By Donnie Fetter - Columbia County Bureau Chief | U.S. Rep. Paul Broun attacked President-elect Barack Obama’s agenda as “Marxist” and derided some fellow Republicans for abandoning conservative principles during a speech in Augusta on Friday, his first since being re-elected in Georgia’s 10th District.”In my opinion, we’ve elected a Marxist to be president of the United States,” Mr. Broun, R-Watkinsvile, said during a luncheon of the Martinez-Evans Rotary Club at the Doubletree Hotel.

The remark led Rotarian Lucinda Williams to defend Mr. Obama and question the intelligence of Sen. John McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Mr. Broun qualified his remark, saying he believes Mr. Obama’s policies of bigger government and shared wealth are Marxist.

“When Barack Obama is right, then I’ll support him,” he said. “When he is wrong, I’ll fight him.”

Mr. Broun also criticized Mr. McCain.

“I’m very disappointed with the McCain campaign,” he said. “In my opinion, it was inept.”

He said he believes Mr. McCain failed to adequately differentiate himself from President Bush and embrace conservative values.

He referred to Mr. McCain as a “milquetoast” Republican.>>>>Read the Full Article

BROUN CURIOUSLY SUBSEQUENTLY APOLOGIZES

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney (CNN) | Republican Paul Broun is sorry for calling President-elect Barack Obama a ‘Marxist’ and comparing him to Adolf Hitler, the Georgia Congressman said Tuesday.

“I regret putting it that way,” he told WGAC radio in Augusta, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I apologize to anyone who has taken offense at that.”

In an interview with the Associated Press earlier this week, Broun admitted to calling the future commander-in-chief a ‘Marxist’ at a recent Rotary club meeting, and said Obama has expressed support for policies similar to those of Hitler.

“It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is,>>>>Read the Full Article