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Mayoral candidate Christine Quinn yesterday called on rival Anthony Weiner to apologize for likening the NYPD’s stop-and- frisk policy to Germany just before World War II.
“No one should be comparing New York City in 2013 to 1938 Germany. It’s an absurd statement, it’s an offensive statement, and he should apologize for suggesting it,” Quinn told The Post.
Quinn’s broadside comes as polls show she’s running right behind the former congressman in the multi-candidate Democratic race for mayor.
Other candidates also took Weiner to task.
“If Anthony Weiner can’t tell the difference between 1938 Germany and 2013 New York City, how on earth can we trust him to keep the city safe?” said Sal Albanese, who also rapped John Liu for likening the NYPD to Florida vigilantism.
“It’s an outrage that anyone who wants to lead this city and its Police Department would fan the flames and stoop to such appalling lows to gain a few votes.”
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio ripped Weiner’s “offensive rhetoric.”
Weiner triggered the firestorm after referencing wartime Germany during a speech to the predominately black congregation in Staten Island’s First Central Baptist Church on Sunday — a day after the controversial acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of black teen Trayvon Martin in Florida.
“And the mayor stood up and said, ‘Wait a minute, statistically this’ and ‘statistically that.’ Well, you can have 100 percent statistical reductions in crime if you stop everybody,” Weiner said.
“You could have 1938 Germany, because everyone has to show their papers,” Weiner said.
The Weiner campaign insisted his statements were being taken out of context.
“As Anthony has said, the context of the reference was the argument made by some that stopping innocent citizens was an acceptable cost for public safety. He was absolutely not equating 1938 Nazi Germany to New York City,” said Weiner spokeswoman Barbara Morgan.
Weiner declined further comment when directly asked about the criticism at a campaign event outside Bellevue Hospital.
The latest Quinnipiac Poll shows Weiner on top with 25 percent, followed by Quinn with 22.
The Democratic candidates are trying to appeal to liberal primary voters who are critical of stop-and-frisk.
As council speaker, Quinn championed a bill passed last month that creates an NYPD inspector general to monitor the practice.