Nebraska lawmaker compares American flag to Nazi swastika: ‘It’s a rag!’

State Sen. Ernie Chambers (I) compared the American flag to the Nazi swastika Tuesday night while on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature, according to the Washington Examiner.

What are the details?

Chambers made the remarks in response to a bill regarding educational requirements in civics. The bill would mandate that students be more literate in "knowledge in civics, history, economics, financial literacy, and geography," an update to current educational requirements.

Chambers, who does not support the bill because it reportedly teaches only one version of history, burst out in anger over having to respect the American flag.

"I don't come here for this rag every day, and it's a rag," he spat. "That's all it is to me."

He added, "When you show a way to persuade Jews to sanctify and worship the swastika, when you show me that, I'll come up here and stand while you all hypocritically pretend that rag is something that it definitely is not."

In 2007, Chambers attempted to sue God over "destruction and terrorization of millions" simply to make a point about futile lawsuits. In 2017, Chambers also called law enforcement his "ISIS." 

What was the response?

State Sen. Julie Slama (R), who introduced the bill, said, "Sen. Chambers' comments not only degrade a symbol of ultimate sacrifice for our nation, but they also minimize the horrors and millions of lives lost in the Holocaust."

State Sen. Tom Brewer (R) chimed in with an emotional response.

While introducing a separate bill that would affect military recruiters, Brewer — a 30-year military veteran — said, "I think I speak for most of us that have worn the uniform, it rips our heart out to hear someone say that they refer to the flag as a rag. Because for those of us that have brought home those that we've lost, it's hard to ever refer to the flag as a rag because you have to fold it and you have to get it to the parents, and that's awful hard to do."