Fringe group likens Obama to Hitler

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NOVATO, Calif., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Followers of political fringe activist Lyndon LaRouche are getting under the skin of some Californians for linking U.S. President Obama to Adolf Hitler.

A LaRouche political action committee is promoting six congressional candidates, including one in California, the Marin Independent Journal in Novato, Calif., reported Sunday. The group has put up posters in Marin County showing Obama with the small mustache favored by the World War II-era Nazi Germany leader, prompting complaints to police and public officials, the newspaper said.

The LaRouche supporters also have displayed a large sign calls the National Defense Authorization Act "Obama's Hitler act." The measure Obama signed into law in January gives the federal government more authority to combat terrorism and formalizes the practice of indefinite detention of terrorism suspects without trial.

"It's disgusting; they've got the mustache of Hitler on him," said Virginia Thompson of Point Reyes Station.

LaRouche canvasser Fred Douglas said the anti-terrorism legislation is akin to World War II-era Nazi Germany. "If this isn't remotely close to fascism then what is?" he asked.

Tiburon police Sgt. Allen Klemme said officers have gone out to check on LaRouche canvassers but haven't found any infractions.

"A lot of people call and say this mustache is offensive and they want it taken down," Klemme said. "But we really can't do anything because they have the right to free speech."

LaRouche, 89, was a frequent candidate for president between 1976 and 2004. He was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in 1988 and sentenced to 15 years in jail. He was released in 1994.