Who would’ve guessed the NRA using the Boston bombing to rail against gun control would be the second most controversial thing to come out of its annual convention.
Glenn Beck fired up the group’s Houston gathering this weekend with his attacks on New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg … who he likened to Hitler.
The head of the Anti-Defamation League called Beck’s latest stunt “deeply offensive on so many levels.” B’nai B’rith also called on Beck to apologize:
“Glenn Beck, the keynote speaker at the NRA’s annual convention, trivializes the Holocaust by comparing New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to Adolf Hitler.”
“The casual use of Nazi imagery or words serves to undermine the atrocities of the Holocaust. Glenn Beck should apologize,” the group told ABC News.
Bloomberg has championed tougher gun restrictions and background checks for buyers, and harsher criminal sentences for those convicted of gun violence.
In his keynote address, Beck likened the mayor to a Nazi for his campaigns to limit the size of sugary drinks, salt intake, curb tobacco displays and gun control.
“I’ve come up with a new advertisement for New York … I’d like to show you my new advertisement for it, new slogan… ‘You will love New York!'” Beck said.
And with that, he unveiled a massive new logo to the crowd. It showed Bloomberg giving a Nazi salute with what appeared to be a Nazi armband on his sleeve.
Abraham Foxman, a Holocaust survivor and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, objected to the image and Glenn Beck’s comments:
“While he doesn’t say it, it seems Glenn Beck is implying the mayor’s policies on gun ownership and other issues are turning New York city into a Nazi-like state.”
“That suggestion is outrageous, insensitive and deeply offensive.”
“Glenn Beck should know better. He has drawn similar inappropriate analogies to the Holocaust before. We wish he would stop trivializing the history of the Holocaust.”
Bloomberg, who is Jewish, declined to comment on the apparent comparison to the Nazi party or to any of the other criticisms at the NRA convention.
A spokeswoman for the Super PAC created by Bloomberg, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, also would not comment on the personal shots at the mayor.
Beck, who also sparked controversy recently by espousing a Boston bombing conspiracy theory, has not issued a comment or response to his critics.
A source close to Beck, however, insisted it “was a joke based on a famous photo of [Russian communist Vladimir] Lenin” and not a reference to Nazis.
What do you think of Glenn’s stunt? Totally over the top and offensive? Necessary to prove a valid point? Maybe a little of both? Discuss in the comments.