The Twitter mob has predictably begun to argue over the virtues and pitfalls of the French Revolution, after Sen. Lindsey Graham suggested that radicals have co-opted the Democratic Party and are marching the nation towards ruin.
The South Carolina lawmaker triggered a large number of blue checkmarks after accusing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her progressive cohorts of spearheading “the most radical mob” in recent American history.
“It appears the French Revolution has now come to the Democratic Party,” the Republican senator tweeted.
But his incendiary warning seemed to galvanize liberal Twitter pundits and media figures.
Dan Saltzstein, a deputy editor at the New York Times, rushed to defend France’s bloody 18th century uprising, claiming that it “led to a democratic overthrow of a monarchy and the establishment of a republic.”
The French Revolution, you say? In which rising social and economic inequality led to a democratic overthrow of a monarchy and the establishment of a republic? That French Revolution? https://t.co/A4dSz6FAhh
Journalist Kurt Eichenwald was similarly unbothered by Graham’s historical reference. He compared Donald Trump to a “king” and said November’s election will serve as a “revolution” that will push “the bad guys” from power.
…With the Resistance (Democrats) & revolution (Nov election), the King (Trump) and his sycophants (GOP) were thrown from power.So @LindseyGrahamSC – you’re right. Its just like the French Revolution, with the GOP & Trump the bad guys who hopefully will soon be overthrown.fin
The strained analogy received plenty of criticism and mockery. Saltzstein was raked over the coals for failing to mention that the revolution was followed by the infamous Reign of Terror, a self-declared emperor, more than a decade of war and ultimately the restoration of the monarchy.
My GodYes, the Republic which was followed by the reign of terror, an economic collapse, a dictator, and 15 year long war… and ultimately the monarchy was restoredSaying the French Revolution led to a Republic is like saying Romeo and Juliet led to a happy ending. https://t.co/eI37L6w0AE
The same French Revolution where Jacobin nihilists guillotined tens of thousands of people including fellow revolutionaries and ended with their leaders being executed and the monarchy being restored https://t.co/fof6XVlTJY
The flood of criticism prompted the NYT editor to concede that the French Revolution was “a clusterf**k”, but still insisted Graham was out of line by making reference to it.
The Republican lawmaker isn’t the first one to compare political radicals in the US to French revolutionaries. A group of Seattle protesters recently hinted that anyone who doesn’t get on board with their movement would face a guillotine-like end.
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