Clinton Surrogate Compares Obama Ad to Nazi March [Updated]

[Updated Below]
On a media conference call organized by the Hillary Clinton campaign today, Clinton surrogate Len Nichols compared an Obama health care ad to Nazis. The ad features a couple at a kitchen table, which some Clinton supporters said was reminiscent of "the famous insurance-industry-financed 'Harry and Louise' ads against the original Clinton plan," as The Politico reports, and Mr. Nichols said it "personally outraged" him. He continued:

It is as outrageous as having Nazis march through Skokie, [Illinois]... I just find it disgusting that this kind of imagery is being used to attack the only way to get to universal coverage.

Nichols, who worked with the Clinton health care task force, was essentially likening himself and Clinton supporters to the Holocaust survivors who were offended by a proposed Nazi march through their town in 1977. The Politico reports that at the end of the call, a Clinton campaign spokesman "disavowed the Nazi reference, saying the campaign didn't think it was appropriate, though he acknowledged the passions the issue stirs."

Accusing political opponents of Nazism is an outrageous smear. Raising the specter of a Nazi march in response to a health care mailer that evokes the insurance industry is so absurd, it would be hard to take the attack seriously, were it not launched from a high profile national campaign conference call in this crucial stretch of the presidential race. And political observers know, of course, that the Clinton Campaign regularly arranges opportunities for surrogates to launch these kind of smears, which are later followed up with apologies. (See: Bob Johnson, Bill Shaheen, Bob Kerrey, and Francine Torge, to name the most recent offenders.) For his part, Nichols did not immediately return a call requesting further comment.

Hillary Clinton made a point of stressing respect for Obama at Thursday night's debate. It is a shame that she is actually running a campaign that repeatedly smears him and disrespects the voters' ability to see through the facade.

Update: The New America Foundation released a statement from Mr. Nichols this afternoon, listed below in its entirety:

Len Nichols, Director of New America's Health Policy Program, stated, "For nearly 17 years I have worked tirelessly to reform our nation's struggling health system. Today my passion overwhelmed me. I chose an analogy that was wholly inappropriate. I am deeply sorry for any offense that my unfortunate comments may have caused. I made unfortunate comments that do not accurately reflect my bipartisan conviction, political philosophy, or most importantly, my opinions about Senator Obama and his historic campaign for the United States presidency." "While I have consulted with seven former and current presidential candidates, I am not affiliated nor a surrogate for the Clinton campaign, or any other campaign."

"I wholeheartedly appreciate Senator Obama's concern for Americans struggling to afford health insurance and I admire his amazing ability to inspire the nation. In fact, it is my own moral and religious convictions that lead me to believe that it is necessary for our country to guarantee quality, affordable health insurance for all Americans. My foremost priority is to advance the health reform debate by protecting a fact-based discussion."

"The New America Foundation is a non-partisan think tank, that does not endorse or advise any campaign in an official capacity " said Steve Coll, New America's President and CEO. "Len's decision to participate in the call and his comments on the mailer are regrettable. Len is passionate and committed to reforming health care in America, and I know that he sincerely regrets these unfortunate remarks."

Comments

[SeanGardner]

Obama's campaign is "The Third Reich", and Obama is "Adolph Hitler"?

The analogy is truly disgusting. But the Clinton Camp excels at inappropriate analogies - like when Clinton compared Obama to Martin Luther King (the Civil Rights "dreamer"), and herself to Lyndon Johnson (the Civil Rights "do-er").

How can any Clinton backer explain this one away?

I am hoping Obama wins big on SUPER TUESDAY to send a strong message.

[AssyrianPrincess]

Meanwhile, you have Joan "Somebody Gimme a Job in a Hillary Clinton Administration" Walsh over at Salon.com, who apparently has joined right in the effort to equate Obama and Nazis.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/election_2008/2008/02/01/healthcare/index.html

Yeesh... is there anything the Hillary apologists won't do or say to try to get Lady MacBeth elected?

[Nutcase]

Is Obama going to make Social Security optional or privatize it?

cognito ergo populistae

[pbarba1969]

Its amazing how this story gets twisted. Another blogger has quotes from former Edwards people and outside sources that call this ad "groosly unfair", "disgusting" along with several other negative comments about the ad. I notice that you attack him for comparing this to Nazi's marching through Skokie and use that line to automatically discount the fact that the ad is inaccurate and dishonest.

Why didn't you defend the ad and address it to see if it was accurate? I find it really funny how Seanator Obama is caught red handed running a distorted ad, but rather than address the ad you attack the Clinton's for pointing out that is was a misleading attack ad.....

[mito21]

A nazi campaign, What? I am sure the Jewish community will feel great about being compared to a mailer.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

Let's see now. Obama's plan mandates all children be insured whether their parents can afford it or not.

Both plans have subsidies and assistance for people who can't afford it.

Obama has admitted that his plan might have to FINE people who don't buy the insurance and try to game the system when they get sick to get free healthcare. He said they might be forced to back back insurance premiums.

Are you reporting any of this?

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

And why aren't you reporting that on that same conference call a John Edwards campaign adviser said that the Obama campaign was attempting to demonize Clinton with this ad?

Sounds to me like this might make John Edwards throw his support to Clinton now. Universal Healthcare is very important to Edwards. And his plan and Hillary's are almost identical.

[bobdob]

Hillary's plan has ZERO chance of becoming law. It may play well with Democrats, but it's going to need broad bipartisan support in order to make it though Congress. And there is NO WAY the Republicans are ever going to support mandated private health care. It will be blocked in the House, blocked in the Senate and blocked by the courts. We'll still be fighting it out 20 years from now.

If Hillary is the nominee, the Republicans will use this to rip her to shreds and John McCain will be our next president. I can hear the attack ads now: "Hillary Clinton has joined forces with the insurance industry in an attempt to force you to pay thousands of dollars a year for their program of FORCED SOCIALIZED MEDICINE."

The mandate idea is incredibly stupid. This is dead in the water.

[Independent voter]

The clintons are disgusting, perverted people who will do or say anything to get bill back in the White House.

This is just another example of what playing 'nice-nice' with the Dark Queen of Sleeze gets you.

[Lon]

It was a stupid ad though. The Harry and Louise campaign was a disingenuous attempt to derail any kind of health care reform. It is a surprise that the Obama people would want to be seen as aping that commercial in any way. And the picture does seem a conscious attempt to do so.

I'm still solidly with Obama. And the nazi comparison is idiotic in this context. But it was a poorly conceived mailer all around. I was kind of hoping it would turn out that the Obama people didn't actually make it and it was just a dirty trick. But it appears no such luck.

[chagedorn]

Somebody Mrs. Clinton knows said something stupid and insensitive. No kidding? Alert the media. This being American politics, there's stupid lurking behind every door and at the end of every phone line, no matter what side you're on. So let's not get distracted by stupid and caught up in manufactured outrage and keep our eyes on the prize, taking our country back from the REALLY bad guys. I apologize if you think Mrs. Clinton is a "bad guy," I'm not thrilled with her either but she's no Bush, and tearing the Democratic party apart is exactly what the Republican party wants...

[knosiswar]

The problem is, look who she surrounds herself with, example, James Carville, nasty, dispicable creatures, say anything, get nothing done.

[bluestatelib]

That ad is reminiscent of a Nazi march? Huh? That guy needs to up his dosage of Prozac or switch shrinks.

[GnitenGoodLk]

Good. Every time she screws up she's adding another donor/voter to Obamas campaign.

Smear on.

[mommadona]

Ahhhhh - that professional 'victim' card.

Yo, Hill campaign -
Toughen up, dudes and dudettes..
That little scam doesn't work on the locals.

Get those over-the-s­houlder-bo­ulder-hold­ers all nice an' tight - it's gonna be a BUMPy ride.