As the start date of a potential state government shutdown draws closer, nerves are beginning to fray. A Republican state legislator recently accused a state employee of being complicit in a communist plot after she e-mailed him to express her opposition to the Republican Legislature’s budget cuts. Representative Tom Hackbarth then set a world record for proving Godwin’s Law when he invoked Hitler in the same e-mail reply:
Hitler rose to power using and blaming the jews for the destruction of the German economy. Castro built his army of murderers by blaming the rich bankers and capitalist for destroying Cuba and taking advantage of the Cuban people. Hummmm?
Hackbarth has a reputation for being a generally unpleasant person. He was stripped of a committee chairmanship after he was caught with a loaded gun in a Planned Parenthood parking lot a few months ago. Given his history, juvenile outbursts like this are to be expected. The rest of the GOP caucus hasn’t been very forthcoming with thoughts on their colleague’s intemperate remarks, which I suppose is also to be expected.
