Joe the plumber denies Holocaust remarks

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TOLEDO, Ohio, June 21 (UPI) -- Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher is defending his pro-gun campaign video against critics who accuse him of blaming the Holocaust on gun control.

The Ohio Republican congressional candidate denies the accusations.

"All I said was gun control was implemented then governments proceeded to violate human rights," he said. "Nowhere did I mention the Holocaust or was I even talking about it."

In the video, Wurzelbacher loads a shotgun for target practice while a narrator says:

"In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were exterminated. In 1939, Germany established gun control. From 1938 to 1945, 6 million Jews and 7 million others, unable to defend themselves, were exterminated."

Wurzelbacher, gun in hand, then declares to the camera, "I love America." The (Toledo) Blade reported by Wednesday, the video had already been viewed on YouTube nearly 20,000 times.

"Joe the Plumber needs to go back and watch his own stupid video," said Steve Fought, campaign manager for Wurzelbacher's opponent, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo. "He sounds like he is a stranger to personal responsibility, but very clearly talked about what he called genocide in Armenia and the Holocaust."

"[Wurzelbacher] is just surprised by how many people around the country reacted to his ignorant comments and he is trying to weasel out of it," Fought added.

Wurzelbacher earned the moniker "Joe the Plumber" during the 2008 presidential election. He made several campaign appearances with Sen. John McCain, used as an example of a small business owner who would supposedly be subject to higher taxes under President Obama.