J.D. Hayworth: ‘U.S. Never Formally Declared War On Hitler’s Germany’

video

by Glynnis MacNicol | 7:11 pm, May 24th, 2010

» 31 comments

Yesterday, brought us media pundits stumbling through basic citizenship questions, today brings us John McCain nemesis J.D. Hayworth stumbling through basic U.S. history questions…sort of. Hayworth is making some headlines for telling an audience member at local GOP gathering that technically speaking the U.S. never declared war in Nazi Germany. Cue collective gasp (and a lot of Texas textbook jokes). But does he have any wiggle room? Here’s what he said in full in response to an audience member who remarked on how the U.S. no longer formally declares war in modern conflicts:

I would also point out, that if we want to be sticklers, the war that Dwight Eisenhower led in Europe against the Third Reich was never declared by the United States Congress…Recall, the Congress passed a war resolution against Japan. Germany declared war on us two days later. We never formally declared war on Hitler’s Germany, and yet we fought the war. [And later, when an audience member disagreed] I think we should check it. Perhaps we made the rationalization — since there was the Axis alliance — that the attack of Japan was tantamount to the attack of the Third Reich. But as I recall in my history, Germany declared war on the United States, not vice-versa.”

Obviously, the U.S. went to war against Nazi Germany. Maybe Hayworth was trying to say the U.S. didn’t declare war unprovoked and got overzealous? Regardless, here’s where Hayworth (or at least his spokesperson) seems to think the wiggle room comes in. Following Pearl Harbor the U.S. Congress resolved to declare war against Japan, and shortly thereafter proceeded to attack Japan as best it could with its damaged fleet. The rules of the Tripartite Pact required that Nazi Germany declare war on any country that attacked Japan, which they did on Dec 11, 1941. Later that same day in a message to Congress, Roosevelt requested “the Congress to recognize a state of war between the United States and Germany, and between the United States and Italy.” And Congress resolved “that the state of war between the United States and the Government of Germany which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared.”

The language of the two war resolutions is more or less identical, except for two lines: Japan “committed unprovoked acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America” and Germany “formally declared war against the government and the people of the United States of America:” Either way, in the lines that followed war was officially “declared.”

Hayworth is now attempting to split some hairs by saying he was referring to Roosevelt’s “message,” regarding Germany but the outcome, and the wording of the outcome, is the same. Probably in the future Hayworth should just stick with the basic facts and not attempt any frivolous interpretation. Video below.

[h/t TPM]

Hitler, J.D. Hayworth, John McCain, World War II

JohnSimpson

JD, just tell them you fought in WWII- that kind of stuff is more acceptable.
felixw

Another “Gotcha” moment, which is the entire thrust of the Left nowadays. This time, the Left needs to go back 69 years to play “Gotcha” with a Republican. Maybe we can debate the Teapot Dome scandal or the Battle of Bull Run next week.
Level Headed American

How is that a “Gotcha” moment? Did somebody ask him about American history and Germany?

No, this American patriot attempt to use it to support something he has done.
Jelperman

The guy is a liar and a retard. The Navy didn’t launch any offensive action for weeks. Hitler and Mussolini didn’t declare war because of any treaty obligation, since it was obvious Japan struck first. They simply decided to pile on, and the Congress declared war on them (Dec 11, 1941) in return.

History is too important to be left in the hands of Teabaggers.
Jackie_Treehorn

felixw says:
May 24, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Another “Gotcha” moment, which is the entire thrust of the Left nowadays. This time, the Left needs to go back 69 years to play “Gotcha” with a Republican. Maybe we can debate the Teapot Dome scandal or the Battle of Bull Run next week.

“Gotcha” moment? Is this how the party of imbeciles reassures themselves?
JohnSimpson

Jelperman says:
May 24, 2010 at 9:30 pm

The guy is a liar and a retard. ”

No you are a liar and retard!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/11/newsid_3532000/3532401.stm

1941: Germany and Italy declare war on US

Germany and Italy have announced they are at war with the United States. America immediately responded by declaring war on the two Axis powers.

Three days ago, US President Franklin Roosevelt announced America was at war with Japan, the third Axis power, following the surprise attack on its naval base at Pearl Harbor.

Today Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, made his declaration first – from the balcony over the Piazza Venezia in Rome – pledging the “powers of the pact of steel” were determined to win.

Then Adolf Hitler made his announcement at the Reichstag in Berlin saying he had tried to avoid direct conflict with the US but, under the Tripartite Agreement signed on 27 September 1940, Germany was obliged to join with Italy to defend its ally Japan.
Jelperman

For Republitards, the subject of “who started WW2?” is arcane and obscure.
JohnSimpson

Jackie_Treehorn says:
May 24, 2010 at 9:51 pm

“Gotcha” moment? Is this how the party of imbeciles reassures themselves?”

Ask Jelperman who just showed he is a retard!
JohnSimpson

Jelperman says:
May 24, 2010 at 10:05 pm

You are the retard, libby!

You know nothing about who declared war on whom.
Rogue-Comic

Jelperman says:
May 24, 2010 at 9:30 pm
“History is too important to be left in the hands of Teabaggers.”

Spoken like a man who may have had a point but in the end decided he didn’t want to be taken seriously.
http://www.youtube.com/cmdrgmh cmdrgmh

No wonder you teabaggers want to rewrite history, Because you really don’t know it. Did any of you even go to school???
proudpatriotusa

J.D. Hayworth is all mouth.
Jelperman

John Simpson, you are a lying, useless little retard, aren’t you? Here’s what the actual text of the Tripartite Pact says:

ARTICLE 3. Japan, Germany, and Italy agree to cooperate in their efforts on aforesaid lines. They further undertake to assist one another with all political, economic and military means if one of the Contracting Powers is attacked by a Power at present not involved in the European War or in the Japanese-Chinese conflict.

Luckily, most of us didn’t learn history from a Texas textbook, so we know that it was Japan who attacked the U.S.A. Read the official notice handed to American diplomats by the Nazis that Hitler had declared war. There is no mention of Japan:

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/germany-declares.htm

Or you can read Hitler’s speech to the Reichstag, where Japan is barely mentioned at all, let alone as a cause for war:

http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1941/411211b.html

Most of this tirade is about what an evil man Franklin Roosevelt was, that he had ruined the country with the New Deal, that he was in league with greedy bankers…

In other words, the same steaming pile of horseshit Glenn Beck serves up every day, only Hitler didn’t need a chalkboard.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kam-Fet/572005492 Kam Fet

The tea bag/Party movement keeps on digging, when its not necessary. First it was Paul, then The cow boy from Texas now this. I don’t know why they have to go into matters that has been decided. Answering to hypothetical questions, rather than matters that currently affect the everyday people.
The Real Royal King

On behalf of moderate Americans across our great nation, I want to the thank the J.D.’s of our nation and all their tea-partying and extreme rightist cohorts for being a constant source for these “gotcha” moments. The pleasure you have given those of us who didn’t sleep through American history and government classes in school is immense. Just as the Drop Out Governor of Alaska became as stale as a thrice-used tea bag, J.D. and Rand come along to keep the show moving. It is a wondrous gift you have given us.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-Callan/100000200979966 Joe Callan

“If I recall my history…”

The end of that statement was supposed to be “…I grew up in a parallel dimension and experienced a different chain of causality then the rest of you.”
JohnSimpson

Jelperman says:

You are an idiot! Article 3 proves my point- The USA was not involved in the war until Japan attacked the USA.

On 7 December (8 December in Asian time zones), 1941, Japan attacked British and American holdings with near-simultaneous offensives against Southeast Asia and the Central Pacific. These included an attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, landings in Thailand and Malaya and the battle of Hong Kong.

These attacks prompted the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, other Western Allies,and China (already fighting the Second Sino-Japanese War), to formally declare war on Japan. Germany and the other members of the Tripartite Pact responded by declaring war on the United States.

Yes, you idiot, two countries just declares war on the US for the hell of it.
The_Reasonable_Lib

Sorry, Hayworth, but here’s the president’s letter and Congress’ response:
http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/germwar.shtml
Those of you who sympathize with Hayworth are also wrong.
The_Reasonable_Lib

felixw says:
May 24, 2010 at 7:57 pm
The way that you rationalize things truly baffles me. Your man is caught in a blatant lie, and you blame the other side for calling him on it? So I guess we can say that Blumenthal was a gotcha moment? Yeah, there ya go.
senor

Well, I teach American History, and I think Hayworth is right. The United States Congress took no action against Germany until after Germany had declared war on us. In fact, I have often wondered what would have happened if Hitler had told Japan, “Too bad, so sad. You attacked the U.S. and now you deal with them.” Would the U.S. have declared war on Germany if Germany had not done so first? Maybe not. We were so pissed at Japan I think we might have focused our anger there. There is no evidence that I know of that Hitler knew Pearl Harbor was about to happen, so given his propensity for breaking treaties, I’m not sure one more would have mattered.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Larry-Gibby/1360313052 Larry Gibby

Jelperman, you excel at vituperation and invective but your adolescent, purile approach to reasonable discussion is a joke. Have a plateful of this, wimpy:

Whereas the Government of Germany has formally declared war against the Government and the people of the United States of America:

Therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Government of Germany which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Government of Germany; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.

Approved, December 11, 1941, 3:05 p.m., E. S. T.
Jackie_Treehorn

senor says:
May 25, 2010 at 11:46 am

Well, I teach American History, and I think Hayworth is right. The United States Congress took no action against Germany until after Germany had declared war on us.

Well then I’d hate to have you as a teacher because as TRL showed Roosevelt did infact formally declare war on Germany and it’s allies. Hayworth the imbecile is wrong, and you are wrong.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Larry-Gibby/1360313052 Larry Gibby

And, by the way, we owe Japan a debt of gratitude for pulling us out of the economic landfill Roosevelt got us into. Nothing he did eased the misery of the depression. Ten years! Comprende?
senor

Jackie, you obviously can’t read. The U.S. formally declared war on Germany and Italy on December 11, after Germany had declared war on us. Later in the same day means later in the same day. Geez.
Jelperman

Well, I teach American History, and I think Hayworth is right.

No wonder the average person is such an ignoramus when it comes to history: the teachers are ignorant too.

You are an idiot! Article 3 proves my point- The USA was not involved in the war until Japan attacked the USA.

The treaty says “attacked by”, you lying putz. The USA did not attack Japan until weeks after Pearl Harbor, moron. I never said Italy and Germany declared war “for the hell of it”. They joined in because American ships were already actively escorting cargo ships in the Atlantic, and a naval war between the US and Japan seemed like the ideal time to pile on.
Jackie_Treehorn

senor says:
May 25, 2010 at 12:45 pm

Jackie, you obviously can’t read. The U.S. formally declared war on Germany and Italy on December 11, after Germany had declared war on us. Later in the same day means later in the same day. Geez.

Ok so the US formally declared war? Even you said it! So Hayworth is a dumbass. Thanks for proving me right….
homie

Hayworth must have gone to school in Wasilla.
Jelperman

Larry Gibby says:
May 25, 2010 at 12:28 pm

And, by the way, we owe Japan a debt of gratitude for pulling us out of the economic landfill Roosevelt got us into. Nothing he did eased the misery of the depression. Ten years! Comprende?

Cutting unemployment in half is “nothing”? By the way, the Depression started over three years before FDR took office, so how exactly did he “get us into” it? Unless -like Hitler (see link above)- you think FDR orchestrated the Depression. That puts you in the same boat as Der Fuhrer, Amity Shlaes and Glenn Beck.
Nachi

Wouldn’t be surprised if 80% of current Murcuhn “Patriots” were filled with this same ignorance. It is everywhere. They speak a lot – but know nothing.
Ted

Hayworth is a moronic tea-bagger and most could have guessed that with their left nut tied behind their back.
http://reidreport.com j2thaizzo

“History is too important to be left in the hands of Teabaggers.”
—-
Now THAT’s a catchphrase. Well done.