I’m Sorry … Not!


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Representative Mary Miller, a Republican congresswoman from Illinois, recently apologized for making this statement at a political rally: “Hitler was right on one thing: He said, ‘Whoever has the youth, has the future.’”

Why she referenced Hitler for this quote is a mystery. As this article notes, similar sentiments were expressed by Benjamin Franklin (“An investment in knowledge pays the best dividends”), Abraham Lincoln (“Teach the children so it will not be necessary to teach the adults”), and even the late comedian, George Carlin (“Don’t just teach your kids to read, teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything.”).

Considerable outrage greeted her remarks. After initially defending her statement, Ms. Miller issued this apology:

I sincerely apologize for any harm my words caused and regret using a reference to one of the most evil dictators in history to illustrate the dangers that outside influences can have on our youth. While some are trying to intentionally twist my words into something antithetical to my beliefs, let me be clear: I’m passionately pro-Israel and I will always be a strong advocate and ally of the Jewish community.

Was it effective?