The Nazi death camp that Barack Obama's great-uncle helped liberate

Barack Obama, at a Memorial Day event in Las Cruces, N.M., credited his great-uncle, Charlie Payne, as being among the U.S. troops who liberated the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.

The trouble with that bit of history -- as the Republican National Committee pointed out today -- is that the Soviet Red Army was the military force that liberated the World War II death camp.

The RNC seized the opportunity to fire off a news release, saying that “unless his uncle was serving in the Red Army, there’s no way Obama’s statement yesterday can be true. Obama’s frequent exaggerations and outright distortions raise questions about his judgment and his readiness to lead as commander in chief.”

The Obama campaign soon acknowledged that the Democratic candidate made a mistake. It explained that Obama’s great-uncle was in the 89th Infantry Division that helped liberate another notorious death camp, Buchenwald. Obama, the campaign said, “is proud of the service of his grandfather and uncles in World War II -- especially the fact that his great-uncle was part of liberating of one of the concentration camps at Buchenwald.”

All of which raises the question: What's worse, Obama's apparent gaffe or the RNC pouncing on a Holocaust-related historical mistake for political advantage?

-- Stuart Silverstein

Comments

[Michelle]

Candidates make gaffes all the time. The Obama campaign admitted the mistake.

I actually think this gaffe may actually HELP Obama in the long run. Sure he made a mistake but this mistake may HIGHLIGHT the fact that Obama's family is not so "foreign" and "unAmerican" as the GOP is trying to portray him as.

Instead Obama has WWII HEROES in his family his great uncle who helped to liberate the Jews in Europe.

I think the MORE people learn about Obama's family particularly the caucasian side, the less "scared' Americans will be about Obama.

[shirlin]

The Republicans should be ashamed of themselves. Obama's family member did help in WW2 liberate Jews from the death camps. Try speaking 24 hrs a day for the last 18 months publicly with folks out to knee cap you each second and see if you won't make an occasional mistake. Watch McCain confuse Shii's and Sunis, etc.But the Republicans are like the Clintons--without shame.

[keith]

Tie for first place by both sides I think.

If BO was really as into this event as he claims, he would probably know the right camp. Some staffer dug this up, would hate to be sitting in that person's chair right now, if they are even able to sit.

As for the RNC, not very deft, and really sets the table for McCain's (Mr Economy-challenged) weaknesses to be laid bare, which I guess they would be anyway. This may promise to be the most ham-fisted presidential race ever.

Politics is about undressing your opponent as much as you can, always has been, always will be, there is nothing that will ever change that.

[Mark]

Would it matter more if his uncle was at Auschwitz rather than Buchenwald? Unless his uncle was somewhere in Kansas during the war, that will be something.

[aw]

his great-uncle?

sheeshhh...talk about deep dredging!!!...

yea...Barack and Michelle..keep dredging!...

SHEESH..

[peter]

I wish the Might Outrage Machine which is poised to go after things like this could spend its time going after truely outrageous things - like FOX commentators who joke about "knocking off" Obama.

That is #1 on YouTube right now... but the echo machine in the media is oddly quiet. Shameful.

[jo]

If Hillary said what Obama said the mdeia and part of the democratic party would jump all over her and we'd never hear the end of this. But Obama makes stuff up and lies and it's perfectly okay with them. This is why Obama will lose to McCain in November!

[Adi]

That's what I call misspeaking. It happens to anyone that you get names mixed up, you use the wrong word or you refer to the wrong person. As long as the facts don't change, it's an honest mistake. It's not like he invented a whole lot of sniper fire and a dramatic landing.

What the GOP tried to do is disgusting and in fact might end up backfiring on them. They certainly helped get the word out that Obama's great-uncle is a war hero.

[Joe]

Wait? You mean Obama's relatives weren't Commies? Somebody tell Hannity!

[Joe]

Wait? You mean Obama's relatives weren't Commies? Somebody tell Hannity!

[Mary]

The media can hype Clinton's one remark on RFK's primary race until it is a bigger story than the China Earthquake. But let's give Obama a pass on every stupid utterance (and there have been many). Pleeeeeease!

[Jakes]

What is the point of all of this. We just need a new political party, and we need to stop having such stupid articles. I swear this is a Brittany Spearsesque blog. Why don't we talk issues...?

Waste our time?!!!?

[Matt]

The RNC is absolutely correct. This just serves to demonstrate how Obama's clearly deliberate outright distortions raise questions about his ability to lead the country. Republicans are much better at hiding their distortions.

[tomg]

Buchenwald was the sister camp to Auschwitz. TIME TO SEND ANOTHER $25 to Obama

[Jim]

Stuart,

Hmmm, now wait a minute. Who is it exactly who is trying to use the Holocaust for political gain? Who is it who is basking in the reflected glory of the liberators of the death camps? Uh - I believe that would be Senator Obama. I don't see how you can fault the RNC for pointing out that his statement was inaccurate (though it's not clear to me that his factual error is a great calamity).

[Gregory Plante]

Please. He is an empty suit looking for anything that can legitimize himself. He keeps talking about everyone else around him that is great because he has no significant accomplishments himself. This guy is a serious clown that has more "gaffes" than accomplishments.

[DCam]

For all those RNC'ers "pouncing" on this, I'd like to see how many people (of any party) knew which armies liberated which camps before Obama's comment. It's not relevant to today's campaign and America's future.

[tired of the media]

So when Obama misspeaks its an honest mistake, and the evil RNC are attacking him, but when McCain or Clinton misspeak its all a part of their long string of lies and part of the machine...grow up, he embellished, was called on it, and takes the wrist slapping...move on

[RB Wagoner]

It is amazing how quick you are to excuse Senator Obama. He also said that there are 57 states??? If a conservative makes a slip there is no forgiveness but a liberal can make a slip and they are only human. Just treat everyone fair.

[Joe Merican]

Did the RNC mention that Bush's grandfather Prescott Bush was a financier of Hitler's Third Reich, who had his assets frozen by congress for Trading with the Enemy due to his backing of the Nazis?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/25/usa.secondworldwar

[BL]

Charlie Payne was probably a relative of Jeremia wright.WAKE UP AMERICANS, this guy lies about everything. ASK him why he DID NOT vote for the invasion of IRAQ. Maybe because its a MUSLIM country.If you americans want a President like the one who sat for 20 years and absorbed all of that garbage and cannot denouce him, you are as sick as he is.....

[Susan Powers]

It's just a little hypocritical, Clinton makes a mistake and she's a beotch, Obama makes a mistake and it's... ok. If he was going to get praise on the backs of his forefathers he should have known the details.

[Mary]

Does the RNC really want to open this topic up for discussion? At least Obama's relative really existed and did help liberate a Nazi death camp. Anyone remember the speeches when Reagan the Great Communicator cited an act of heroism in which a U.S. Navy pilot won the Congressional Medal of Honor. The incident he referred to was part of a movie, but Reagan remembered it as real life.

[Devesion]

It is sad to see our government point out more negatives then positives. This is an example...

[joe]

Was it the same campaign pogue that had little Al Gore sitting around the dinner table singing the "Union Label" song fifteen years before it was written?