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

[Ryan]

I too find it interesting how Obama now needs Jewish vote this great uncle appears out of his hat. Apparantly, it was such an impact that he couldn't remember the correct name of the camp.

[Joel Glidden]

I don't even know the names of any of my great uncles. Perhaps Obama just forgot how to pronounced Buchenwald? ;-).

It'd be pretty funny if the RNC tried to really publicize this.

[Ben]

Obama is a fool and those of you that follow him are fools. Everyone says that he is a great speaker? So What!? So was Hitler.

WAKE UP PEOPLE. If you think he is going to bring all this Grand Change your kidding yourselves. I support HIllary but if she isnt the Nominee I will be voting for McCain.

We know nothing about Obama, he has a secret agenda and it doesnt include you white folks.

[Mike Deuerling]

Bull, a person doesn't forget that he didn't even have an uncle. This guy is slick. But the Blacks and the Eggheads aren't going to be enough.

[reader]

At least he doesn't lie as much as Hillary.

[Billium1953]

Give Obama a break. He was tired after visiting all 57 states and was taken aback by seeing dead people in the audience. What a moron.

[Michael]

It's nice to hear some member of Obama's family served in the military but what has that to do to show Obama has leadership skills? Sounds like Obama is reaching for straws to show some kind of military background. Why doesn't he talk about what he has done in his life?

[Delores Wright,]

Why is it so important for the newsreporters to report every little thing that is said on the campain trail? Its as if the newsmedia is trying to elect their own President, the reporters distort the facts to make their point, it doesent matter if its true or not. You have a lot of sway with the public, and should be careful what you print/say.

[Greg]

When you look beyond the political battles between both sides, it's hard to miss that Senator Obama is just not experienced enough to be President. His candidacy would be a sequel to the horrible presidency of Jimmy Carter that was the electorate's anti-Nixon, anti-GOP temper tantrum. Don't make the same mistake twice. Thoroughly read his positions and you'll see that it's definitely not what America needs at this time.

[Fred]

Hey! Who said Obama has to be correct? Hey if you expect correctnessm you're going to have to got back 15 months or so and vet EVERYTHING this light weight empty suit has said.

And wait a minute... was he telllng THIS lie to take advantage of something the White side of his family did in WWII? Hmmmmmm That does nto square with the vapid, racist, Marxist books he wrote, does it....maybe he just has HILLARYITUS
( Just tell a convenient lie and hope nobody notices...)

[Daniel]

The RNC and Clinton's campaign are just desperate for anything they could possible use against him.

Wow, he made a frivolous mistake that really doesn't alter his statement in the least. He stated the wrong camp, wow. His uncle still liberated a death camp.

Is this the best they can manage? Obama could pounce on so many McCain gaffes if and when he decides to. But he will never rely on negative politicizing like this.

[Hobo Joe]

If the media had treated Obama the way they treated Hillary, Obama woulf be sucking in Hillary's exhaust.

[Ice cold conservative]

Obama is a joke. Totally inexperienced. I have more experience managing something than this guy does...c'mon....

[Adam]

Seems that in Obama's world, you can say whatever sounds good. If no one catches the fact that it's not true, then horray for you! You've brought hope to the people! But if your opponent points out that you're wrong, all you have to do is say, "Gosh, I'm sorry" and your opponent automatically becomes "the bad guy" for having the audacity to correct you. Nice.

I'm an independant who usually votes dem, but I find it ridiculous that this columnist is trying to fault the republicans for pointing out a real inaccuracy. Whether or not doing so was to their political advantage is totally irrelevant. Obama made a mistake. They pointed it out. Get over it. At least they told the truth themselves for once.

And as far as Obama goes, if you're going to take an obscure bit of family trivia about a distant relative you've never even met, and use it to your own political advantage - you sure as hell better get your facts straight first. Otherwise, you just look like a fool.

[judith F.Anderson]

It would seem to me that Obama is clamoring for some claim fo fame in his backgound. Specifics seem to get him a lot so why does he pursue that line of information? We all know that the media will check on everything and let them be specific instead of making riduculous gaffs which only make him appear to be inseach of glory. I find it difficult to believe that a person could make such an error about family heroics...that's not a good thing , in my opinion.

[McCain is Bush]

McCain confused Sunni with Shites. Obama cited Buchenwald instead of Auschwitz. Same thing? Hardly!!
The RNC without adequate checking besmirched the reputation of a war hero. What a great bunch of losers. Who will come forward from the RNC and lay claim to this hack job?

[jp]

Ok. So here is a RANDOM THOUGHT...um Obama picks Powell for VP and there is a historic landslide election.....I am sure Powell is looking for vindication after his hawkish ex-colleagues yet best friends Cheney and Rumsfeld did him in.

[Gabe]

It's not so much that Obama made a mistake, but rather his ignorance of one of the most important aspects of WW2 and the Holocaust that causes concern. The picture that emerges is that the mistake comes from ignorance of Jews and the Holocaust, which raises questions regarding the depth of his understanding of the Holocaust and the importance of a secure Israel to Jews.

[Jules James]

It troubles me that my fellow Americans so scream "LIAR" at eachother. We are all patriots. We all love America. None of us are perfect, none of our candidates are perfect. The DNC and RNC do disservice to us all by issuing attack propoganda and stoking the fires toward hatred. America will almost certainly survive the presidencies of McCain, Clinton or Obama. But it might not survive the angry I've been reading. It certainly won't thrive.

[Ben]

Funny how they will only post pro Obama statements and the ones in support of Hillary never make it on here. Hmmmmm...

[Andrea Hall]

You're kidding, right?

[hansel]

only hillary is able to speak with forked tongue and get away with it period.

[Jules James]

It troubles me that my fellow Americans so scream "LIAR" at eachother. We are all patriots. We all love America. None of us are perfect, none of our candidates are perfect. The DNC and RNC do disservice to us all by issuing attack propoganda and stoking the fires toward hatred. America will almost certainly survive the presidencies of McCain, Clinton or Obama. But it might not survive the angry I've been reading. It certainly won't thrive.

[Anon]

Fred,
You are an idiot! Obama simply said the wrong name of a concentration camp. There were many concentrations camps throughout Germany and German occupied areas. It is clear to everyone with a brain that it is easy to make the mistake in name, and not in the action - they were all still concentration camps!

The RNC is full of a bunch of fools to capitalize on such a misnomer. Does Obama 's saying of the wrong name change the fact that it was a concentration camp? At least TRY to use logic & reasoning.

[Pam]

Mr. Silverstein, Obama credited his uncle not his great uncle for liberating the Jewish people at Auschwitz. Obama don't have an uncle; his mother do not have a brother. He is crediting people (his uncle) that does not exist and recalling history (American army military force liberated Auschwitz) that does not exist . It is not possible for someone to recall people and events that does not exist, unless he is making up a story. Obama is clearly lying.