NEW RULE

President-Elect Obama merits respect.

Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA): “It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is, he's the one who proposed this national security force. I'm just trying to bring attention to the fact that we may -- may not, I hope not -- but we may have a problem with that type of philosophy of radical socialism or Marxism. That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did. When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist. We can't be lulled into complacency. You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential.”

Respect should be assumed. President-Elect Obama won. His margin was substantial. His congressional majority expanded. His senatorial majority expanded. Republicans should acquiesce. Instead, we compare President-Elect Obama, Communists, and Nazis.

President-Elect Obama and I disagree. However, he is not a communist. He is not a nazi. He is not a socialist. These assertions are putrid, repugnant, and vile. President-Elect Obama’s ideas are different. His patriotism is not. Dictator comparisons are inappropriate. They illustrate our incompetence.

The campaign is concluded. The rhetoric must cease. America has problems. Americans need solutions. If Republicans cooperate, they will succeed. If Congressman Broun epitomizes them, Republicans will be a permanent minority.