Thursday, 25 November 2010

If it talks like a fascist and acts like a fascist, it's probably Martin Schulz

UKIP MEP, Godfrey Bloom (a belated happy birthday Godders), has been instructed by the President of the EU Parliament (not to be confused with the President of the EU Commission), Jerzy Buzek, to apologise for quoting Adolf Hitler Ein volk, ein Reich, ein Führer at German MEP, Martin Schulz.

Who vould have ze temerity to do
such a vicked deed?
The nationalist socialist MEP took offence at Godfrey quoting the nationalist socialist former chancellor of his country at him and demanded an apology.  He took further offence when Godders refused to apologise and called him an undemocratic fascist.  I wonder if this Dutch MEP took offence when Schulz called him a fascist (hat-tip: the eurosceptic vote-sink) ... presumably not as Herr Schulz wasn't ordered to apologise and then escorted from the mickey mouse parliament by bouncers in cheap suits the forces of democracy.

Was Godfrey right to quote Hitler at a German MEP?  Possibly not.  Was he wrong to quote Hitler?  Probably not.  Free speech is a cornerstone of democracy so why is Herr Schulz taking offence at being called an undemocratic fascist when he's acting like an undemocratic fascist?  And more importantly, why is Herr Schulz taking offence at being called a fascist when he thinks it's perfectly acceptable to call someone a fascist for demanding that Emperor Barroso publishes details of his expenses?