Limbaugh compares Obama's new healthcare logo to Nazi swastika

Godwin’s Law states that the longer a debate goes on, the probability of a comparison to Nazis or Hitler rises.  It seems the debate over healthcare is no exception.

Over the last few days, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) has repeatedly accused people at a recent protest against President Obama's healthcare reform of wearing swastikas and SS symbols -- a claim that was later bolstered by a series of photographs. 

"I think they’re AstroTurf, you be the judge," said Pelosi. "They’re carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on healthcare."

Perennial Obama critic and conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh was quick to respond to the accusations, arguing today on his radio show that it was in fact the Democrats who were using Nazi symbolism to advance their agenda.  He cited a post on the conservative blog Sweetness & Light that compares Obama's new healthcare logo -- a combination of his campaign logo and the ancient Greek symbol of medicine -- to the Nazi swastika symbol.

“They accuse of us being Nazis, and Obama's got a healthcare logo that's right out of Adolf Hitler's playbook,” said Limbaugh.

Limbaugh then proceeded to describe the ways Democrats are like Nazis -- a list that included their dedication to animal rights and their opposition to smoking and pollution.

Well, the Nazis were against big business -- they hated big business. And of course we all know that they were opposed to Jewish capitalism. They were insanely, irrationally against pollution. They were for two years mandatory voluntary service to Germany. They had a whole bunch of make-work projects to keep people working, one of which was the Autobahn. They were against cruelty and vivisection of animals, but in the radical sense of devaluing human life, they banned smoking. They were totally against that. They were for abortion and euthanasia of the undesirables, as we all know, and they were for cradle-to-grave nationalized healthcare.

What do you think? Is Obama's new healthcare logo really a symbolic reference to Nazism?

--Brendan Bigelow

Photo: The Nazi swastika, left, as it appeared at the Mauthausen death camp (credit: Simon Wiesenthal Center) compared to Obama's new healthcare logo, right.

Comments

[Valerie]

Democrats or I should rephrase socialist democrats are far more like Hitler then any American protesting Socialized health care...the symbols are very similar in many ways and with Obama enlisting a "flag@whitehouse.gov" website to turn in our neighbors and fellow americans is HORRIBLE AND UN AMERICAN....SHAME SHAME SHAME on my democratic party for supporting this. If we don't stand up Obama is going to ruin our great democratic party...

[bill]

Yes, it's horrific that Obama is asking citizens to turn in people who speak out against him. I don't think I need to remind anyone what this says about the messiah's presidency and what our country is in for.

[frieda]

I migrated to US from a communist country, and I am very sensitive to use of logos..and I actually have been surprised to see Obama's admin has a Logo person on hand at all times. They are very quick to product them, so in that sense, they remind me of back home... I don't know about Hitlar although he was found of his logo a lot!

[Neil]

No.

[Correcting Observer]

Just from an artistic standpoint you either have to be Rush or just another person high on cocaine at the time to see a resemblance. Last time I checked it was nut job religious republicans that banned marijuana stating lies that it causes people to become violent and rape. Hell before that they tried to ban alcohol... yeah that went well; it lead to the greatest crime spree ever to hit America. It seems like these idiots who call themselves republicans really need to stop with the BSing and start doing some factual research on things. Using hate symbols, propaganda, and scare tactics can only work so long, until the people realize they been lied to. Once that happens I take our founder Thomas Jefferson's approach. Revolt! Revolt to ensure the liberties and freedoms for all not just the insane and wealthy religious few.

[Skip]

Valerie, that has got to be the absolute worst attempt at pretending to be a Democrat that I have ever seen.

[JM Hanes]

Mr. Malcolm:

The photo series you linked to hardly bolsters claims of swastika sporting protesters!

In the first photo the swastika is overlayed with a "no smoking" type red slash. It's impossible to see what the message on the letter-sized piece of paper in the second photo even says, and the really big, in your face swastikas in the third photo were being carried by anti-Bush protesters.

This is hardly the stuff of white supremacists and right wing nazi wannabes that Pelosi was clearly trying to evoke.

[shyeah right]

That's about as convincing as saying the Rush looks like the Michelin man.

[EricTheRed]

Mr. Bigelow, the angle of your piece is completely off. It shouldn’t be focused on Rush Limbaugh’s statement, but rather on Nancy Pelosi’s irresponsible and hypocritical statements. First, the Washington Times piece you link to as a “smoking gun” provides not a “series” of photos, but two. One of those photos doesn’t even have a swastika, but the “SS” sign, which doesn’t even refer to Obama anyway.

Second, do you not realize that the very Wash Times piece you cite provides are links to no less than six photos comparing Bush, the U.S., or Israel to Nazis, complete with swastikas and other relevant symbols? These posters are shown by left-wing protesters right in Pelosi’s home district of San Francisco. Dozens more can be found at watchdog sites like http://zombietime.com/, many of which were shown in SF. Has Pelosi ever denounced these displays? Don’t know. You didn’t tell us.

Furthermore, Democrats’ claims that protestors are “Astroturf” is a lie (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/08/a-first-hand-view-of-a-raucous-town-hall-meeting.html), yet curiously all of the aforementioned left-wing protests are peppered with the professionally printed signs of ANSWER, Code Pink, and other organizations.

Finally, you’d benefit from educating yourself a little before mocking Rush Limbaugh’s statements about the Nazis, which are all correct and historically accurate.
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[JO Pro]

I don't like the fact that it incorporates the OBAMA symbol and not an USA symbol...

[tlsmith1963]

Republicans, I am really getting tired of all your hateful garbage! Get over yourselves, please! Your disruptions of town hall meetings are pathetic. You are acting like children. If you don't like Obama's health care plan, then come up with your own. That would be a lot more productive than what you are doing. Stop listening to that idiot Glenn Beck & actually do something to help this country. Beck needs to be in a padded cell, anyway. He needs mental help.

[john gundrum]

this whold healthcare thing amazes me. there are 5 bills floating around, obama hasn't read any of them, he's telling us what we need when he doesn't even know what's in the bills. the democrats want to just pass something, and worry about the details later. Obama wanted to get this thing passed before the recess. thanks to the blue dogs he didn't. now he's seeing how the american people feel about his plan. His backers are getting drilled in the town hall meetings and they deserve it. bad press for the administration but a blessing for the american people.

[Nannette]

The fact is, the longer we debate this left/right paradym, the longer those who really pull the strings, can get away with the demolition of the constitution. Let's question everything. There is no denying that something is awry ~ neither party is doing their job. And both parties are full of corruptness, inefficient, wasteful, and rich. There are satanic and Nazi symbolism all over America and especially when talking about the government. WAKE UP AMERICA! Turn off the TV, watch what your reps are voting for, make them accountable, uphold and defend the constitution, no matter what. DO NOT GO BACK TO SLEEP! Find out what's really going on ~ www.infowars.com !

[marty mcentire]

thats just like republicans all they know is scare tacticsfron the treaded color terrorist level to you going to lose everything,the ex dope head head Rush is good to lead the republicans he will never lose his health care making over 30 million a year

[ragged soul]

LMAO ... The fascist calls the liberal a Nazi. What's the matter Rush? You behind on Zionist favours?

[Rayfield Campbell]

I think the Far right are acting like fools at these Town Hall meetings. It's alright to disagree, but to act uncivil is inexcusable. One Senator has already had death threats and one senator was hung in effigy ( I hope I spelled that right.)

I think people attending these events should act with a little of decorum.

[Ben]

Seriously?!? This is obviously a low-blow from Rush Limbaugh. He couldn't get more creative and compare the symbol to something besides Hitler? Maybe if Rush had a real job like most Americans and made "next-to-nothing" for a hard days work, he might not have so much free time to sit around and think about what he can use as meaningless Republican propoganda. I can see why health care reform is not high on the list of a wealthy radio personality. He probably has excellent coverage, but comparing health reform to Naziism is simply ridiculous! I hope America does not fall for this shameless propoganda!

[Angie]

The Cadeusus is NOT a symbol of the Nazi's. the only similarit is that both have a bird (eagle). Following this logic then the grat seal is also a symbolizm of the Nazis.

Have fun with that Rush!

[Marty A.]

I don't think it is about anything to do with Nazi simbolisim, but more to do about his own brand, kindda like Oprah everything has to have her "O" initial and now Obama has to put his "O", I think congress needs to intervine here and inforce the law and regulations regarding National Brands, shields and such.

[Robert]

Are you guys all morons?! The symbol on the website is called the Caduceus. It is a traditional Greek symbol long used in North American as a representation for the practice of medicine. If you open your eyes you will see it all around you in Hospitals, professional medical buildings and in the yellow pages. Wake up people and stop being led around like a bunch of sheep by racists like Limbaugh, Beck and the Fox News Crew.

[Mike Adkison]

No, not like a Nazi symbol, but it is certainly a bastardization of our beautiful American flag. Look at it; the red and white stripes of our flag laying horizontal, as if our flag is laying on the ground. It looks like Obama and his communist version of the yellow brick road. Walking along and all over our flag to arrrive at his socialist objectives. And it looks a lot like the old Pepsi logo. The designers have no clue at all about how to show respect for our flag, but maybe subliminaly they are showing the flag on the ground being walked on. Way to go Obastard!

[Tak]

No way. Rush's previous drug addiction permanently altered his state of perception.

Don't forget, American people, Obama's plan is for a SINGLE-PAYER system, not for socialized medicine! 2 years ago I moved from Wisconsin to Ontario. I sincerely applaud the single-payer system in Ontario. Nobody is denied coverage. I get to choose my doctor from all -- this wasn't the case with my HMO in the Wisconsin! Obama is right to put a cap on the outright lies being spread by ignorant and shallow "journalists".

[John]

The Martist Party (oh, I forgot, the Democrat party) has NO ONE to blame about the state of the ecomony but yourselves. You know Czar Barak I was a Marxtist and you voted for him anyway! Do I believe Obama is as dangerous at Hitler- YES!!!

[Amy]

I am a seasoned graphic designer and I can definitly see the similarities between the 2 examples.

What I don’t like nor appreciate is that the Presidential “in-house” artist uses the same graphics used in the Obama campaign and Obama-EVERYTHING!

Let’s see a little originality–focused on the entire country, not just Obama, for gosh sakes!

[AreYouKiddingMe]

If anyone thinks that logo is NAZI inspired, they are directly insulting SEVERAL branches of the US military, one being the MARINES for one. Also, the symbol in his healthcare logo is AGES old. It's been around since WAY before Hitler.

Shame on Limbaugh and anyone who believes him. The reporter shouldn't even ASK. Where the HELL was your research? I'm 27 and I've known the origins of that symbol since before I was a teen.

And lastly, calling each other "nazis" is vile and disgusting rhetoric. Those people at those townhall meetings are PAID to be there. They could care less.

And if you hate "socialized" medicine so much, give me back my money for paying for your old, decrepit behind.