You know, if these Republicans really resent Godwin references (at least, in reference to themselves), it might be easier to avoid them if they didn't open themselves up by hiring someone like Fred Malek:

Bob McDonnell's choice for Chairman of [the Governor's Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring], Fred Malek, is kind of scary on the topic of government restructuring:

"Malek is best known in political circles for resigning in 1988 as George Bush's hand-picked deputy chairman for the Republican National Committee after the Post's Walter Pincus and Bob Woodward reported that 17 years earlier, Malek had, at Richard Nixon's request, counted the number of Jews then working for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Thirteen, if you must know, though Malek only looked at 35 of the bureau's 50 top employees.) "

Some people might ask- what is the statute of limitations on a mistake someone made like this 40 years ago? I don't think such a thing exists when you are talking about identifying and counting the number of Jews in government positions less than 30 years after the Holocaust. It's petrifying that this could have happened in this country.

If you're interested in delving into this nasty business of Nixon's anti-Semitic paranoia, Slate has the full story. Of course, the man who thinks we should have a Confederate History Month and that working women are a threat to the family and contraception should be illegal cannot be accused of having the sensitivity to realize what a disgusting man Malek is. Because Republicans forgive all sins except not being conservative enough in their perception or being willing to work with Democrats (Sorry, Bob Bennett), it should come as no surprise that Malek also worked on McCain's campaign, and by the looks of his personal blog, has worked up a nice career as a TV talking head.

Sigh. It just goes to show you that old bigots never fade away in the GOP, they just keep getting hired again and again. The Not Larry Sabato blog has a statement from a Virginia state delegate:

UPDATE: Statement from Delegate David Englin:

While I support the effort to create a top-level commission to recommend policies to reform government, it is deeply disturbing that Governor McDonnell would appoint as its chair Fred Malek, whose history in "reforming" government includes creating lists of Jews serving in government to track and remove from government service. Was there really no more qualified individual in Virginia to lead this panel? Has he done anything to disavow and make amends for his previous anti-Semitism? Otherwise, it's one more slap in the face from McDonnell to Jewish state employees, coming right on the heels of allowing uniformed state police chaplains to proselytize to Jewish troopers and their families. These continued missteps from the McDonnell Administration are distractions from the competent and effective governing Virginians expect and deserve.