Peter Schorsch
The Sarasota Democratic Party has officially endorsed a candidate for Hospital Board who has publicly compared all Republicans to Nazis.
In a 63-page slide deck presentation obtained by Florida Politics, Dale Anderson uses the symbol of a swastika 34 times when drawing the “undeniable parallels” (his words) between Adolf Hitler’s Germany and those who register as Republicans in today’s GOP.
Anderson became a candidate for Hospital Board after the original Democratic nominee passed away in July.
There’s a lot to unpack here.
First and foremost, the Sarasota Democratic Party needs to immediately rescind their endorsement, preferably calling on Anderson to remove himself from consideration this November.
Regardless of party affiliation, no candidate for public office — let alone a Hospital Board seat — should be comparing an entire portion of the population to the Nazi Party. Sarasota County is home to 158,902 registered Republicans. Does Anderson really believe they’re all Hitlers in disguise?
And ask yourself this: How would those Republicans feel seeking medical care at the five-star Sarasota Memorial Hospital knowing one of its Board members likens them to those who perpetrated the mass slaughter of 6 million Jews.
The Sarasota Democratic Party’s endorsement of Anderson is particularly troubling given its leader’s stated stance on the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, himself often compared to Hitler and Nazism.
Sarasota Democratic Party Chair Daniel Kuether issued a statement Monday condemning the assassination attempt, urging “all Americans to reject violence and hatred and embrace dialogue and unity instead.” Anderson’s comparison of Republicans to Nazis is exactly the kind of rhetoric that stirs dangerous sentiment.
And Anderson isn’t the only candidate the local party is backing who has engaged in distasteful attacks.
Kuether is also running a candidate for the House, 29-year-old Derek Reich, who has called all Republicans “crazy” on his social media accounts while routinely attacking the family members of his opponent, Republican Rep. Fiona McFarland, the Navy veteran and mother of four who easily defeated Reich by double digits in 2022. Does that sound like “embracing dialogue and unity?”
The bottom line is simple. There is too much hatred and bigotry permeating every corner of our great nation. Democrats are quick to call out hateful, potentially violent rhetoric coming from their opponents. Elon Musk, who is supporting Trump for President, raised the question in a now deleted post on his social media platform X about why assassination attempts were happening against Trump, but not Vice President Kamala Harris or President Joe Biden. It was quickly condemned — rightfully so. And Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, have faced a mountain of criticism for continuing to claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating people’s pets, a claim that has led to bomb threats and school closures.
If Democrats can call out dangerous talking points on the Right, they should at least be willing to NOT prop up candidates on the Left who also espouse hateful rhetoric. After all, the party’s top leaders are already facing claims that their own talking points about Trump being a threat to democracy led to his second assassination attempt.
Stirring hatred and fanning the flames of exaggerated outrage isn’t acceptable on either side of the political aisle, and Kuether either knows it, or should.
But will he meet the moment and rise to the occasion? Or is his talk about rejecting hatred and embracing dialogue just all talk and no action.
Your move, Mr. Chair.
15 comments
Butt and beave
September 17, 2024 at 4:30 pm
America is one big phycology stage. Political sciences of changes and transitions into a image of we can empower ourselves” self esteem. ” Then start talking throwing an unborn child in the incinerator.
Butt and beave
September 17, 2024 at 4:43 pm
I feel this retoric is sadistic.. plus mf cursed word means selling your mother to thr highest bidder for nor so good things f your mother
My Take
September 17, 2024 at 4:44 pm
phycology
=======
!!!
Phycology is the study of algae … slime!!
Dead right.
TJC
September 17, 2024 at 4:31 pm
The Democrats need to dump this looney tune right away. Not only is he a fool to lump all Republicans — or any large population of people — into one characterization, but his obvious infatuation with the swastika is creepy.
No excuses, dump him.
Tom
September 17, 2024 at 5:11 pm
A hospital board member? WTF. He needs to go … yesterday.
Dont Say FLA
September 18, 2024 at 9:53 am
The main said “today’s GOP,” not “All Republicans.”
If you really don’t see the difference between “all Republicans” and “today’s GOP,” the MAGAs, you might want to go get your vision checked ’cause that difference is not even slightly blurry.
TJC
September 18, 2024 at 4:01 pm
I’m as liberal a Democrat as you will ever meet, but I’ll not defend Anderson’s sweeping characterization of Republicans as Nazis. The article paraphrases him as saying “those who register as Republicans in today’s GOP.” That sounds like all Republicans to me, and it is Dale Anderson who is making that claim, not me. Blurry, my ass. I usually agree with your comments, but not this time.
Adolf Biden
September 19, 2024 at 4:54 pm
You TDS mental illness victims are petty.
JD
September 19, 2024 at 4:56 pm
Why do you lie? LMAO.
Ocean Joe
September 17, 2024 at 8:34 pm
And J.D Vance, having once called Trump “America’s Hitler” should step down immediately and leave the cat people alone.
ScienceBLVR
September 18, 2024 at 8:11 am
And while we’re at it, let’s show our supposed “doctor” Ladapo the door before he manages to cause the demise of folks who may listen to his malpractice bearing edicts to not get updated COVID vaccine. In this state, home to millions of vulnerable people. Talk about a Josef Mengele wannabe…
Dont Say FLA
September 18, 2024 at 9:50 am
False. Dale Anderson was referring specifically to “today’s GOP.”
Today’s GOP is definitely not “All Republicans” as misrepresented here. Just ask the Cheneys.
TJC
September 18, 2024 at 4:03 pm
You are missing the point. It is Anderson who makes the claim that “registered Republicans” are all Nazis. He’s wrong, like you say, just ask the Cheneys.
Adolf Biden
September 19, 2024 at 4:56 pm
You are grasping at straws, TDS mental illness victim.
JD
September 19, 2024 at 5:01 pm
Why do you lie? You Nazi fascist. Go live with Victor Orban.
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