WASHINGTON (AP) - Georgia's Democratic Party says Rep. Paul
Broun of Athens is proving to be part of an extremist political fringe by calling President-elect Obama a Marxist.

Party spokesman Martin Matheny says Broun's comments are "ridiculous'' and "undignified'' for a member of Congress. He has
called on Broun to stop playing partisan politics and focus on legislating.

In a speech to an Augusta-area Rotary Club last week, Broun called Obama a Marxist. He warned in a subsequent interview with The Associated Press that Obama could be planning to form a domestic security force like Hitler did in Nazi Germany so that he can rule as a dictator.

Broun succeeded the late Republican Rep. Charlie Norwood of Augusta and is in his second term.

In a statement sent to NBC Augusta 26 News, Rep. Broun admits he's gotten a lot of media attention for his comment. But he suggests the media further examine Obama's views.

"The focus really should be more on Barack Obama’s remarks than upon what I have said about them," Broun said in the statement.

"One would think that back in July members of the media should have begun asking Mr. Obama exactly what he meant. Since they did not, I think it is perfectly appropriate for members of Congress to do so," Broun said, referring to Obama's July comments about creating a "civilian national security force that's just as powerful" as the nation's military.

Rich Rogers contributed to this story.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)