Democratic Flashback: Truman Compared Dewey to Hitler

President Bush's decision to invoke the Sept. 11 attacks in a campaign commercial has Democrats livid.

But when it comes to politicizing America's wars, Bush has nothing on Democratic icon Harry Truman, who actually demonized his opponent by comparing him to Adolf Hitler in campaign speeches.

The New York Times chronicled some of Truman's incendiary rhetoric in its Oct. 26, 1948, edition, in a report on a Truman campaign speech in Chicago against New York Republican Thomas Dewey.

"President Likens Dewey to Hitler as Facists' Tool," read the Times headline, followed by the subhead, "Dictatorship Stressed."

The Times headline writer continued, "Truman Tells Chicago Audience a Republican Victory Will Threaten U.S. Liberty - Says When Bigots, Profiteers Get Control of Country They Select 'Front Man' to Rule."

This from the hero of the party that goes ballistic today at the mere hint that a Republican is "questioning our patriotism."

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