What Message Did This Liberal Site Try To Send With This Tweet?

The New Republic is an openly liberal publication, fighting tirelessly to advance progressive positions.

So when they publish articles with titles like, “If Chris Kyle Had Been a Muslim, We’d Call Him an Extremist,” it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

But even a site with positions as well-known as theirs can from time to time surprise – or at least confuse – the general public.

Take a look at what the site tweeted Tuesday at around 4:00 p.m. EST:

When faced with an intransigent, bull-headed governing body, Yeltsin did this: https://t.co/cUYGt6XaxV pic.twitter.com/zrRxRaj09V

— The New Republic (@tnr) October 1, 2013

The tweet is in reference to a New Republic blog post titled, "Two Russians Walk Into a Parliamentary Crisis..." The article uses the current fight in Washington to take a look back on one of the darker moments in Soviet politics -- and how Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin "resolved" it.

But the exact purpose of the blog post and its corresponding tweet is uncertain: Is it to say that things in Washington could be worse? Or is it a dark and wholly inappropriate suggestion?

Regardless of the intent, reactions on Twitter were far from positive:

Your point is? RT @tnr faced w/an intransigent, bull-headed governing body, Yeltsin did this: https://t.co/mRjSm3vmbH pic.twitter.com/uXjr9gFqHn

— Sean Geary Higgins (@SeanGHiggins) October 1, 2013

are you actually now insane? @tnr

— The_One_Who_Brings (@AceofSpadesHQ) October 1, 2013

@tnr Um, hey guys, what exactly are you calling for here?

— Stephen Gutowski (@collegepolitico) October 1, 2013

@tnr @freddoso An amazingly wrong use of a terrible analogy, and trivializes what happened in Russia by comparing it to a mere budget fight.

— Tom Nichols (@TheWarRoom_Tom) October 1, 2013

A spokesperson for The New Republic did not immediately respond to TheBlaze’s request for comment.

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Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Featured image @tnr.

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