Iott 3rd from left in both photos

“I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that here was a relatively small country that from a strictly military point of view accomplished incredible things. I mean, they took over most of Europe and Russia, and it really took the combined effort of the free world to defeat them. From a purely historical military point of view, that’s incredible.” — Rich Iott, the GOP/Tea Party Congressional candidate – Ohio 9th District

Barely having had time to stash Christine’s broomstick, the GOP has now got another Tea Party skeleton to bury somehow. It turns out Mr. Iott, or “Reinhard Pferdmann” (his “German alter ego”), has been an avid member of a group that dresses up like Nazis and acts out the exploits of a particular SS Panzer division.

You have to read the Atlantic article (Why is This GOP House Candidate Dressed as a Nazi?). It’s a classic. …It was a father-son bonding thing, but he stopped because the son got bored!?!

I could talk about the wallpaper in the first shot, or about the guy in the kilt and knee socks. In the second shot, I could point out that the guys don’t seem nearly as happy, the tall guy looking downright depressed. Still though, what better example of the clueless and shameless candidates from the far-right this election cycle than Mr. Iott in uniform, the candidate — even after two passes explaining himself — apparently not having any sense that there’s something wrong.

I’m not sure how GOP headquarters goes about undoing this one, but I’m fairly certain about one thing. I doubt we’ll see any commercials with Herr Iott claiming, “I’m you.”