On MSNBC’s Ed Show on Thursday, despite initially regretting his comparison of Republicans to Nazis, Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen later doubled down: “[Indiana Congressman] Mike Pence talked about government takeover of health care….he wants to be concise, careful, and consistent. Well, that’s somebody…who lived in a previous century who worked for bad people, that’s what he did.” [Audio available here]Host Ed Schultz offered no challenge to that statement as he wrapped up the segment, simply replying, “sure.” In the question that preceded Cohen’s attack on Pence, Schultz even tried to defend the Tennessee Congressman’s Tuesday outburst on the House floor in which he claimed Republicans were using Nazi propaganda tactics in their opposition to ObamaCare: “I think a lot of liberals in this country admire you for calling them [Republicans] liars because the numbers are what they are….you’re talking about a messaging machine that they definitely have followed to get their point across about health care, which you think is having an effect.”The interview actually started out seeming to be an opportunity for Cohen to apologize for his Tuesday comments, with Schultz asking: “Congressman, did you go too far there?” Cohen seemed hesitantly remorseful: “Well, apparently so because a lot of people, I guess, hold a strict liability rule on mentioning the Holocaust or anything….I’ve learned that lesson, I guess.” However, he quickly added: “But everything I said was true and I think people agree that it was true. That there’s been a message. It’s been given over and over and over and it’s a lie.”Shultz followed up: “But do you feel like you, you know, brought us to a point where there should not have been a comparison, because the Holocaust was so horrific, as opposed to a repeal on health care?…Are you sorry for making the connection?” Cohen was more affirmative in an apology: “I definitely am. And I’m sorry any Jewish people, my Republican colleagues, or anybody, got the wrong impression….I hate if I participated in anything that made my congress, which I’m greatly honored to be a member of, or my district, which I love, have any problems.”To be completely clear, Schultz then asked Cohen: “Would you say that you would not use that term again?” Cohen replied: “Never.” Schultz noted: “Because, you know, the Tea Party has been criticized for carrying Nazi signs at rallies…now a Democratic Congressman goes out and you say you’re sorry for that tonight. But if we’re talking about tone in America, this can’t be tolerated, can it?” Cohen agreed: “No. I’m not going to do it again. I’ve my learned my lesson.”However, only seconds later, Shultz was justifying the Nazi comparison and Cohen was comparing Pence to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.

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