:44  |  Professora Isadora 27/10/08
      141.   Mark Linclon: Do We Know What Occupation Is? 16:53  |  Tex 27/10/08
      142.   Our Lady of the Harbour 16:56  |  Joe 27/10/08
      143.   Ben and Obama`s "socialism" 20:20  |  Janice 27/10/08
      144.   McCain is a fool 00:40  |  Stu 28/10/08
      145.   Let us hope that Barak (derived from the Arabic Barake) Hussien 16:29  |  Gabe Schatz 28/10/08
      146.   Obama - socialism/marxism To Janice 02:17  |  Ben (The Republican) 29/10/08
      147.   More on Socialism to Janice 02:23  |  Ben (Of PA) 29/10/08
      148.   STU: Obama is no fool, but 02:31  |  Ben 29/10/08
      149.   To BBS News - socialists 03:33  |  Ben 29/10/08
      150.   II. Democraticidal propaganda warning. 12:04  |  Egon B.E. Friberger 29/10/08
      151.   Maureen Ann - Surely you must have something 15:22  |  Ibn Musa 29/10/08
      152.   I. Disbalances between `marginal` and `crucial`. 15:45  |  Egon B.E. Friberger 29/10/08
      153.   Swiss Dino 5#, you are still the same old ... 23:35  |  Daniel 29/10/08
      154.   These methods are unworthy for a democratic party 23:48  |  Daniel 29/10/08
      155.   RE 11:Rabbi Izzy Lahm 07:19  |  Psalms/Tehillim 83 30/10/08
      156.   Reverand wrights theology...liberation theology 07:27  |  Galut 30/10/08
      157.   Obama 15:20  |  Patricia Alber 30/10/08
      158.   sarah silvermans of the world 18:51  |  jay 30/10/08
      159.   America Needs Help 19:29  |  Beth 30/10/08
      160.   Obama 19:45  |  Donald A. Rosenberg 30/10/08
      161.   Likening Obama vote to rise of Hitler 20:54  |  Art 30/10/08
      162.   Gentle Obama or Axelrod? 04:02  |  NoToPopActivism 01/11/08
      163.   #11 & #155 08:45  |  JW 02/11/08
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