Rep. Paul Broun, the Georgia Republican who made waves in the blogosphere when he compared Barack Obama's policies to both Marxism the rise of Adolf Hitler, has now apologized for his incendiary remarks, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports -- but he's still concerned about Obama's socialist policies.

"The point I tried to make is that he is extremely liberal, he has promoted a lot of socialistic ideas, and it just makes me concerned," Broun told a local radio station back home.

Well, that explains things.

Broun originally told the AP: "I'm just trying to bring attention to the fact that we may -- may not, I hope not -- but we may have a problem with that type of philosophy of radical socialism or Marxism."

He then added that we should remember that Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany -- but also said he wasn't directly comparing Obama to Hitler, but was just trying to point out the potential of going down that road.

Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA), a conservative activist who won a shocking upset victory in a July special election, already has a primary challenger for 2008. State House Majority Whip Barry Fleming has filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to launch an exploratory committee, and a spokesman has indicated that Fleming will officially announce his candidacy in two weeks.

Broun ran as an anti-establishment Republican, defeating fellow GOPer Jim Whitehead by less than 400 votes in a runoff. Whitehead had been widely expected to win, but his campaign was derailed by a large vote for Broun in Athens, the district's liberal bastion. Broun, a lifelong Athens resident, was able to capitalize on Whitehead's joke about the town being bombed. If Fleming avoids those sorts of mean-spirited gaffes, then Broun could have to work very hard in order to get re-elected.

Congressman Charlie Norwood, R-GA, has decided to stop medical treatment for cancer, and will instead receive in-home hospice care back in Georgia, the Associated Press reports. The 66-year old Norwood reportedly made the decision as a result of the cancer spreading from his lungs to his liver. Norwood said, "Let me go back home, stop all the treatments and just see how I can do there," according to a spokesman. There are reportedly no current plans to resign, according to CNN.