Gov. Charlie Crist is as cordial as they come in the political world. But his office may have went a bit too far with a “thank you” letter sent to a Pasco County man who had mailed Crist a copy of a Nazi-era anti-Semitic video.
The movie is “Jud Suss” and John Ubele sent Crist a DVD copy earlier this year. The movie, according to www.holocaustresearchproject.org, was made in 1940 in Nazi Germany and tells a convoluted tale that ends with Jewish residents of a region being expelled.
Ubele is running for the state House in Pasco County. His website decries accusations that he is a white separatist, but he is endorsed on David Duke’s website as “unmistakeably a pro-white candidate.” A visit to Ubele’s websites, including one for the “Nationalist Coalition,” show links to anti-Semitic books and leaflets.
In the letter mailed from Crist’s office on June 30 and posted online by Ubele, the governor says “Thank you for sending me the DVD ‘Jud Suss.’ It is my pleasure to accept this on behalf of myself and the people of Florida. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in sharing this DVD … Thank you again for your generosity.”
“Of course we appreciate him helping us with our efforts to awaken our people with the video,” Ubele wrote on a blog at a Nationalist Coalition site.
Crist, like many statewide officials, receives hundreds of items and letters from people every year and the formality of a generic “thank you” is protocol. A separate office of “Citizens Services” handles the governor’s mail and generates responses as well as courtesy letters for things like birthdays and military service.
The letter is signed by Crist and the initials at the bottom of the page indicating who wrote and reviewed the letter include the initials “CC.”
UPDATE: Crist sent out a stern letter late Friday night, asking Ubele to pull a copy of Crist's original form letter from the website.
"This letter is written to correct an inexcusable mistake made by staff in my office. reflected in a letter of June 30, 2009 regarding the DVD Jud Suss. Unfortunately, that letter was sent by staff prior to any review of the content of the DVD. Subsequently, my staff has reviewed the DVD and advised me of the content.
"I am now writing to unequivocally advise you that neither I, not anyone in this administration agree with or condone the anti-Semitic content of this DVD. This DVD contains anti-Semitic propaganda filmed in Nazi Germany. It is laden with crude, anti-Semitic stereotypes and was unfortunately used by the Nazi regime to facilitate the Holocaust. The murder of over six million Jews in World War II is an abhorrent but real episode of man's inhumanity to man.
"I am advised that you have posted by June 30, 2009 letter on your Web site. Since that letter was sent in error and does not reflect my view, I request that you immediately remove it from your Web site, and any other representation therein that I or anyone in my administration agree with or condone the anti-Semitic content of this DVD."
