MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Most of the time, when politicians make silly comments, the tendency is to ridicule them enough that they will either apologize or at least try to clarify.
But sometimes the comments are so idiotic and offensive that even a public apology is insufficient. Last week in the Tennessee legislature was one of those times and East Tennessee Sen. Frank Niceley was one of those politicians.
His outlandish remarks came during a debate on the senator floor over a bill to criminalize camping out on public property by homeless people. Niceley, a veteran Republican lawmaker from tiny Strawberry Plains, offered what he called another history lesson on overcoming homelessness and he used Adolf Hitler as the example.
Niceley said the Nazi dictator chose to live on the streets in 1910 – to practice his oratory and perfect how to connect with the masses. The senator said Hitler then went on to lead a life that got him in the history books.
Everyone who heard this ridiculous comment concluded that Niceley was telling homeless people to be like the mastermind of the Holocaust – and perhaps their lives would improve. The legislature eventually passed the anti-homeless bill and so far, Niceley has declined media requests for further comment. Which is just as well.
Our state has been embarrassed enough. The only question that remains is, why do we keep electing such goofballs to public office?