RAESE'S CONTROVERSIAL COMMENT Raese Compares Smoking Ban To Holocaust In YouTube Video
Reported by: Latasha Hughes
Web Producer: Mamie Buoy
Reported: Apr. 19, 2012 9:06 PM EDT
Eyewitness News Photo
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
An international Jewish human rights group is condemning remarks by Senate candidate John Raese.
In a video posted on YouTube, Raese criticizes Monongalia County's indoor smoking ban. He said requiring stickers on buildings declaring them smoke-free is like how "Hilter used to put a Star of David on everybody's lapel."
The Simon Wiesenthal Center says, "The remark shows an ignorance of the horrors inflicted by the Nazi's, and demonstrates callousness to the millions of Jews they murdered."
West Virginia Democrat Party Chairman Larry Puccio had this to say regarding Raese's recent comments, "Comparing a smoking ban to the murder of 6-million Jews is shockingly insensitive and diminishes the memory of those killed in the Holocaust. John Raese's comments and his refusal to apologize shows no understanding of history and no respect. I feel certain that after Mr. Raese has time to think about it, he will apologize."
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Latasha Hughes
