Cohen Apologizes for His Comments

NJDC — January 20, 2011 – 2:38 pm | Abusive Holocaust Rhetoric | Democrats Comments (1) Add a comment

Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN) issued an apology for his comments that reintroduced Holocaust references into the debate over health care reform. Cohen said:

While I regret that anything I said has created an opportunity to distract from the debate about health care for 32 million Americans, I want to be clear that I never called Republicans Nazis.  Instead, the reference I made was to the greatest propaganda master of all time.  Propaganda, which is called “messaging” today, can be true or false.  In this case, the message is false. 

I would certainly never do anything to diminish the horror of the Nazi Holocaust as I revere and respect the history of my people.  I sponsored legislation which created one of the first state Holocaust Commissions in America and actively served as a Commission member for over 20 years.  I regret that anyone in the Jewish Community, my Republican colleagues or anyone else was offended by the portrayal of my comments.  My comments were not directed toward any group or people but at the false message and, specifically, the method by which is has been delivered.

It is disappointing that my comments have been used to distract from the health care reform debate.   It is my hope that we can return our focus to the matter at hand-health care for 32 million Americans.

The National Jewish Democratic Council welcomes the apology from our friend.

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