In the wake of last week’s massacre in Norway, U.S. conservative commentator Glenn Beck compared the summer camp where most of the 76 victims died to the Hitler Youth organization of Nazi Germany.
During his radio program on Monday, Beck declared the killings “the work of a madman” and called the suspect “as bad as Osama bin Laden.” But before launching into that condemnation, he questioned what the victims were doing at a summer camp run by Norway’s ruling Labour Party.
“The thing started to unfold, and then there was a shooting at a political camp – which sounds a little like, you know, the Hitler Youth or whatever. I mean, who does a camp for kids that’s all about politics?”
Beck’s insensitive comments were immediately condemned by Torbjørn Eriksen, a former press secretary to Jens Stoltenberg, Norway’s prime minister.
“Young political activists have gathered at Utøya for over 60 years to learn about and be part of democracy, the very opposite of what the Hitler Youth was about. Glenn Beck’s comments are ignorant, incorrect and extremely hurtful,” Eriksen told the Daily Telegraph.
Beck ( a presenter for the Fox News network until last month ) however, is no stranger to controversy, as his comments have “stirred the pot” many times in the past. After the massive 8.9 earthquake and ensuing tsunami devastated a large part of Japan this March, Beck went on record to say the disaster could be a “message” from God.
via NY Daily