Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stands above the rest of the country’s governors when it comes to clamping down on people’s rights and freedoms to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, so it’s not surprising that the protest in Lansing was one of the earliest and largest against a stay-at-home order. She’s lobbying hard to be Joe Biden’s VP pick, though, so she’s been doing whatever she can to keep her face in front of the cameras.
On Monday the cameras caught her comparing the COVID-19 crisis to World War II, when she noted there was no one protesting the fact they had to go to work building planes and tanks.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: "In World War II, there weren't people lining up at the capitol to protest the fact that they had to drop everything they were doing and build planes or tanks, or to ration food." pic.twitter.com/1Y6MaRrjUq
— The Hill (@thehill) April 21, 2020
If we’re remembering correctly, World War II led to an economic boom, though, not the impending collapse of the national economy.
The U.S. wasn’t the oppressor then, Karen.
— Jessica Fletcher (@heckyessica) April 21, 2020
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They were fighting against people then that wanted to destroy their livelihoods, take their freedom and keep them imprisoned. Now, the person that wants to do that is their own governor. https://t.co/lGjcu1Iq5t
— John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) April 21, 2020
You idiot – you totalitarians were on the other side then. https://t.co/KGIcUx2BGE
— Dissolved Special Committee (@ko_strad) April 21, 2020
There are many reasons why this is a terrible analogy chief among them that the folks living during WWII who weren't fighting were forced to go to work as opposed to being forced to stay home https://t.co/Fpb481Vvlc
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 21, 2020
Work. They were working.
— E (@ebound) April 21, 2020
Evil. People would love to build things right now. You won’t let them. https://t.co/Egv66t2Gz2
— George Smith (@P1B_WMichigan) April 21, 2020
In World War II, there also weren't fascist state governors forcing people into unemployment and dictating what they could and could not buy if they did manage to get out of their home confinement. https://t.co/Iansu1GK7H
— Aldous Huxley's Ghost™ (@AF632) April 21, 2020
In World War II, citizens weren't forced to commit economic suicide nor put on house arrest.
I'm getting sick and tired of this bogus historical comparison.
How dare we compare ourselves to them?
They never would've sacrificed their kids' futures for themselves.
Obviously. https://t.co/3vnnl3nQG4
— Peoples_Pundit (@Peoples_Pundit) April 21, 2020
The people who were on lockdown during WWII were stripped of their rights as American citizens, @GovWhitmer. Not asked to make friggin’ planes.
Can all politicians stop the nonsensical historical comparisons? https://t.co/BIuH9L521v
— kaitlin (@thefactualprep) April 21, 2020
.@GovWhitmer, honestly, if you are going to use WWII as an example, your order has more in common with how Japanese-Americans were treated, not factories retooling their production lines, victory gardens, or food rationing.
How utterly tone deaf. https://t.co/gYNHf3P8As
— Shane Vander Hart (@shanevanderhart) April 21, 2020
In World War II people were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens. https://t.co/cmneH7NU9U
— Hammy ✈ (@e2pilot) April 21, 2020
Right, I'll throw the bandanna in my hair and flex for a poster right now if you want to offer me a high paying job making munitions for the boys.
I just have no idea what that's got to do with the current topic is all. https://t.co/FQk06MM3pc
— Rachel ???? (@RaychelTania) April 21, 2020
Gawd she's an idiot.
— Ordy's rumSPRINGa (@OrdyPackard) April 21, 2020
Do these people actually go to school?
— mallen2010 (@mallen2010) April 21, 2020
This might be the dumbest comparison I've ever seen https://t.co/XpPEsUFS4Q
— Don't drink aquarium cleaner (@Tittlewk93) April 21, 2020
It’s not a good one.
Related:
Wait, WHAT!? Michigan’s ban-happy Gov. Whitmer opposes restricting ‘life-sustaining’ access to abortion during coronavirus outbreak https://t.co/g5Iiu8SY69
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 17, 2020