National Journal columnist and editorial director Ron Fournier snarked on Twitter that Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (RFRA) are “not unlike Jim Crow laws.” (VIDEO: Al Sharpton Compares Indiana Religious Freedom Law To Slavery, Jim Crow)
Fournier, a frequent guest on both Fox News’ “Special Report” and MSNBC’s “Hardball,” modified a National Review tweet promoting a piece defending the laws.
RFRA: Not Like Jim Crow Laws at All http://t.co/F3OT6xaYoN pic.twitter.com/ZGtBcsjULJ
— National Review (@NRO) April 3, 2015
Fixed it @NRO: RFRA: Not unLike Jim Crow Laws at All http://t.co/69iMRucvrq pic.twitter.com/UsDTZqgmh2”
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) April 3, 2015
Fournier’s hot take™ was heavily criticized by the conservative Twitterverse.
@ron_fournier @NRO Ron, your comparison is racist and demeans black suffering.
— Instapundit.com (@instapundit) April 3, 2015
You should apologize for that, @ron_fournier. This is beneath you. Unless you want us to think of you as a lefty hack? @NRO
— RB (@RBPundit) April 3, 2015
as a supporter of using state force to deny people their constitutional rights, i imagine you're quite an expert on jim crow @ron_fournier
— David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) April 3, 2015
It's sad. Self-stylized centrist 'adult in the room' @ron_fournier really has a race-baiting problem. https://t.co/DtdhndvZzM
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) April 3, 2015
The piece’s author, National Review senior editor Jonah Goldberg responded diplomatically.
@ron_fournier @scotthar_tx @KevinNR Thanks. I respect Ron too. Actually I'm not worked up about gay marriage.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) April 3, 2015
@ron_fournier @scotthar_tx @KevinNR I do believe passionately in religious freedom and I think the comparison to Jim Crow is otherworldly.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) April 3, 2015