The wife of a state senator compared a statement of Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, who is Jewish, to edicts of Nazi Germany, which prompted the senator, Andrew Brenner, to respond: "We will never allow that to happen in Ohio."

The statements drew condemnation Wednesday night from Gov. MIke DeWine in a series of tweets:

"Any complaints about the policy of this administration need to be directed at me. I am the office holder, and I appointed the Director. Ultimately, I am responsible for the decisions in regard to the coronavirus. The buck stops with me.

"The comments showed a complete lack of understanding of the Holocaust -- made even more offensive by posting on Holocaust Memorial Day -- and was a slur on a good, compassionate, and honorable person who has worked non-stop to save lives and protect her fellow citizens."

Senate President Larry Obhof, R-Medina said earlier: "I along with the Senate Republican Caucus strongly disapprove of these comments and believe that any such comparisons or analogies are not only absurd but also harmful. This is a time for cooperation, not inflammatory and overblown rhetoric."

And Ohio Republican Chair Jane Timken weighed in: "I cannot condone comments comparing a public official to Nazism. It is incredibly hurtful and terribly inappropriate."

Late Wednesday evening, Brenner, a Delaware Republican, claimed he had been misquoted — even though at least The Dispatch used direct quotes from Brenner and his wife.

"Today, it was reported in an online news outlet that I said something inappropriate and inflammatory on social media. What I actually said was not the same as what is being reported. I would never, ever say what I am accused of saying. I understand that while people may differ on policy issues, the manner in which it was reported was upsetting, inflammatory and hurtful.

"I apologize to Dr. Acton, because I’m sure she was offended by the comments as they were reported. I have also spoken with leaders from Ohio’s Jewish community, for whom I have great respect, and I appreciate the understanding and support I have received.

"I am confident that Governor DeWine and Dr. Acton have Ohio’s best interests in mind, and I appreciate their hard work and efforts in finding a responsible path forward. This is a time for us to work together, and I am committed to doing so for all Ohioans."

When asked earlier Wednesday by The Dispatch to elaborate earlier on the Holocaust Remembrance Day statement, Brenner said: "It is unfortunate comments meant to show concern about potentially putting in place health standards that are too stringent, were smeared into an insensitive political attack on the director. I believe in finding a responsible balance between protecting the public's health and the health of the economy."

When Brenner was asked if he was disagreeing with his wife's comments or in how they've been used, he replied, "How they have been used by the left and this is all I am going to say on it."

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Earlier this week, Brenner said Ohio had reached the point where "the cure is far worse than the virus at this point."

The volatile statement from the senator’s wife, Sara Marie Brenner, long an outspoken conservative activist who once sang the national anthem for a Donald Trump campaign event, followed an overtly anti-Semitic display over the weekend during a Statehouse protest demanding that Ohio be reopened.

When asked about the latter during his daily press briefing Wednesday, Gov. Mike DeWine said, "It was disgusting, it was vile and it should have no place in this discussion or any other public discussion ... that’s not fair game, that’s wrong, and I think everyone has an obligation to denounce it."

This was Acton’s statement Tuesday about the coronavirus that created the stir: "In some countries they’re looking at certificates to say you’re immune and therefore you’d be able to go about your business. It would be a dream if we could get something like that."

In Wednesday’ briefing, she said, "I was actually referring to it in a different context. I was referring to it in the context of business ... and ways business could reopen and we could support the economy."

She said she was talking about antibody testing, which shows that you’ve had the disease and thus likely are immune. One of the possible solutions to reopening Ohio businesses would be if employees had proof of such tests. By ’proof of them,’ she said, it could be a doctor’s note or record of a test.

"You could go about your life, and you wouldn’t worry about passing it along to someone else or getting it yourself," the health director said. But while that "would be really useful information for all of us," the results would be between you and your doctor, not the government, she said.

Sara Marie Brenner’s reaction on Facebook to Acton’s original statement was caustic.

"With a German accent, in your head say ’show me your papers’...This is downright scary! You don’t issue people certificates to be able to function outside their home. ... This actually feels like Hitler’s Germany where you had to have blonde hair and blue eyes to be able to function anywhere, and you were damned otherwise. When are people going to say enough is enough?"

By late Wednesday afternoon, Sara Marie Brenner had taken down the offending post.

"Due to a disgusting twisting of what I said yesterday regarding Dr. Acton's ’carry a certificate’ comment, I have removed my post regarding it," she said. "It's unfortunate that some would turn what I said into comments that they were never intended to be.

"Many of us are very upset with the policies being put forth in Ohio right now. However, disagreement with my views on the issues should never be used as a catalyst to attack someone's faith, ethnicity or race, as has been done here. Those who thought I made anti-semitic comments are the same people who say I would be a racist for scrutinizing Barack Obama. It's a dog whistle, and it's a sad day when that's the status of the first amendment in America."

It was not the first time Sara Marie Brenner had been critical of Acton, however.

"How can ANYONE praise Acton?" she said in a post last week about the state’s virus-infection projections. "I could’ve been more accurate playing ’pin the tail on the donkey’ with the blindfold on and holding the dart in my teeth."

Sen. Brenner was among the earliest to question the Ohio modeling and push DeWine to reopen Ohio, although his public rhetoric has not been nearly as strident.

Other statewide officials criticizing the Brenners’ comparison of Acton’s statement with Nazi policies include (all Republicans except where noted):

• Lt. Gov. Jon Husted: "The recent anti-Semitic protests and statements around the statehouse are so disappointing. We must be better than that as a state. For anyone to compare anything in Ohio to Nazi Germany is irresponsible and offensive."

• Secretary of State Frank LaRose: "A civil discussion about a path forward to protect health & our economy is necessary. But comparisons to the Nazis are insulting to the millions murdered & countless others who still feel the holocaust’s impact. This was hurtful, unacceptable hyperbole. We must do better.

• Attorney General Dave Yost: "I’m not a fan of the idea of immunity certificates — but the idea has nothing to do with Nazism. The comparison is absurd, inflammatory and improper for a leader."

• Auditor Keith Faber: "What occurred across Europe during WWII was the most odious brand of evil, uniquely designed to hurt the Jewish people. Everyone, especially elected officials, needs to do better. Stop inciting fear and anger though rhetoric and actions that are not rooted in truth. Enough!

"Let me be clear, using Nazi analogies against American public officials is NEVER appropriate. When people compare the actions of our President or any public official to the Holocaust, they are reopening wounds, the pain of which is still felt by millions across the globe."

• Rep. Emilia Sykes of Akron, Democratic leader of the Ohio House: "To make this comparison any day of the year, let alone on Holocaust Remembrance Day, is outright reprehensible. For anyone to think this was acceptable behavior is alarming, most of all a state senator elected to serve Ohioans of all religions and backgrounds."

• Rep. Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington: "I'm glad to see so many GOP leaders condemning Andy Brenner's ignorance and vitriol, but a reminder that he currently has leadership positions on the OH Senate's two education committees. If no one will ask him to resign, at least limit his influence over our kids' education."

• Democratic state Reps. David Leland of Columbus and Casey Weinstein of Hudson: "Only sick logic could connect Ohio’s policy of saving thousands of lives during this crisis with Nazi Germany’s final solution of destroying 6 million lives,"

drowland@dispatch.com

@darreldrowland