Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R, Michigan) wanted to clarify his controversial tweet comparing Republican oil-mongers to Iranian democracy activists. So he did: The only way they're the same is that they both battle repressive, freedom-hating regimes.

Here's Hoekstra's spokesman, ostensibly trying to put out the fire his boss started but really just pouring fuel on it:

"Congressman Hoekstra did not compare the ongoing violence in Iran to when Democrats shut down the House chamber during the energy debate last summer," said spokesman Dave Yonkman. "The two situations do share the similarity of government leadership attempting to limit debate and deliberation, and the ability of new technologies to bypass their efforts and allow for direct communication. That's the only point that he was trying to make."

Yonkman then went into hiding with fellow freedom fighters Sarah Palin and Michael Steele, who like Hoekstra have been forced to smuggle out their message of resistance through the country's largest television network and the world's most popular news station.

Here's Hoekstra's original tweet: