Not Your Typical Republican Plea

It is in seriously bad form to compare Planned Parenthood to Nazi Germany, to commend Mein Kampf as a picture of the USA today, or to compare indviduals to Nazis or policies to Naziism. Do that enough and you'll find people comparing you to Dr. Ben Carson.

Not as bad is dredging up a Nazi-era quotation, reformulating, and applying it  to a political campaign.  Actually, it can be quite intriguing, as when a retired Colonel and Vietnam veteran, Tom Moe, did a little dirty, and somewhat poignant, work for Ohio Governor John Kasich on Tuesday. Speaking at a media availability in Columbus ahead of a Trump appearance in the same state, Colonel Moe remarked

You might not care if Donald Trump says Muslims must register with their government because you’re not one. And you might not care that Donald Trump says he's going to round up all the Hispanic immigrants because you're not one. And you might not care that Donald Trump says it’s OK to rough up black protesters because you're not one. And you might not care if Donald Trump wants to suppress journalists because you’re not one. But think about this: If he keeps going and he actually becomes president, he might just get around to you, and you better hope that there’s someone left to help you.

This brings to mind the famous quotation from Reverend Martin Niemoller, a Lutheran minister in Germany, who not long after the end of World War II remarked

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

For English poet and Anglican cleric John Donne it was don't ask"for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee" and for the Dalai Lama (in Memphis in 2009, below) it was  "Remember we are all one - all the same." Now  a Kasich supporter is saying much the same thing. Good luck with that, in a Party more partial to the idea "as long as the bell doesn't toll for me, I don't care."













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