PHILADELPHIA — Last week, a local Indiana chapter of Moms for Liberty attracted attention for quoting Adolf Hitler in its newsletter. After the local paper reported the story, the group added additional “context” but kept the quote. Eventually, after it faced even more scrutiny, the organization removed the quote and apologized in a statement posted to its Facebook group.
That, however, was a big mistake, according to advice at the Moms for Liberty national conference’s media training session Friday.
“Never apologize. Ever,” said Christian Ziegler, the chairman of the Florida Republican Party. “This is my view. Other people have different views on this. I think apologizing makes you weak.”
He advised the attendees to instead make it clear that the Hitler comment was “vile” but to immediately pivot to make the point that Hitler indoctrinated children in schools and that that’s what Moms for Liberty was fighting against. Ziegler warned that any apology would become the headline, so that should be avoided.
You read that right. He said to not apologize for quoting Hitler. That’s what we’re dealing with now.
Please help me understand. They used the quote in the newsletter to bring attention to the viewpoint of one of, if not the worst world leader in recent human history. They simply stated the quote; something along the lines of he who controls the youth controls the future. They followed the quote by saying to not let the government indoctrinate your children. Hitler, the highest member of the government, indoctrinated children.
How is it bad to say to not follow in Hitler’s footsteps?
Because to say this is bad advice is to say the government should be allowed to indoctrinate your children.
Do you think maybe they should have said not to follow in his footsteps? Because they didn’t. They just put the quote in huge letters in an isolated box at the top of their newsletter. Which sure looks like an endorsement.
Okay I can see how in the original it was just a quote all on its own (on the side bar) and it wasn’t until they added context that it made sense. Had to click through 3 articles to actually be able to access a copy of the newsletter. After adding the context bubble it makes total sense though. Definitely should have expanded on it at least a little in the original though.