Kasich Has Duty to Remove Terhar For Commentary
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Today, the Columbus Dispatch reported that Governor Kasich’s hand-picked School Board President, Debe Terhar, linked President Obama to Adolf Hitler “when she posted a photograph of the Nazi leader on her Facebook page with a message critical of the administration’s new gun-control efforts.” President Terhar’s Facebook commentary was in response to President Obama’s recent national dialogue on preventing gun violence following the Connecticut elementary school tragedy that claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults.
The posting in question was shared from the Facebook group “Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children” and included a picture of Adolf Hitler with the quote, “Never forget what this tyrant said: ‘To conquer a nation, first disarm its citizens.’ — Adolf Hitler.”
“While there is always room for respectful differences in opinions, State School Board President Terhar’s facebook posting crossed a clear line by connecting the President’s national discussion on guns to Adolf Hitler,” said Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern. “President Terhar’s invocation of Hitler is dangerous and should not be tolerated by Governor Kasich and the rest of the State School Board.
“In the past, Governor Kasich has called for more civility in the political debate, and now he has a prime opportunity to back up his words with action. In the absence of a full, formal apology from Terhar, Kasich has a duty to remove his hand-picked State School Board President from office. Under no circumstances is it permissible for Governor Kasich to look the other way while members of his Administration use dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric and images to further their political ideology.”
Following the Dispatch story, President Terhar posted another message on her Facebook page today, declining to take any responsibility for the inflammatory, offensive posting regarding the national debate:
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