Carl Paladino: Hitler is "the kind of leader we need today. We need somebody inspirational."

[brooklynite]

Media Matters

Republican congressional candidate Carl Paladino appeared on a radio program last year and claimed that New York needs someone like Adolf Hitler to lead it. In the newly unearthed remarks, Paladino said he'd recently heard someone talk about how Hitler had “aroused the crowds” -- and he commented that “that's the kind of leader we need today. We need somebody inspirational. We need somebody that is a doer, has been there and done it.”

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the third-ranked Republican in the House, has endorsed Paladino’s campaign, calling him a “friend” and “conservative outsider who will be a tireless fighter.”

Paladino is a businessman and Republican politician who has appeared as a commentator on media outlets, including Fox News and Fox Business. He also briefly hosted a podcast. Paladino announced his congressional campaign for New York’s 23rd Congressional District last week after Republican Rep. Chris Jacobs dropped his reelection bid.

Paladino has a long history of making toxic and bigoted remarks. Media Matters reported earlier this week that he shared a post on Facebook portraying the recent mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, as false flag attacks meant to help Democrats “revoke the 2nd amendment and take away guns.” The post also claimed “the Texas shooter was receiving hypnosis training” apparently under the direction of the CIA.

nb: this is why I give Media Matters/American Bridge money; they dig up a lot of dirt on Republican candidates and know how to feed it out.

[Turbineguy]

1. Wayne Lapierre has killed just as many Americans as Hitler.

Perhaps more. Maybe he would do.

[gldstwmn]

2. They want fascism. They're advancing their cause pretty successfully.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

3. Please assure me this loon has no chance of being elected.

Kudos to Media Matters for exposing this.

[ZonkerHarris]

4. It's a big red district in northern NY. He will win.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

5. Ahhhhh!

Not what I was hoping to hear.

But I won't shoot the messenger. Thank you for the information--despite how depressing it is to hear.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. The Republicans haven't chosen their candidate yet - their state GOP chair is running too

Two candidates have emerged as early contenders among the Republican primary field — Carl Paladino, a Buffalo businessman who was the party’s gubernatorial nominee in 2010, and Nick Langworthy, the state GOP Chairman.

Paladino quickly picked up the endorsement of 21st District Rep. Elise Stefanik, the No. 3-ranking Republican in the House. He has since come under fire for sharing a conspiracy-laden Facebook post suggesting a mass shooting in Buffalo and other mass killings were part of a plot to take away people’s guns, according to the Associated Press. A gunman from Broome County killed 10 people at a Buffalo Tops supermarket last month in what investigators say was a racially motivated attack.

https://eu.stargazette.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/06/09/ny-23-special-congressional-election-includes-republican-joe-sempolinski/7566953001/

Though since Langworthy is called "one of Trump’s most loyal allies" here, he may be no better: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215033087

[Retrograde]

7. Western and southern NY, actually

South of Buffalo and running much of the length of the NY/PA border: much of it is real redneck country. The current rep, a Republican, decided not to run after the NYS GOP said he was soft on guns. Palladino carried this area when he ran for governor some years back.

The GOP is really trying to find the bottom and keep digging past it.

[ZonkerHarris]

13. To those of us from NYC anything above Westchester is Northern NY

[brooklynite]

9. Not necessarily....

He's one of five candidates in the Republican Primary.

A lot of Buffalo people got tired of Paladino's antics a while back.

[ZonkerHarris]

14. I thought he was already the party nominee for the seat. My bad. Fingers crossed he loses.

[Novara]

8. Not EVEN pretending anymore.

[rubbersole]

10. And that is extremely disturbing. n/t

[Warpy]

11. OMG WTF BBQ

Carl, you goddamned fool, if you want inspiration GO TO CHURCH. Ir's not what government is for.

Government is there to do a JOB, running the country, providing defense, helping people when they need it.

Wanting to turn it over to some genocidal maniac just so you can feel INSPIRED is against everything this country has stood for over the last 233 years, since the constitution encoded our rights and responsibilities.

Oh, and don't piss and moan because some people go to a different place to get inspired. We have that right, too.

(what an ignorant jackass this guy is. I hope the Hitler crack makes him lose by a landslide)

[Blue Owl]

12. Eat shit and die, Nazi fuck

[andym]

15. Springtime for Paladino?

[IngridsLittleAngel]

16. They've believed this for a long time...

They just don't hide it anymore. They don't think they have to. They think we're on the verge of the "Final Solution." And, of course... "Drumpf's president! We don't have to be afraid anymore!"

Told everyone that was a threat. And now, here we are.

When Nazis tell you who they are... believe them.