Since Friday night, many people have been slamming Rep. Paul Ryan for having once admired author Ayn Rand, despite the fact that Ryan now rejects Rand’s philosophy.
Yesterday, actor Rob Lowe bravely spoke out in support of Rand and her best-known novel, Atlas Shrugged.
Unsurprisingly, many Twitter users reacted with shock and disgust:
https://twitter.com/zandywithaz/status/234357089319936000
https://twitter.com/candifornia/status/234469624132034561
:-O Rob Lowe defending Ayn Rand …. I'm devastated
— BibiMcBibi (@BibiMcBibi) August 11, 2012
https://twitter.com/dansaires/status/234444862248869888
https://twitter.com/utaustinliberal/status/234490475074170881
Its the hypocrisy in her libertarianism RT@RobLowe: Can someone explain the vitriol whenever Ayn Rand comes up? "Atlas" is the greatest …
— Shari2112 ? ? (@Shari2112) August 11, 2012
@RobLowe Because people use Ayn Rand's teachings not to motivate themselves but to argue that the government shouldn't help those who can't.
— bart (@bart_smith) August 11, 2012
One Twitter user complained about Rand’s atheism:
https://twitter.com/brtpafl/status/234355710903848960
Lowe replied: “She and I part company there.”
“@brtpafl: @RobLowe She's an atheist. It still matters outside Hollywood.”
Yeah, she and I part company there.— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) August 11, 2012
A number of Twitter users, however, spoke out in support of Rand:
https://twitter.com/CariAz_13/status/234356522807853056
@RobLowe glad to hear you are a fan of Atlas Shrugged.
— Darcy Kahrhoff (@darcykahrhoff) August 12, 2012
AMEN.“@RobLowe: Can someone explain the vitriol whenever Ayn Rand comes up? "Atlas" is the greatest motivator 4 individual I can imagine.”
— Chanel5 (@Chanel5) August 11, 2012
Because, Ayn Rand tore the left a new one in her non-fiction book The return of the primitive and they still despise her for it. @RobLowe
— Zac (@SwordofDamocles) August 12, 2012
Now that we know Rob Lowe is an Ayn Rand fan…how do we get him an Emmy?
— Notrebraska (@Tom_FooIery) August 12, 2012