A Liberal supporter at a rally Thursday in northeastern Newfoundland used the word "fuehrer" to describe Danny Williams, prompting the party to move into damage control and some criticism from both the PC leader and the Jewish community.

Party supporter Jim Combden, speaking at the rally in the town of New-Wes-Valley, made a crack about how Progressive Conservative cabinet minister John Hickey had threatened to sue critics of his spending.

Liberal Leader Gerry Reid said a party supporter's remarks about Danny Williams were inappropriate.
(CBC)

"[Hickey] said, 'I will sue you if you speak on the open line programs, if you speak on legitimate airwaves, if you criticize my government, if you criticize my fuehrer, I will sue you,'" Combden told the rally, in the Bonavista North district.

Hickey has brought a lawsuit against former Liberal premier Roger Grimes for comments Grimes made about Hickey having been named in an audit about double-billing of constituency allowances.

After the rally, Combden said he only meant the remark as "just a joke," and said he was not comparing Williams to Adolf Hitler.

"What I meant is that Danny, I think his objective is to eliminate the opposition," Combden said.

"I think he wants all 48 seats himself and he has a lot of power and he's seeking more."

Liberal Leader Gerry Reid said the comments were totally inappropriate.

However, he said Combden made an honest mistake and the words just slipped out.

"I think he was joking," Reid said. "I mean Jim is an educator … and he got a little carried away like we all do when we get up there and get into a rant.

"I'm certain, knowing Jim Combden, that he didn't mean that."

Comment not funny, Williams, author say

On Friday, Williams said he had always expected the Liberals to get personal on the campaign trail.

"This is obviously a comment that was condoned at the highest level of the Liberal party," Williams said. "[That] wasn't a surprise to me."

Williams said he does not consider anything that refers to Hitler to be funny.

"I don't think it's funny, and I don't think people in Newfoundland and Labrador think it's funny, either," said Robin McGrath, a Happy Valley-Goose Bay writer who authored a book on the history of Jews in Newfoundland and Labrador.

McGrath was also disappointed with Reid's reaction.

"We trivialize real tragedy when we throw these words around," she said. "We may not agree with what Danny Williams is doing, but that is no excuse, to attack him in that way." 
 
Combden's remarks came the same day Winston Carter, the Liberal candidate in Bonavista North, claimed rural Newfoundland is experiencing an annihilation of its people, culture and existence.

The Progressive Conservatives hold 34 seats in the legislature heading into the campaign for the Oct. 9 election. The party, though, has had a lead in public opinion polls of as much as 60 points.

But launching the PC campaign earlier this week, Williams told supporters the party does not expect to sweep the province.