Dear @statedeptspox, I'll make this simple for you: hashtags do not equal sound foreign policy.
— Phineas Fahrquar (@irishspy) April 25, 2014
As Twitchy reported, the State Department engaged in some Twitter diplomacy last month, coining the hashtag #UnitedForUkraine” and tweeting photos of people holding signs, like this:
To echo @BarackObama today-proud to stand #UnitedForUkraine World should stand together with one voice pic.twitter.com/VeMt578UdY
— Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) March 26, 2014
Apparently the State Department is sticking with its social media approach to the Ukraine crisis, with spokesperson Jen Psaki hoping that the Kremlin and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation will “live by the promise of hashtag.”
@statedeptspox @mfa_russia LIVE BY THE PROMISE OF A HASHTAG?#FightingWords #NoAllowance4Vladdy
— Sandy 〽️ (@RightGlockMom) April 24, 2014
@statedeptspox @mfa_russia Is this a joke account?
— Z (@_Z__) April 24, 2014
https://twitter.com/RealCrimea/status/459515980000292864
It’s almost as though the Russians take Twitter hashtags as seriously as Hillary Clinton’s famous “reset button.”
https://twitter.com/HeavensLane/status/459522614915248129
@SalenaZitoTrib And this is our foreign policy establishment. No wonder Putin and Lavrov are laughing. @statedeptspox @mfa_russia
— Phineas Fahrquar (@irishspy) April 25, 2014
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/459522786055450624
https://twitter.com/CplSoletrain/status/459523251849285635
https://twitter.com/DefendWallSt/status/459523312344109056
@statedeptspox @mfa_russia yeah, maybe we could get them to pinky swear.
— Marian (@singlemaltgal) April 25, 2014
Recommended
https://twitter.com/OrwellForks/status/459523592724545536
@statedeptspox @mfa_russia This is embarrassing. The power of the hashtag? What the fuck is that?
— Taro Tsujimoto (@RCannon74) April 25, 2014
Seriously? RT: @statedeptspox The world stands #UnitedforUkraine. Let’s hope that #Kremlin & @mfa_russia will live by the promise of hashtag
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) April 25, 2014
https://twitter.com/jfgroves/status/459524285384916994
https://twitter.com/scott_in_nj/status/459524528595816448
https://twitter.com/TheINDYpundit/status/459524588532400128
@statedeptspox @gabrielmalor WTF does that even mean? Did you find Hillary's liquor stash?
— charlie (@charlieseattle) April 25, 2014
@statedeptspox @BarackObama Please just stop. You're embarrassing the entire country.
— Gordon Shumway (@Sixball3000) April 25, 2014
.@statedeptspox @mfa_russia The promise of hashtag is the promise of a new day. Or something.
— Dr. Kankokage (@kankokage) April 25, 2014
https://twitter.com/ScottLofquist/status/459524920787996673
Russia has intercontinental missiles, but we have the promise of the hashtag! @statedeptspox
— Phineas Fahrquar (@irishspy) April 25, 2014
https://twitter.com/Miss_Wisconsin/status/459525149444694016
Hey Jan, the #1980s called. They want their….
…nevermind.@statedeptspox @mfa_russia
— VACUOUS CIPHER (@THE_DAILY_BLEAT) April 25, 2014
@statedeptspox @mfa_russia no selfie with the hashtag? Is a selfie or a hashtag stronger?
— Nick Graham (@nlgraham1) April 25, 2014
Remember when Reagan used the power of the hashtag to make Gorbachev tear down the Berlin Wall? That was cool. @statedeptspox
— Phineas Fahrquar (@irishspy) April 25, 2014
Just push it, Putin, and you'll find yourself #BLOCKED. @statedeptspox #PromiseOfTheHashtag
— Phineas Fahrquar (@irishspy) April 25, 2014
https://twitter.com/brianbwatkins/status/459526667791122432
My hope and prayer is that my children too will be able to live in a world filled with the promise of hashtag. @statedeptspox
— Dr. Kankokage (@kankokage) April 25, 2014
Okay. I'm a non-interventionist, but even I cannot endorse a promise of a hashtag as a foreign policy.
— Michelle Ray (@GaltsGirl) April 25, 2014
https://twitter.com/hboulware/status/459534664395280384
https://twitter.com/Matthops82/status/459534490067410944
https://twitter.com/YankInGeorgia/status/459526917532958720
MT @statedeptspox Ask not what your #hashtag can do for you. Ask what you can do for your #hashtag.
— HouseRepEEE (@EEElverhoy) April 25, 2014
.@statedeptspox @mfa_russia We're applying hashtag pressure. Great. #unitedforukraine
— Underdog (@rdbrewer4) April 25, 2014
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/status/459527476839215104
Tune in next week to hear our @statedeptspox say, "THE POWER OF HASHTAG COMPELS YOU!!!!" I'm sure the all caps will make it more effective.
— Angela (one of many) (@angelaisms) April 25, 2014
.@statedeptspox is this real life?
— Djengus Poundstone (@dildjengus) April 25, 2014
@AnthonyBialy @statedeptspox What hashtag – at this point – does it make?
— Joel Kimball (@joelkimball) April 25, 2014
It looks like we have the wrong person in the @WhiteHouse answering that 3 AM #hashtag
— Bob Owens (@bob_owens) April 25, 2014
It's almost as if Jen Psaki is a former campaign flak in *way* over her head on the world stage at State. #Hashtag
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) April 25, 2014
[Update]
You knew it was coming:
Related:
Obama admin imposes toughest sanctions against Putin yet: Diplomatic hashtag games
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.
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