# The Daily Show on comparing people to Hitler **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867 "2005-06-19T02:11:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/1 "2005-06-19T02:11:22Z")
There’s already a Daily Show thread running, but I thought this segment from a few days ago deserved a thread of its own. If you missed it, it was basically a report on how often politicians have compared their opponents to Hitler or Nazis lately, and how silly and meaningless it’s become. It seemed kind of like some of the internet (Godwin’s law, and all that…) spilling out into real life, and I thought it was a great segment. “Stop comparing your political opponents to Hitler. It demeans your opponents, it demeans you, and frankly, it demeans Hitler. You know who was Hitler? Hiter!” So sad because it’s so funny, just like everything on that show. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/2 "2005-06-19T18:56:13Z")
The best line- commenting on Sen. Byrd’s comparing of the filibuster-breaking “nuclear option” to Hitler’s grab for power- "He just compared a change in parliamentary procedure to the Holocaust. This is particularly sensitive to me… because… my grandfather… survived a filibuster." OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/3 "2005-06-19T22:12:39Z")
I never understood why Godwin limited his law to usenet discussions. People have been making inappropriate Hitler references since well before the internet. Godwin’s law can be applied to any heated discussion, whether on line or IRL. It makes me wonder what people did before the Nazis. “Sirrah, your plan to tax Hansom cabs is the sort of thing a Bonapartist would do!” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/4 "2005-06-19T22:20:44Z")
> [@Larry Borgia](#): > > I never understood why Godwin limited his law to usenet discussions. People have been making inappropriate Hitler references since well before the internet. Godwin’s law can be applied to any heated discussion, whether on line or IRL. I think it was just named by someone online and that’s why it stuck. In my opinion the lack of face-to-face communication online brings heated comparisons to Nazism around faster. Anyway, bravo to TDS on another great line. 😉 > [@](#): > > It makes me wonder what people did before the Nazis. Now that’s a great question. Did they use Kaiser Wilhelm? ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/5 "2005-06-20T01:33:10Z")
> [@Larry Borgia](#): > > It makes me wonder what people did before the Nazis.!" Genghis Khan. Julius Caesar. Cain. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/6 "2005-06-20T02:22:30Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > "He just compared a change in parliamentary procedure to the Holocaust. > > This is particularly sensitive to me… because… my grandfather… > survived a filibuster." I particularly liked the “_…and he’s still talking about it._” finish. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/7 "2005-06-20T02:28:21Z")
> [@Julius Henry](#): > > Genghis Khan. Julius Caesar. Cain. [Shatner]CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIN!!![/Shatner] ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/8 "2005-06-20T02:41:02Z")
Personally, I’d be delighted if everyone would agree to a moratorium on Nazi comparisons. They’ve been done to death for years. But it’s odd that Jon Stewart only noticed the overuse of such silly comparisons when the Republicans started making them. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/9 "2005-06-20T02:46:48Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Personally, I’d be delighted if everyone would agree to a moratorium on Nazi comparisons. They’ve been done to death for years. > > But it’s odd that Jon Stewart only noticed the overuse of such silly comparisons when the Republicans started making them. Byrd is a Republican? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/10 "2005-06-20T02:46:49Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Personally, I’d be delighted if everyone would agree to a moratorium on Nazi comparisons. They’ve been done to death for years. > > But it’s odd that Jon Stewart only noticed the overuse of such silly comparisons when the Republicans started making them. Since when is Senator Byrd a Republican? You have it backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/11 "2005-06-20T02:55:02Z")
Michael Moore was also in the montage. And the whole thing was centered around Durbin’s recent musings on Gitmo. It was a truly bipartisan mocking. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/12 "2005-06-20T03:39:22Z")
What’s really irritating is that when a politican really _does_ try to do something fascist (e.g. Alabama legislator Gerald Allens call for the banning and destruction of books by gay authors or books supportive of gay themes), you can’t play the Nazi card because it’s totally devalued. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/13 "2005-06-20T07:02:09Z")
I heard one of the stupidest Hitler comparisons ever when I worked at McDonald’s. We were selling some Happy Meal toy that was in high demand, so we set a limit on how many a customer could buy. Once during this period an old lady came in wanting to buy a bunch of the toys, but when I told her about the limit she said, “You’re rationing them? That’s Hitler stuff!” I could only stare dumbfounded at her for a few seconds, wondering if she was quite old enough to remember the Holocaust when it first became known, and if so whether she would still utter such a ridiculous statement. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/14 "2005-06-20T13:01:34Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Since when is Senator Byrd a Republican? You have it backwards. Isn’t Dick Durbin also a Democrat? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/15 "2005-06-20T13:24:48Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > But it’s odd that Jon Stewart only noticed the overuse of such silly comparisons when the Republicans started making them. What’s odder still is that Robert Byrd, Dick Durban, and Michael Moore have suddenly become Republicans. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/16 "2005-06-20T16:01:08Z")
> [@Larry Borgia](#): > > “Sirrah, your plan to tax Hansom cabs is the sort of thing a Bonapartist would do!” Dude, that was LMAO funny 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/17 "2005-06-20T17:02:09Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Since when is Senator Byrd a Republican? You have it backwards. I assume he meant that TDS only asked for a moratorium from both sides when Republicans started using the Hitler comparison (I think Santorum made one recently). IOW, Dems like Byrd and Durbin have making these comparsions for some time, but it didn’t rise to the level of comedy until a Republican did the same thing. I’m not saying I agree, just explaining it. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/18 "2005-06-20T18:13:26Z")
> [@Steve MB](#): > > What’s odder still is that Robert Byrd, Dick Durban, and Michael Moore have suddenly become Republicans. :rolleyes: You mean Michael Moore’s not a Republican? Sorry, just had to. Continue your discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/19 "2005-06-20T18:24:42Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > I assume he meant that TDS only asked for a moratorium from both sides when Republicans started using the Hitler comparison (I think Santorum made one recently). IOW, Dems like Byrd and Durbin have making these comparsions for some time, but it didn’t rise to the level of comedy until a Republican did the same thing. > > I’m not saying I agree, just explaining it. I am very skeptical that Republicans have not been making any such comparisons until recently. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867/20 "2005-06-20T19:37:21Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I am very skeptical that Republicans have not been making any such comparisons until recently. I am, too. But I suspect there was a dramitic rise in Hitler/Nazi references since Bush took office. It probably a safe bet that the Dems have been using it more frequently in the last few years. Republicans are more likely to reference communism in their criticism of Democrats-- and that’s just about as silly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-daily-show-on-comparing-people-to-hitler/308867.md?page=2)