Sen. Sampson Condemns Senate Majority Leader’s Hateful, Antisemitic Rhetoric

State Sen. Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott) today condemned Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff’s recent antisemitic Facebook post that equates Republicans with Nazis and includes a video depicting scenes of Nazi-era Germany and Adolf Hitler.

“Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff’s recent post, calling last night’s rally at Madison Square Garden a ‘Fascist Rally starring Hitler 2.0’ is a reprehensible and vile misuse of language that only serves to deepen the division in our society. It is disgraceful that any public servant would stoop to such inflammatory and hateful rhetoric, particularly with a comparison so outlandish that only years ago would have been mocked and dismissed as unthinkable in serious political discourse.

“To liken a political rally to the horrors of Hitler’s regime, especially when there were many Jewish Americans and Jewish groups present at the event, is not only historically ignorant, but also unforgivable. This type of rhetoric does a grave disservice to the memories of those who suffered under actual fascism and diminishes the seriousness of real threats to democracy.

“Democrats are fully entitled to challenge Republicans or any other figures on policies or behavior. However, they must be held accountable when they veer into misrepresentation and lies. Senator Duff’s comments are an insult to decency and respect in our political dialogue. I call upon him to retract this disgraceful statement and apologize to all those he has so recklessly offended,” said Sen. Sampson.