Hitler & F1
Hitler & F1 LONDON (AP) - Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone faced criticism from politicians and Jewish groups Saturday after being quoted as saying that Adolf Hitler "got things done."
Criticism was swift and harsh following controversial remarks by Bernie Ecclestone.
In an interview with London's The Times newspaper, Ecclestone expressed a preference for "strong leaders," citing former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Max Mosley, outgoing head of Formula One's governing body, as examples.
He was quoted as saying that democracy "hasn't done a lot of good for many countries -- including this one."
"In a lot of ways, terrible to say this I suppose, but apart from the fact that Hitler got taken away and persuaded to do things that I have no idea whether he wanted to do or not, he was in the way that he could command a lot of people, able to get things done," Ecclestone was quoted as saying.
"In the end he got lost, so he wasn't a very good dictator."
Ecclestone also said the West had been wrong to depose Iraq's Sadam Hussein, saying: "He was the only one who could control that country."
The Board of Deputies of British Jews told The Times that Ecclestone's views were "quite bizarre," and Jewish Chronicle editor Stephen Pollard said he was "either an idiot or morally repulsive."
Calls to Ecclestone's London office were not immediately returned Saturday.
Ecclestone, who owns F1's commercial rights, is no stranger to controversial remarks. He once said women should dress in white "like all other domestic appliances."
In The Times interview, Ecclestone said that had been a joke, adding "I would love to have a good lady race driver and preferably black and Jewish too, but they might take maternity leave."
Criticism was swift and harsh following controversial remarks by Bernie Ecclestone.
In an interview with London's The Times newspaper, Ecclestone expressed a preference for "strong leaders," citing former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Max Mosley, outgoing head of Formula One's governing body, as examples.
He was quoted as saying that democracy "hasn't done a lot of good for many countries -- including this one."
"In a lot of ways, terrible to say this I suppose, but apart from the fact that Hitler got taken away and persuaded to do things that I have no idea whether he wanted to do or not, he was in the way that he could command a lot of people, able to get things done," Ecclestone was quoted as saying.
"In the end he got lost, so he wasn't a very good dictator."
Ecclestone also said the West had been wrong to depose Iraq's Sadam Hussein, saying: "He was the only one who could control that country."
The Board of Deputies of British Jews told The Times that Ecclestone's views were "quite bizarre," and Jewish Chronicle editor Stephen Pollard said he was "either an idiot or morally repulsive."
Calls to Ecclestone's London office were not immediately returned Saturday.
Ecclestone, who owns F1's commercial rights, is no stranger to controversial remarks. He once said women should dress in white "like all other domestic appliances."
In The Times interview, Ecclestone said that had been a joke, adding "I would love to have a good lady race driver and preferably black and Jewish too, but they might take maternity leave."
if you take a look at what hitler did, disregarding the right/wrong issue, he was one of the most persuasive, influental leaders in modern history. if he was only 'good instead of evil', he could built germany into one of the greatest superpowers on the planet, in the 40s. watch some WWII documentaries, and pay attention when the narrator says 'the allies bombed synthetic oil and fuel factories'. they had synthetic oil AND fuel....in the 40s. synth oil has only just hit the major market in the past 15yrs, and we still have no such thing as synth fuel. just imagine what the world would be like if the technology was grown over the past 60yrs, instead of relying on big oil telling us we need dino oil and gas forever. we would have never seen $4/gallon gas, and would probably have never step foot in the middle east (oil oil oil).
he was one of the most persuasive, influental leaders in modern history. if he was only 'good instead of evil', he could built germany into one of the greatest superpowers on the planet, in the 40s. watch some WWII documentaries, and pay attention when the narrator says 'the allies bombed synthetic oil and fuel factories'. they had synthetic oil AND fuel....in the 40s. synth oil has only just hit the major market in the past 15yrs, and we still have no such thing as synth fuel. just imagine what the world would be like if the technology was grown over the past 60yrs, instead of relying on big oil telling us we need dino oil and gas forever. we would have never seen $4/gallon gas, and would probably have never step foot in the middle east (oil oil oil).
But I agree, that aside he did appear to have the potential to be a brilliant leader.
It's almost (on a much SMALLER scale LOL) similar to a Michael Jackson dilemma/question.
The guy was very philanthropic and generous when it came to children, often opening his home and his wallet to those in need, but if (and I do say if) it was all just a front or ulterior motive to also be able to open his pants and mouth to them as well does it really matter how 'giving' he was?
No, we can't ignore the good in people simply because they did/do something bad but some crimes really are truly unforgivable.
