Pittsburgh Tea Party Chair Patti Weaver (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review photo)

An earlier version of this post repeated those claims — along with Weaver’s denial.

Today, the paper posted this correction:

In a Butler Eagle article published April 28 on a Tea Party Express event in Cranberry Township, Patti Weaver, organizer and head of the Pittsburgh Tea Party, was quoted comparing President Barack Obama to the Nazi reign in Germany during World War II.
– Weaver did not make that statement.
– At the event in North Boundary Park, Weaver said that George Soros, a billionaire supporter of Obama, had, as a youth, collaborated with Nazis and stole items left behind by Jews.
– Weaver said that Soros’ activities at that time were evil. She suggested that people are judged by their friends and supporters, noting Soros’ support for Obama.

Weaver’s comments about Soros reference claims by some on the right that Soros was a Nazi collaborator.

Weaver is an elected representative for Allegheny County on the Pennsylvania’s Republican state committee and mounted an aborted campaign for Allegheny County Controller in 2011.

Speaking along with Republican U.S. Senate nominee Tom Smith, a former coal mining CEO, Weaver also told the audience of about 100 people that Obama “wants the country to fail.”

Another report from the rally noted that she said Obama “wants our country to follow Europe into bankruptcy” and to “demonize prosperity.” In a 2010 video, she warned that “we’re moving from a Republic to really a Socialist country.”

Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA)

Fitzpatrick was listing the reasons why voters should not support the President, and for reason number three, he told the audience that President Obama would have no qualms auctioning off state secrets to foreign countries.

The Huffington Post flagged Fitzpatrick’s comments, which were distributed by the progressive advocacy group Credo SuperPAC:

“When he left the microphone on in Russia, we all heard what he said … left unrestrained, without the inhibitions of the next election — he’d have flexibility, he said, flexibility to do what he wants to do. Whether it’s trade away … the secrets of our national intelligence, to, what he could do to the United States Supreme Court in the next four years.”

Watch it (the remarks begin at around the 4 minute mark):

Selling state secrets is treason — a capital offense, punishable by death. Accusing the president of conspiring to commit treason is a stretch, even by Tea Party standards. Fitzpatrick was extrapolating wildly from an off-the-cuff remark made by President Obama to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that was captured by a TV network’s microphone.

Ironically, it’s Fitzgerald who has run into some constitutional hot water. He and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) failed to be sworn into office last January before casting votes on the house floor, a move that Republicans had to scramble to fix by passing a resolution.

Romney with the offending cookies

Unfortunately, for Romney, they came from Bethel Bakery — “a longtime South Hills staple,” according to a local ABC affiliate. Some loyal patrons were outraged by Romney’s put down of their local baked goods. “Maybe he’s just used to eating cookies with diamonds in them,” one customer said on Facebook, according to bakery owner John Walsh. Another suggested, “I think the Bethel Bakery should make a new cookie, called ‘The Romney’, and have the top be encrusted with something that resembles diamonds.”

Watch Romney’s remarks:

Walsh, a Republican whose parents opened the bakery in 1955, said, “Initially, we were incensed that he would think that Bethel Bakery is comparable to the 7-Eleven.” But then he saw an opportunity. Now, the bakery is offering a “CookieGate” special — “buy a dozen of our cookies, get a half dozen free all day today!” Not surprisingly, many people have turned out for free (if diamondless) cookies.

House Candidate Evan Feinberg (R-PA)

Yesterday, former Rep. Dick Armey’s (R-TX) FreedomWorks for America Super PAC reported that it has spent $26,500 on a media buy in support of Feinberg. The group has endorsed him, calling him a “strong supporter of a smaller, limited, and more fiscally responsible government,” and labeling the occasionally moderate incumbent as “big government Republican Tim Murphy.”

But an examination of Feinberg’s 23-page fiscal proposal, “Turning the Lights Back On: Restoring the Shining City,” reveals a candidate who not only wants to eliminate the Departments of Energy and Education, but also wants to do away with some of the most important federal programs to our nation’s security.

Some of his controversial policies show how the anti-government Tea Party agenda’s goes:

Complete elimination of the Strategic Peteroleum Reserve. As part of his plan to eliminate the entire Department of Energy, he proposes we eliminate the emergency supply of crude oil stocked by the nation to protect our energy supply in a time of crisis. Without this supply, foreign countries could exert unimaginable influence over our by threatening to disrupt the supply of crude oil — or actually doing so.

Elimination of several key parts of the Department of Homeland Security. Among the things he wants to eliminate: the Emergency Operation Centers, the Office of Bombing Prevention, and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.

Elimination of federal anti-gang efforts from the Department of Justice. He proposes to eliminate National Gang Intelligence Center and the National Gang Targeting, Enforcement, and Coordination Center.

Feinberg’s more than $9 trillion in proposed cuts, over ten years, would not only decimate the federal government as we know it, they would destroy vital programs needed to keep America safe and secure.