Republican Chris McDaniel, running to represent Mississippi in the U.S. Senate, got a history lesson on Wednesday night ― one he probably didn’t want.
It came after McDaniel posted a revisionist tweet about Robert E. Lee that whitewashed the Confederate general’s view of slavery.
The truth... pic.twitter.com/AZuM5EibdE
— Sen. Chris McDaniel (@senatormcdaniel) August 16, 2018
It’s a good thing there wasn’t a test, because McDaniel would have failed, according to Princeton historian Kevin M. Kruse, who challenged McDaniel’s statement.
Lee owned slaves and brutalized them. Lee led an armed revolt against the United States to preserve slavery. And during it, Lee's army captured free blacks in the North and enslaved them.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) August 16, 2018
But you were saying something about the "historically illiterate"? https://t.co/1oNaM4Q2Ok
And unlike McDaniel, Kruse backed up his account with documentation.
Historians have documented this in great detail and anyone who's functionally literate can read their many works on Lee's support for slavery etc.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) August 16, 2018
This fantastic piece by @AdamSerwer lists several of them and does an excellent job of explaining it all. https://t.co/JkxRw7me4b
Others were quick to pile on, joining the criticism of McDaniel’s revisionism.
He had several *amazing* ways of being against slavery. Like owning slaves. And commanding the army that fought to maintain slavery.
— The Glare (@TheGlare_TM) August 16, 2018
False. Robert E. Lee was a slaveowner and an unrepentant bigot. Even on the worst day of his life, when he surrendered his Army (+ the Confederate cause), what bothered him most was that his surrender was transcribed by what he thought was a Black man. From Chernow's "Grant":
— M.S. Bellows, Jr. (@msbellows) August 16, 2018
1/2 pic.twitter.com/HhSfcIWMCr
Lee did not begin pretending his real cause was "states' rights" (not slavery) until long after the war. Even after the war, Lee signed a petition calling for Black citizens to be returned to slavery, because it was kinder to them. In short: Lee was an evil traitor. Id:
— M.S. Bellows, Jr. (@msbellows) August 16, 2018
(2/2) pic.twitter.com/zKnWb6vqar
The truth is that you are brutally historically ignorant, Lee was a traitor.
— Remember Scalia (@469Matt) August 16, 2018
Like, an actual traitor, not how the term is tossed about these days. It's only by the grace and forgiveness of Lincoln that he wasn't lined up and shot.
Benedict Arnold was also once a highly decorated officer in the United States Army
— Stat Politics (@StatPolitic) August 16, 2018
Let’s talk Senator because I teach this stuff. Lee owned slaves. He never freed them while he lived and he brutalized them. During the war, his army captured free blacks in the North and sold them into slavery as a terror tactic. So, what, pray tell, made him anti slavery?
— aderson francois 🇭🇹 14A (@abfrancois) August 16, 2018
You’re part of the reason Mississippi is unable to progress, mainly because you insist on elevating traitors who believed in ownership of human beings. This state is being run by fossils.
— Leigh Crosby🍀 (@teaandmagnolias) August 16, 2018
Even CNN’s Jake Tapper joined in on the history lesson, asking McDaniel to read a New York Times story about a letter Lee sent the paper in 1858 discussing slavery.
Nope. Here’s better info: https://t.co/XNP2FZ6pqd https://t.co/rJpY9RSbGL
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 16, 2018
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.