(JTA) — A Maryland congressman apologized for referring to the Holocaust as he discussed his opposition to federal involvement in providing student loans.
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) apologized Thursday for the remarks, which drew criticism.
“While explaining my position on an important Constitutional issue I regrettably used an extreme example as a comparison that was ill-advised and inappropriate," Bartlett said in a statement. "I should never use something as horrific as the Holocaust to make a political point, and I deeply apologize to anyone I may have offended.”
In his initial comments at a town hall meeting on Wednesday, Bartlett had argued that the federal government lacked the authority under the Constitution to offer student loans and warned of a "slippery slope" if the Constitution is ignored.
"If you can ignore the Constitution to do something good today, tomorrow you will be ignoring the Constitution to do something bad," he said, adding: " The Holocaust that occurred in Germany — how in the heck could that happen? And when you start down the wrong road, it can be a very slippery slope.”
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