(The Root) — President Barack Obama has been called many variations of "leader" during his presidency, but one Arizona state representative has taken it upon herself to refer to him as "De Fuhrer" — a term typically associated with genocidal dictator Adolf Hitler.
"Someone is paying the National Park Service thugs overtime for their efforts to carry out the order of De Fuhrer … where are our Constitutional Sheriffs who can revoke the Park Service Rangers authority to arrest??? Do we have any Sheriffs with a pair?" Rep. Brenda Barton, a Republican representing Payson, Ariz., wrote Monday on her Facebook wall.
Barton, upset about the continued government shutdown, accused Obama of "punishing" the people while continuing what she depicted as a lavish lifestyle. "While the POTUS continues to punish the American people; he keeps open his golf course, he keeps open Camp David, and he retains his and his wife's excessive staff and stable of Czars! I'll bet he has kept in service his 3 food tasters!!!" she also added yesterday to her wall.
The Republican politician repeatedly referred to Obama being in some type of dictatorial position. Barton also appeared to have little love for Obama's key legislation, the Affordable Care Act. "The Chief Executive is acting as an Imperial President; without regard to his citizens, only caring about his agenda," she said. "With all the exemptions he has unilaterally bestowed on many interest groups, could he not delay the ACA Individual Mandate for a single year? Without regard for the elected House of Representatives. What do you call that?"
Her blunt comments have received some backlash. A Democratic representative from her state took to Twitter to express his distate: "@Barton4Az You owe an apology to the President, and Arizona for embarrassing us," he tweeted.
Barton, however, remained unapologetic. "He's dictating beyond his authority," she said in a telephone interview with the Arizona Capitol Times. "It's not just the death camps. [Hitler] started in the communities, with national health care and gun control. You better read your history. Germany started with national health care and gun control before any of that other stuff happened. And Hitler was elected by a majority of people.
"It got your attention," she added. "He's doing something controversial. It's not controversial that I'm criticizing him … I don't think that's controversial at all."