The nice thing about prog rags like TP is you don't actually have to know anything to be employed. https://t.co/hDpy25Zs73
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) December 7, 2016
Think Progress Justice Editor Ian Millhiser was forced to delete a tweet Wednesday morning where he mocked Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, President-elect Trump’s pick for ambassador to China:
.@imillhiser weird, somebody disappeared your tweet… I suspect espionage agents from a small landlocked rural white state
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2016
Here’s a screenshot of the now disappeared hot-take:
@iowahawkblog @imillhiser pic.twitter.com/sgHFGPhXjZ
— EducatédHillbilly™ (@RobProvince) December 7, 2016
Maybe he deleted it because the current ambassador to China is from a small, rural landlocked state full of white people?
Incidentally, this is a nearly perfect description of our current ambassador to China, former Montana senator Max Baucus https://t.co/FLDIXDal6A
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) December 7, 2016
Great point. Let's ask current Chinese Ambassador Max Baucus. https://t.co/xrYnn7qIBe
— Jeff B/DDHQ (@EsotericCD) December 7, 2016
Oh, but it gets worse for Millhiser as Gov. Branstad is actually perfect for the job. From the Des Moines Register:
The offer, announced during a fundraiser Wednesday morning, highlights Branstad’s decades-long “friendship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping and years-long efforts to build strong economic and trade ties between the state of Iowa and the world’s most populous nation.
And this:
I'm sure someone should study Ag policy more. https://t.co/d9QB9waKdW
Not to mention NatSec seed cases. https://t.co/FAdBDzUrN0— emptywheel (@emptywheel) December 7, 2016
And this:
Xi Jinping has a long history with Iowa, having spent weeks there as a young man. https://t.co/0BuFw73tXS
— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) December 7, 2016
Millhiser tried to clean things up:
I've been told that Branstad has a personal relationship with China's president that justifies this appointment, so I withdraw my objection. https://t.co/GB4V3kmL1G
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) December 7, 2016
Um, no. Try again:
Which "objection" did you withdraw? The one about Branstad, or about how people in landlocked states are stupid? https://t.co/yLYgsEK0Yj
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 7, 2016
His response that avoids the question:
My concern that he lacked relevant experience, which was inaccurate. I sometimes make mistakes, and try to own up to them when I do. https://t.co/c48ML6Vv2K
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) December 7, 2016
Whatever.
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