There’s a fine line between a genius and a crazy old man. Representative Paul Broun ran past that line a long, long time ago.

Making headlines is nothing new to Broun, a congressman who has always been two steps shy of catering exclusively to the tinfoil-hat crowd.

Last Friday, Broun proved to be less of a doctor and more of a dingbat by calling out President-elect Barack Obama as a “Marxist” at a luncheon sponsored by the Martinez-Evans Rotary Club.

Not satisfied with the lack of fire storm, Broun felt the need to “clarify” his comments on Tuesday.

This time, he made it clear that not only was Obama a “Marxist,” but he was showing shades of becoming the next Adolf Hitler.

Broun, of course, was referencing Obama’s proposed initiative to expand programs such as AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps in addition to a new domestic service organization that would aid in rebuilding infrastructure following natural disasters. According to the savant that represents the 10th District, “That’s exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany.”

Broun contends that he’s not actually comparing Obama to Hitler, but he believes that “there is the potential.”

I hate to be the one to give Broun a lesson on common sense, but if you say someone’s policies or positions are “what Hitler did in Nazi Germany,” you’re comparing him to Hitler.

Like any politician, Broun has since apologized, but only in the manner truly befitting a whack job.

Though he’s sorry for “comparing” Obama to Hitler, he isn’t sorry for “stating the obvious: his socialist views are out of the mainstream of American political thought.”

Maybe Broun hasn’t noticed Obama was elected with the support of 53 percent of the popular vote. That seems pretty mainstream to me.

Then again, it’s quite possible Broun is the one outside of the mainstream. This is the genius who thinks Jesus co-wrote the Constitution, feels that the FAA and FDA are unconstitutional government regulators, has decried Social Security as unconstitutional, and wants to ban Playboy on military bases.

Broun boasts his legislative agenda comes from the Bible and the Constitution – two documents he claims to have read. If that’s the case, I’m excited I’ll be able to sell my future daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. I wonder what price Congressman Broun thinks I should ask for.

Maybe while he’s at it, he can give me a reason why he feels people somehow need semiautomatic weapons but soldiers shouldn’t be able to read whichever magazine they wish.

Since he’s such a big proponent of guns, I’ll put this in terms Broun can understand. The man is a .22 caliber mind in a .357 magnum world.

The “mainstream” Broun feels Obama is out of touch with left our congressman a long time ago.

- Kirk Carter is a junior from Athens majoring in international affairs and international business.