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Obama Doesn't Know History
"I had a uncle who was one of the, who was part of the first American
troops to go into Auschwitz and liberate the concentration camps and
the story in our family was is that when he came home, he just went up
into the attic and he didn’t leave the house for six months," Obama
said. "Now obviously something had really affected him deeply but at
that time there just weren’t the kinds of facilities to help somebody
work through that kind of pain."
- Barack Obama in New Mexico on Memorial Day
Wait, I was always taught that Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet soldiers. It is so meaningful to him that he can't get the facts correct? This is not impressive. Can you say US History class in high school?
Posted by Catherine on May 27, 2008
in Current Affairs, Politics | Permalink| Comments (7)
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Comments
You're smarter than me. I didn't remember which camps were liberated by the Soviets.
Posted by: seamus | May 28, 2008 11:07:30 AM
It probably helps that I have been on the tour of the camp. I cried for two hours after that tour.
Posted by: catherine | May 28, 2008 3:30:05 PM
In fairness to Obama, his campaign issued a correction the next day:
"Senator Obama's family is proud of the service of his grandfather and uncles in World War II – especially the fact that his great uncle was a part of liberating one of the concentration camps at Buchenwald. Yesterday he mistakenly referred to Auschwitz instead of Buchenwald in telling of his personal experience of a soldier in his family who served heroically," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.
He definitely mixed up Auschwitz and Buchenwald, but in context it's not that big a deal (not like, for instance, McCain repeatedly mixing up Shia and Sunni Islam). Other than this mix-up the story is true, and, speaking as a Jew, I'm not particularly offended.
Posted by: drfinkster | May 28, 2008 5:26:16 PM
It is a big error and Finkster you may not be offended, but others of your faith seem to be offended.
Posted by: catherine | May 28, 2008 9:10:43 PM
This is such a non-issue as to not even merit attention. Oh, and I am of Jewish heritage, and I have yet to hear any Jew I know comment on this. It is being brought up for silly reasons. There is a huge difference between the Sunni-Shia issue and this one.
Posted by: Scott | May 29, 2008 3:58:59 AM
As a Jew, I think this is immaterial.
Posted by: seamus | Jun 3, 2008 2:33:22 PM
Did you see this story? http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/04/obama.aipac/index.html
Posted by: catherine | Jun 4, 2008 12:44:36 PM
