A Kansas House leader posted about a 'great quote from Hitler' on Facebook
A Kansas House leader seemingly praised the "profound" words of Adolf Hitler in a Facebook post Thursday. "Great quote from Hitler in the video," Speaker Pro Tem Peggy Mast (R) wrote on her Facebook page. "Please listen to it closely. His words are profound! Let's start using discernment."
Mast's post, however, didn't include any video or other media to "listen to," making her seeming praise for the Nazi leader all the more puzzling. House Speaker Ray Merrick's chief of staff, Christie Krieghauser, tried to get some clarification. "Sorry, I'm confused," she wrote on Mast's page. "What video and how is there a great quote from Hitler?"
Mast, who is the third-ranking Republican in the Kansas House, put up another Facebook post an hour later intending to explain herself:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Her intent was to compare Planned Parenthood, the country's largest reproductive health provider, to the Nazi leader," The Wichita Eagle reported.
Mast also shared an article from a pro-life Christian blog, which referenced anti-abortion activist Gianna Jessen quoting Hitler while testifying about Planned Parenthood before Congress. Jessen, during her testimony, apparently used this Hitler quote to compare Planned Parenthood's services to the Holocaust: "The receptivity of the masses is very limited, their intelligence is small, but their power of forgetting is enormous. In consequence of these facts, all effective propaganda must be limited to a very few points and must harp on these in slogans until the last member of the public understands what you want him to understand by your slogan."
Mast did not respond to The Wichita Eagle's requests for comment. She is not running for re-election.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Big Tech critic Brendan Carr is Trump's FCC pick
In the Spotlight The next FCC commissioner wants to end content moderation practices on social media sites
By David Faris Published
-
ATACMS, the long-range American missiles being fired by Ukraine
The Explainer President Joe Biden has authorized their use for the first time in the war
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The bacterial consequences of hurricanes
Under the radar Floodwaters are microbial hotbeds
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
DOJ seeks breakup of Google, Chrome
Speed Read The Justice Department aims to force Google to sell off Chrome and make other changes to rectify its illegal search monopoly
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Racist texts tell Black people in US to prepare for slavery
Speed Read Recipients in at least a dozen states have been told to prepare to 'pick cotton' on slave plantations
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Australia proposes social media ban before age 16
Speed Read Australia proposes social media ban before age 16
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
FTC bans fake online product reviews
Speed Read The agency will enforce fines of up to $51,744 per violation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
States sue TikTok over children's mental health
Speed Read The lawsuit was filed by 13 states and Washington, D.C.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Amazon ending 'Just Walk Out' grocery checkout
Speed Read In its place, the company will let customers scan while they shop with Amazon Dash Cart
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Justice Department bites Apple with iPhone suit
Speed Read The lawsuit alleges that the tech company monopolized the smartphone industry
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
House votes to force TikTok to sell or face US ban
speed read The House passed a bill to ban TikTok on national security grounds unless it sells to a non-Chinese company
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published