White House Chief of Staff John Kelly has come under fire for praising Civil War general Robert E. Lee and making some curious claims about the cause of the 19th-century conflict.
“Robert E. Lee was an honorable man. He was a man that gave up his country to fight for his state, which 150 years ago was more important than country,” Kelly said Monday in an interview on the debut edition of Laura Ingraham’s new Fox News show, “The Ingraham Angle.”
“It was always loyalty to state first in those days. Now it’s different today,” the retired U.S. Marine general added.
“The lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War and men and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscience had them make their stand,” he added.
Compromise with what exactly? Slavery?
Needless to say, the Internet was not impressed with his performance — and they let him know it.
Conservative commentator John Podhoretz was one of the first to weigh in with a history lesson: “80 years leading up to the Civil War were a history of efforts to compromise with the South. And then the war came. Started by the South.”
of course lack of compromise caused the civil war!
if iron man had just–
oh the actual civil war?
no that was definitely because of slavery— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) October 31, 2017
80 years leading up to the Civil War were a history of efforts to compromise with the South. And then the war came. Started by the South.
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) October 31, 2017
What kind of further “compromise” should President Lincoln have offered states that wanted to continue owning, raping, slaughtering slaves?
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 31, 2017
Breaking: in light of the Civil War, the White House proposes a 4/5ths compromise
*images from ???? garden show WH staffers popping champagne”
— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) October 31, 2017
While they raped my Grandmother,lynched my Uncle,broke up my family to lost history, you find honor & compromise in that, you racist, prick? https://t.co/bOihrwd67N
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) October 31, 2017
In general “Why couldn’t we compromise?” is a nicer way of saying “Why couldn’t those slaves just take one for the team?” https://t.co/m91fCbcI2s
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) October 31, 2017
Racists are willing to “compromise” the wholeness of certain human beings. John Kelly just admitted he’s a racist. https://t.co/Px1lqQfAnG
— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) October 31, 2017
I believe John Kelly just “both sides”‘d the Civil War
– Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) October 31, 2017
John Kelly “The lack of the ability to compromise led to the civil war” Good people on both sides! ???? pic.twitter.com/cpLyJ5mHxC
– John Hergt (@natureofthings7) October 31, 2017
Slavers: Enslave people!
Enslaved people: Don’t!John Kelly: Very fine people on both sides making good points. https://t.co/FS3QiSi70o
– David M. Perry (@Lollardfish) October 31, 2017
Oh, it’s just John Kelly you-also-had-some-very-fine-people-on-both-sides-ing the Civil War. https://t.co/14MSHaJT3A
– Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) October 31, 2017
Dear John Kelly: The United States of America exists because President Lincoln did not compromise. https://t.co/ciEienHASx
– Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) October 31, 2017
Kelly is half right. The civil war was caused by an unwillingness to compromise … over slavery. https://t.co/ZTrSZGNnuJ
– Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) October 31, 2017
Watch above.