BREAKING: First official results in Austria: Left-leaning candidate takes unbeatable lead in presidential election.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 4, 2016
All of a sudden Austrian politics is front page news for U.S. outlets.
Far right candidate concedes presidential race in Austria https://t.co/x6HFGLO4yh
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 4, 2016
Right-wing candidate Norbert Hofer concedes Austria's presidential election to left-leaning rival. https://t.co/5KiDikfJ0i
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 4, 2016
Norbert Hofer used "Austria First!" and aimed to be the 1st far-right head of state elected in Europe since WWII https://t.co/TrE1RUsaGA
— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 4, 2016
Had the outcome been reversed, the story would certainly have been buried. At any rate, Leftists are exhilarated over the outcome of an election … in Austria.
Breaking: Austria's center-left candidate wins presidential race, a victory for European integration supporters https://t.co/J4U6JBAMdG
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) December 4, 2016
Center-left candidate Alexander Van der Bellen beat back a challenge from a right-wing populist opponent to become Austria’s next president, exit polls and early results in the country’s second-round presidential election on Sunday showed.
Mr. Van der Bellen, 72 years old, led his opponent Norbert Hofer by 53.6% to 46.4% of the vote, according to Austrian television projections based on exit polls and early results. Mr. Hofer congratulated Mr. Van der Bellen on his victory in a Facebook post and called on all Austrians to “stick together and work together.”
Here is a sample of over-the-top reaction from members of the media and the Left.
Austria and Germany are currently the Western world's safeguards against far-right nationalism. Chew on that.
— Luke Brinker (@LukeBrinker) December 4, 2016
Far-right rejected in Austria: https://t.co/bTI42ZsQu4
— Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) December 4, 2016
Quite a level we've reached when the far-right not taking power in Austria is considered some of the week's best news
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) December 4, 2016
Congrats & thanks for the dash of hope and sanity, #Austria!
— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) December 4, 2016
Austria and Germany as the last great defenders of liberal democracy in Europe. We live in interesting times.
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) December 4, 2016
The day has come when Austria has more moral credibility than the US https://t.co/OYzBvNK1Op
— Devin T. Stewart (@devintstewart) December 4, 2016
Never a good sign when you get high & elect a white nationalist & pass the hate bong to your bro Austria, who is like, "Nah, man, I'm cool." https://t.co/Uye4zjvS2f
— Anand Giridharadas (@AnandWrites) December 4, 2016
Austria is actually ahead of us in defeating the Neo-Nazis https://t.co/zVzA2bcI3J
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) December 4, 2016
We get it. They are reduced to becoming overjoyed about en electoral outcome in Austria. What a pathetic state of affairs for them.
