Incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), who is facing an unexpectedly fierce challenge for re-election, warned Monday at a campaign stop that the United States is heading for “national socialism.”
It’s not clear whether Roberts intended to make a reference to Nazism or simply meant to invoke the run of the mill looming specter of socialism.
American Bridge, the liberal opposition research group that tracks Republican candidates, posted the video of Roberts’s remarks at a Dodge City event.
“There’s a palpable fear among Kansans all across this state that the America that we love and cherish and honor will not be the same America for our kids and grandkids,” Roberts said, “and that’s wrong. That’s very wrong.”
He lamented that people are “losing faith in their government” and that the government “is losing faith in our people. That is a bad situation to be in.” He said he was running to change that dynamic.
“We have to change course because our country is heading for national socialism,” Roberts said. “That’s not right. It’s changing our culture. It’s changing what we’re all about.”
According to TPM’s PollTracker average, Roberts trails independent candidate Greg Orman by 1 point, 39 percent to 38 percent.
UPDATE: 2:20 p.m. ET
The Washington Post’s Philip Rucker asked Roberts about the line Tuesday.
For those keeping track, Roberts repeated “socialism” line this AM. I asked him if he believes Obama is a socialist and he said “yes.”
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) September 23, 2014
Roberts, on my Obama socialism Q: “I believe that the direction he is heading the country is more like a European socialistic state, yes.”
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) September 23, 2014
And we have the most incompetent socialist in history in charge who can’t keep the stock markets from being up well over 200%
‘National Socialism’ (aka NAZIism) was right wing. And socialism to Nazis meant only what Hitler wanted it to mean. Which was pretty much nothing. It was just a name that helped to peel off people who otherwise would have been attracted to real socialist parties. Presumably Roberts mean just ‘socialism’.
When’s the last time any of you can remember any of the Republicans who compare Democrats to Nazis demonstrate they have the slightest understanding of what National Socialism actually was?
Someone needs to tell gramps that that was the GOP scam 6 years ago. Doesn’t work anymore.
Roberts: Reelect me so we can change course.
try arguing with that logic