'Embarrassing' Tennessee Republican brutally mocked for citing Hitler as a model for overcoming homelessness
During a recent speech in the Tennessee Statehouse, Republican State Sen. Frank S. Niceley argued that one can overcome homelessness and go on to lead a “productive life.” And the example he used was Adolf Hitler.
Tenn. State Sen. Frank Niceley (R), debating a bill to criminalize camping on public property:\u2028\u2028\u201c1910, Hitler decided to live on the streets\u2026 So for two years, Hitler practiced his oratory, his body language\u2026 and then went on to lead a life that got him in the history books\u201dpic.twitter.com/7KIF4ih08t— Heartland Signal (@Heartland Signal) 1649945558
The 75-year-old Niceley, known for being active in the Tea Party movement, told his colleagues, “I wanted to give you a little history on homelessness. In 1910, Hitler decided to live on the streets for a while. So, for two years, Hitler lived on the streets and practiced his oratory and his body language.… and then went on to lead a life that’s got him in the history books. So, a lot of these people, it’s not a dead end. They can come out of these homeless camps and have a productive life. Or, in Hitler’s case, a very unproductive life.”
In response to Niceley’s comments, Tennessee State Sen. Gloria Johnson, a Democrat, tweeted:
TN Senator says Hitler made something of himself after being homeless & you can too. I\u2019m going to have to apologize to the universe for this guy. Hey @MeidasTouch not a single day passes without TN GOP embarrassing the hell out of our state. @meiselasb @meidasjordy @BMeiselaspic.twitter.com/SrNyGsS86B— Rep. Gloria Johnson (@Rep. Gloria Johnson) 1649906169
This isn’t the first time Niceley has embarrassed Tennessee. In 2009, when he was still serving in the Tennessee House of Representatives, Niceley was an outspoken supporter of the racist “birther” movement and joined a frivolous lawsuit demanding that then-President Barack Obama prove he was a U.S. citizen.
Twitter user @DalCowboys5151, mocking Niceley, referenced the late Chris Farley's famous Matt Foley character on "Saturday Night Live":
And he was just living in a van down by the river— Cowboys Fan for 35 years. (@Cowboys Fan for 35 years.) 1649907220
pic.twitter.com/FwR6gXVV6D— Rogue\ud83d\udd25Phoenix\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u2696\ufe0f\u270a\ud83c\udffd (@Rogue\ud83d\udd25Phoenix\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u2696\ufe0f\u270a\ud83c\udffd) 1649948318
Here are some more responses to Niceley’s comments on Hitler and homelessness:
I always say that I loathe Hitler analogies because they trivialize the Nazis and the Holocaust. But, wow. Hitler as a role model for the homeless? I really didn\u2019t see that one coming.— Pierre Atlas (@Pierre Atlas) 1649944302
Every time I think they've reached the limits of insanity, they always are able to dig a little deeper.— Russian Warship, Go F#ck Yourself \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udfde\ufe0f\u262e\ufe0f (@Russian Warship, Go F#ck Yourself \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udfde\ufe0f\u262e\ufe0f) 1649946076
I\u2019m still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor. I keep thinking they\u2019ve hit the bottom but they continue to dig deeper, and deeper, and deeper\u2026— Kelly D (@Kelly D) 1649907208
One minute you're sleeping under a bridge, the next you're invading Poland.— Michael E. (@Michael E.) 1649906517
The TN Legislature has passed so much insane legislation, I'm beginning to think Republicans are using my home state as a "Test kitchen." They probably think, "If we can get away with it there, we'll try it everywhere else." (Texas and Florida, too.)— Ed Jones (@Ed Jones) 1649933774
So homeless people should become calculated mass murders and thus they will be successful?? What is he trying to prove??— Spiritbee4 \ud83e\uddda\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\udc1d (@Spiritbee4 \ud83e\uddda\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\udc1d) 1649906527
"Every homeless person can, if they work hard and persevere, eventually murder millions of people. And it's a shame more of them don't have that kind of drive and determination. But if we stop mollycoddling them, that might change."— Charles Herold, Vaccinated Version (@Charles Herold, Vaccinated Version) 1649948130
