Rich Iott, the Republican nominee for Congress from Ohio’s 9th District and a tea party favorite, is also a proud member of Wiking, a gang of men who regularly reenact the exploits of an actual Nazi division, the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking. Well, he’s not that proud: “Iott’s participation in the Wiking group is not mentioned on his campaign’s website, and his name and photographs were removed from the Wiking website,” The Atlantic reports. So, what’s he thinking? That he likes Nazis, or just that dressing as one can be, uh, fun?
But he cedes that he’s fascinated with Nazis, who “accomplished incredible things:”
Charles W. Sydnor Jr., a retired history professor and author of Soldiers of Destruction, weighed in: “These guys don’t know their history,” he said. “They have a sanitized, romanticized view of what occurred.”
Well, that’s Rich Iott: Not a Nazi, just a harmless fiftysomething man who likes to dress up as one. Regularly. For fun. Cue his next campaign ad: “I’m not a Nazi. I’m, uh, you. No? Not going to work? Okay … ”
Why is This GOP House Candidate Dressed as a Nazi? [Atlantic via Runnin’ Scared/VV]
