Let Me Explain, You Uber-Rich Pseudo-Socialist Buffoon': Conservative Author and Liberal Actor Clash in Hostile Exchange

Comedian and actor Patton Oswalt took to Twitter shortly after Tuesday’s GOP debate came to a close, voicing his dissatisfaction and pleading for Bernie Sanders’ help. Ben Shapiro, editor-in-chief of DailyWire.com, offered a quick response to Oswalt’s cry, initiating a ruthless back-and-forth that ended with Shapiro accusing the stand-up comedian, writer and actor of being anti-Semitic.

My #GOPDebate summary: HELP US @SenSanders.

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 16, 2015

If this was your takeaway, you need help. But follow that star, @PattonOswalt, follow that star! https://t.co/wxvnQUZkIz

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 16, 2015

At one point, Oswalt compared Shapiro to neoconservative thinker, Irving Kristol. It was after this that the writer proceeded to call Oswalt’s reference “anti-Semitic.” Things got ugly fast, and they stayed ugly, even after Oswalt insisted that Shapiro and Kristol’s shared Judaism was “incidental."

I will, Ben! Enjoy your never-was neo-conservative shitscape! Give my love to Irving Kristol's dumb ghost! https://t.co/8yal9FfAE9

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 16, 2015

There's nothing I appreciate more than celebrities dropping anti-Semitic slurs! Thanks, @PattonOswalt! https://t.co/SyBWJ7264E

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro)

December 16, 2015

Of COURSE that's your go-to! You gloriously predictable little sparrowfaet. Never stop, Ben... https://t.co/pSQl07pSTq

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 16, 2015

.@benshapiro No, dum-dum. Kristol is the father of neo-conservatism & helped popularize the term. That you're both Jewish is incidental.

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 16, 2015

After over half an hour of no reply, Oswalt persisted in his taunting tweets, inviting Shapiro to engage. Oswalt’s efforts were rewarded with a few more haughty jabs from Shapiro, who criticized what he believed to be Oswalt’s socialist leanings. He even “went there” and referenced Oswalt’s role in the animated blockbuster, ‘Ratatouille’.

Hey @benshapiro: you came at me guns blazing & now you're quiet. I'm not a transgendered reporter or anything scary like that. Let's chat!

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 16, 2015

I was wrong. It appears @PattonOswalt isn't smart enough to know he's using an anti-Semitic slur. He's just a typical Hollywood dumbass.

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 16, 2015

If you call us both neocons without regard to our philosophies, you're either dumb or an anti-Semite. https://t.co/DiI1MhKjLA

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 16, 2015

Then why are you wasting your top-shelf grey cells losing an argument to me? https://t.co/VL5DGLYhYL

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 16, 2015

Please explain socialism to me from atop your mountain of "Ratatouille" money. https://t.co/QDHIidbWxA

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 16, 2015

Aaaaaaand you don't know how residuals work. Or mountains. https://t.co/ebzljfZp1A

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 16, 2015

There there was this profane rebuttal from the comedian:

Funny, this is just what I say to socialists like @PattonOswalt and @BernieSanders. https://t.co/kmPnm7zPg9

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 17, 2015

The next day, Salon took sides, praising Oswalt for shooting down Shapiro’s cries of anti-Semitism and dismissing them as “absurd.”

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