In his letter to the Casper Star Tribune, ADL Mountain States Regional Director Scott L. Levin wrote:

The Anti-Defamation League condemns as offensive and inappropriate references to Adolph Hitler reportedly made by Charles Cloud in a debate amongst candidates to represent Wyoming’s House District 50.  The Casper Star Tribune reported (August 12, 2014) that Cloud questioned his opponent’s support of a measure to study pre-kindergarten programs. In response to his opponent’s statement that a child’s primary learning years are birth to 3, Cloud reportedly  incorrectly attributed a quote to Adolf Hitler when he stated, “[T]he 0 to 3 thing should scare people because I remember Hitler was the one that said, ‘Give me a child until he’s 3, and he will be mine forever.’”

Comparisons to Hitler and Nazis trivialize the extent of their crimes against humanity, diminish the suffering of survivors, and offend those who understand the profound evil they represented. There is no comparison between contemporary American political issues and the actions of Hitler and his regime.  Such comparisons are deeply offensive to those that understand the profound evil they represented, as well as to the survivors of the Holocaust.  We urge all political candidates to engage in a civil discourse about their views and policy issues and to refrain from using references to Hitler and Nazis for political purposes.

Founded over a century ago, the Anti-Defamation League is the nation’s leading civil rights and human relations organization, combating anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, as well as promoting understanding and diversity throughout the United States and abroad.  As a non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization,  ADL does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

 

Sincerely,

 

Scott L. Levin

Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Regional Director

http://trib.com/opinion/letters/anti-defamation-league-we-condemn-hitler-comments/article_8b14ff04-742e-529a-b495-cdb12961c716.html