Achtung Charlie
Next time, the governor will probably screen the DVD.
Sometimes, a form letter is just a form letter. And sometimes, a form letter is a big, fat, whoops. Just ask Charlie Crist, the happy-go-lucky governor of Florida and would-be United States Senator:
Gov. Charlie Crist is as cordial as they come in the political world. But his office may have went a bit too far with a “thank you” letter sent to a Pasco County man who had mailed Crist a copy of a Nazi-era anti-Semitic video. The movie is “Jud Suss” and John Ubele sent Crist a DVD copy earlier this year. The movie, according to www.holocaustresearchproject.org, was made in 1940 in Nazi Germany and tells a convoluted tale that ends with Jewish residents of a region being expelled. Ubele is running for the state House in Pasco County. His website decries accusations that he is a white separatist, but he is endorsed on David Duke’s website as “unmistakeably a pro-white candidate.” A visit to Ubele’s websites, including one for the “Nationalist Coalition,” show links to anti-Semitic books and leaflets.
… In the letter mailed from Crist’s office on June 30 and posted online by Ubele, the governor says “Thank you for sending me the DVD ‘Jud Suss.’ It is my pleasure to accept this on behalf of myself and the people of Florida. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in sharing this DVD … Thank you again for your generosity.”
Doh! Ubele (hey, is that pronounced like “ukelele?”…) was understandably proud of the support he received from the guvnah, and happily posted the following on the Nationalist Coalition blog:
By johnu1978 – Last updated: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 – Save & Share – One Commentby John Ubele
A few weeks ago our Tampa chapter mailed DVD copies of Jud Suss to several key politicians in our state government including Governor Charlie Crist. Since the mailing I’ve received letters back from several politicians thanking me for sending them the movie. And just a few hours ago I checked my mail and found that Governor Crist had mailed me a signed letter. You can see the letter by clicking here.
In the letter the Governor thanks me for sending him the video. He goes on to say that he intends to share the video with the people of Florida. Of course we appreciate him helping us with our efforts to awaken our people with the video.
Dear white supremacist: this is a form letter. It is not meant to convey a personal message to you. It was signed electronically, and therefore the signer has no idea who you are. Sincerely, Reality
I guess Mr. Ubele (who tried and failed to win a state House seat in 2007, and who has at turns claimed NOT to be a white supremacist, proving that reality may not be a friend of his … he was endorsed by David Duke …) isn’t entirely familiar with the sophisticated concept of form letters … He probably thought the annual GOP Christmas card he got from former Governor Bush was a personal shout-out, too… Well, Gov. Crist’s office has a brand new letter for Mr. Ubele indicating that perhaps Charlie doesn’t quite appreciate the Nationalist Coalition’s “new kind of white activism…”
Crist sent out a stern letter late Friday night, asking Ubele to pull a copy of Crist’s original form letter from the website.
“This letter is written to correct an inexcusable mistake made by staff in my office. reflected in a letter of June 30, 2009 regarding the DVD Jud Suss. Unfortunately, that letter was sent by staff prior to any review of the content of the DVD. Subsequently, my staff has reviewed the DVD and advised me of the content.
“I am now writing to unequivocally advise you that neither I, not anyone in this administration agree with or condone the anti-Semitic content of this DVD. This DVD contains anti-Semitic propaganda filmed in Nazi Germany. It is laden with crude, anti-Semitic stereotypes and was unfortunately used by the Nazi regime to facilitate the Holocaust. The murder of over six million Jews in World War II is an abhorrent but real episode of man’s inhumanity to man.
“I am advised that you have posted by June 30, 2009 letter on your Web site. Since that letter was sent in error and does not reflect my view, I request that you immediately remove it from your Web site, and any other representation therein that I or anyone in my administration agree with or condone the anti-Semitic content of this DVD.”
Alas, that letter did NOT make the Nationalist Coalition blog.
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