WEIRD SIMILARITIES: Hitler/Obama, a Comparison; Pt. 2
by John DeGroff
Clash Daily Contributor
In part 1 of this article, we dealt with similarities in the origins, parents and activities such as writing and public speaking of Hitler and Obama. Part 2 focuses on their perspective rise to power, inner circles and style of governing.
#6. Both came into power following an unpopular previous government.
Hitler came to power near the end of the Weimar Republic, established in 1919 after WWI to replace the old Imperial form of government. It was very unpopular due to hyper-inflation, civil unrest and a contentious relationship with Germany’s former WWI enemies. The Weimar Republic did succeed somewhat in not paying all the war reparations required under the Treaty of Versailles, nor did it completely disarm the military. The Great Depression of 1929 further weakened the currency and created vast unemployment.
The Nazi party was able to use all of this to eventually have Hitler installed as Chancellor by 1933
Obama followed the presidency of George W. Bush, whose approval ratings had dropped below 40% by the end of his second term. The 2008 financial crisis, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and hurricane Katrina are only part of what made Bush unpopular even among some Republicans.
In spite of the fact that Obama was largely unknown, with no record of any real accomplishments, he was viewed as a fresh start. The mantra of Hope And Change, along with the idea that by electing the first black president America would show it’s not a racist country after all, helped sweep Obama into office.
#7. Economic Policy
When Hitler came to power in 1933, the German economy was in ruins. Inflation, unemployment and the Great Depression before that all had a hand in the Nazi rise.
Hitler instituted a form of closed economy known as autarky, designed to make Germany self sufficient. Projects such as the Autobahn and the development of an affordable “people’s car” (i.e. The Volkswagen) did help the economy some, but not enough. By 1939 and the outbreak of war, Germany was running huge deficits.
Hitler’s, and therefore Nazi ideology, put any blame for economic woes squarely on the Jews (and Communists to a lesser extent.)
Obama’s economic view is seemingly based on classic Socialism. How many times have you ever heard an American president say things like “…we need to spread the wealth around” or “I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money.” (April 29, 2010)
Our unemployment rate, officially, is 6.1% (Aug. 2014). In California, it’s 7.4%. The unofficial unemployment rate is estimated as high as 20% nationwide. An estimated 47 million Americans receive food stamps or some other form of government assistance. Add to all this, our national debt is close to 18 TRILLION. Before Obama came to power, how many times have you ever heard the word “trillion” and it didn’t have something to do with astronomy?
For both Hitler and Obama, neither of whom entered office with any real world, hands-on business experience, economic issues are merely philosophy. Both had programs that did some good, but not enough on a national scale. And both allowed ideology to trump economic realities.
#8. Inner Circle/Associates
It’s been said that if you really want to know a man’s character, look at whom he associates with. Here is partial list of members of each man’s inner circle and associates. Space only allows for a thumb nail sketch of each.
Hitler’s inner circle:
Rudolph Hess: Hess was Hitler’s Deputy Fuhrer. Hitler dictated Mein Kamf to him while both were in prison. Hess flew solo to England in 1941 to negotiate a peace. The mission failed and Hess was captured. He died in Spandau Prison in 1987. He was a life long hypochondriac and was considered to be somewhat psychotic.
Martin Bormann: Bormann was Hitler’s private secretary. He had previously served a year in prison as an accomplice to murder. He created an extensive bureaucracy around the Nazi leadership. He was also strongly anti-Christian and was one of the architects of the Final Solution.
Joseph Goebbles: Goebbles was Hitler’s propaganda minister. Initiated the book burnings and censorship. Was an ardent Nazi from the beginning of the party and was extremely anti-Semitic.
Heinrich Himmler: Himmler was the leader of the SS and the Gestapo. Created the concentration camps and the extermination camps. Was a student of the occult and mysticism, and advanced Aryan superiority theories.
Herman Goring: Goring was an ace WWI fighter pilot. Due to an injury, he became a morphine addict. He eventually claimed responsibility for the Reichstag fire at the beginning of the Nazi regime. He liked to wear elaborate, tailor made uniforms, and was occasionally seen wearing make up. During the war, he stole vast amounts of property and art work from conquered areas.
Albert Speer: He was known as Hitler’s favorite architect and was responsible for war time munitions production. He employed vast amounts of slave labor in these efforts. He is the only one of Hitler’s inner circle to admit any responsibility and to die of natural causes after serving prison time.
Obama’s inner circle:
Bill Ayers: Ayers is well known as the co-founder of the Weather Underground, a communist revolutionary group. He participated in bombing the U.S. Capital, the Pentagon, and the NYPD headquarters. His relationship with Obama is controversial, but is said to have helped start Obama’s political career.
Jeremiah Wright: He is the (former) Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, whose teaching is based on Black Liberation Theology. Obama claimed Wright was his pastor for 20 years. Wright became known for the video of his “G-D America!” sermon.
Timothy Geithner: Geithner was Obama’s Secretary of the Treasury until 2013. It was made public that, prior to this appointment, Geithner cheated on his taxes.
Van Jones: Jones was Obama’s Special Advisor for Green Jobs (or “Green Czar”). He was appointed in March 2009, but resigned in September 2009 after his arrest record and controversial political activities became known.
Valerie Jarrett: She is the assistant to the president and one of his most senior advisors. She is a wealthy Chicago business woman, rumored to have been involved in questionable real estate deals. She has been with Obama since the beginning of his political career.
Eric Holder: Holder is our soon-to-be-former Attorney General. In spite of being the nation’s “top cop”, Holder will not prosecute anything that might make the administration look like it’s not upholding the law. (Voter intimidation, Fast and Furious, IRS scandal, etc., etc.)
To be continued …
Image: http://minutemanad.xanga.com/2012/12/04/barrack-obama-or-adolf-hitler/
John DeGroff is the original bass player for the Christian rock band Petra. He currently plays for the band GHF which is comprised of other original members from Petra. DeGroff has extensive experience as a freelance music journalist and newspaper reporter as well as an on-line music reviewer. He is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and lives in Warsaw, Indiana where he is employed as a care giver for mentally challenged adults.
