Tony Cook

tony.cook@indystar.com

FORT WAYNE – Reaction ranged from anger to shock to befuddlement after Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock compared the nation's direction to Hitler's Nazi Germany during a farewell speech at the Indiana Republican Convention on Saturday.

"The people of Germany in a free election selected the Nazi Party because they made great promises that appealed to them because they were desperate and destitute. And why is that? Because Germany was bankrupt," he said.

Mourdock, who has stoked outrage with incendiary comments in the past, then alluded to the 70th anniversary last week of the D-Day invasion during World War II, saying, "The truth is, 70 years later, we are drifting on the tides toward another beachhead and it is the bankruptcy of the United States of America."

The speech received a standing ovation from the nearly 1,700 delegates from across the state. But by the end of the day, even the party's state chairman was distancing himself from the treasurer's comments.

His references Saturday to the Nazi regime drew sharp objections from Democrats, members of the Jewish community and even some Republicans.

Indiana Democratic Chairman John Zody said Mourdock's words were "ugly" and should be denounced by Republican leaders.

Shelby Anderson, president of the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council, said comparing the rise of Hitler and the heinous acts of the Nazis in comparison to America's national debt is "highly offensive and trivialize both the suffering and memory of the six million Jews and millions of others who perished under the Nazi regime."

Stephen Klapper, vice president of the council, called it "deplorable to suggest that a nation in debt is one step away from perpetrating crimes reminiscent of Nazi Germany. And it's outrageous to equate our nation's legitimate public policy challenges, and the way we choose to address these issues – ideally through civil discourse and rigorous debate – with the way Hitler and his Nazi regime propagated one of civilization's most reprehensible atrocities through lies, terror, and ultimately genocide."

Even some Republicans blasted Mourdock.

"He owes an apology to soldiers who fought Germany, and to anyone who darned a sock or helped build a fighter for the war effort," said Mike Murphy, a former GOP lawmaker and past president of the Marion County Republican Party.

The criticism, however, was not unanimous. Allen County Republican Party Chairman Steven Shine, one of the convention's organizers, said he thought Mourdock's comments were "right on point."

"I think he was showing what could happen to a nation that has a citizenry that believes life is hopeless, that there is no way out," said Shine, who is Jewish. "I don't think at all he was comparing Obama to Hitler under any circumstances, but (he was comparing) the political environment that could create a government that relied on a charismatic leader, rather than the freedoms that the country has."

For some delegates, however, that point was lost.

"I don't understand what he was trying to say," said delegate Michael Heady. "I don't know what his point was."

It's the latest in a long string of controversial statements that have marred Mourdock's political career.

During his unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate in 2012, Mourdock said during a debate that when a woman becomes pregnant during rape "it is something that God intended." He also said during the primary race, "We need less bipartisanship in Congress." And the day after unseating longtime GOP Sen. Richard Lugar, he told "Fox & Friends" that "bipartisanship ought to consist of Democrats coming to the Republican point of view."

Mourdock did not respond to an email to his spokesman seeking comment on Saturday's speech and its meaning.

Mourdock, who is leaving office this year due to term limits, compared the nation's economic conditions to those that led to Hitler's rise to power in the 1930s.

Mourdock did not explicitly mention President Barack Obama or Democrats, but he did warn listeners to beware of politicians who promise entitlements amid growing debt then blame others when the plan begins to crumble.

Mourdock seemed to understand that his comments might spark controversy.

"Now I know some of you, especially some of the guests in the room, are thinking, there's a wild-eyed Republican speaking craziness," he said during his speech.

But, "We are in a grave situation," he said. "And my last duty to you as a Republican at this convention is to ask you to influence everyone you know in this state and without."

After the convention ended, Indiana Republican Chairman Tim Berry declined to endorse Mourdock's speech.

"I'll be honest, I did not hear the comment, so I really can't refer to that," he said. "Certainly any reference to Nazi Germany is not appropriate."

Perhaps the most telling reaction came from Kelly Mitchell, who works for Mourdock in the treasurer's office. Just moments after winning the GOP nomination to run for her boss's position, she denounced his Nazi comparison.

"I don't think comments of that sort are appropriate at any time," she said.

Call Star reporter Tony Cook at (317) 444-6081. Follow him on Twitter: @indystartony.