Liberal Vox blogger Matthew Yglesias tweeted the Antifa mob that broke Fox News host Tucker Carlson's door and frightened his wife into calling police was engaging in a "strategy" to make him feel the fear of "his victims."
A left-wing group called Smash Racism D.C. descended on Carlson's Washington, D.C. home while he was at Fox News studios, chanting he was a "racist scumbag" and "we know where you sleep at night." Carlson said someone in the mob broke his oak door, and his wife Susie hid in a pantry and called police, fearing a home invasion. The Carlsons have four children, but no one besides Susie was home.
Smash Racism D.C. posted video of the incident and later had its Twitter account suspended. Condemnation of Antifa's actions came from both sides of the aisle, but Yglesias took a different tack.
BREAKING:
A mob has gathered outside Tucker Carlson’s home demanding his family leave DC because he is a "racist scumbag."
"Every night you spread fear into homes — we remind you that you are not safe either"
Tucker has 4 children.
The Left is sick.https://t.co/rXs8pUmhxu pic.twitter.com/1R9O9UcTYM
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 8, 2018
Yglesias initially responded to Slate writer Will Saletan, who had criticized the group's actions by writing on Twitter, "One way to become the fascists is to think you can do anything in the name of anti-fascism." Yglesias responded, "Another way is to get rich peddling white nationalist propaganda."
One way to become the fascists is to think you can do anything in the name of anti-fascistm. https://t.co/VzH9d8voJ6
— Will Saletan (@saletan) November 8, 2018
Another way is to get rich peddling white nationalist propaganda.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 8, 2018
Admonished by Saletan to not make Carlson "the victim," Yglesias responded, "I didn't break his door and I agree that he's awful. You should write about it." He added later that it's significant to note Carlson is an "influential white nationalist propaganda broadcaster."
I didn’t break his door and I agree that he’s awful. You should write about it.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 8, 2018
Sure. I just thought that since we were on the subject of Tucker Carlson and fascism the fact that Tucker Carlson is an influential white nationalist propaganda broadcaster was worth mentioning.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 8, 2018
No, I’m not. But since the subject of Tucker Carlson and fascism was raised, I wanted to take a moment to note that Tucker Carlson is an influential white nationalist propaganda broadcaster.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 8, 2018
Later, he responded to the Washington Post‘s Karen Tumulty, who wondered "what exactly is accomplished by terrorizing his family" if you don't like Carlson. She stated there were more effective methods of protest.
"I think the idea behind terrorizing his family, like it or not as a strategy, is to make them feel some of the fear that the victims of MAGA-inspired violence feel thanks to the non-stop racial incitement coming from Tucker, Trump, etc.," Yglesias wrote.
Yglesias and Vox have been critical of Carlson's rhetoric on illegal immigration and his supportive stance toward the Trump administration.
"I agree that this is probably not tactically sound but if your instinct is to empathize with the fear of the Carlson family rather than with the fear of his victims then you should take a moment to reflect on why that is," he added.
I think the idea behind terrorizing his family, like it or not as a strategy, is to make them feel some of the fear that the victims of MAGA-inspired violence feel thanks to the non-stop racial incitement coming from Tucker, Trump, etc. https://t.co/hmBTBtcTBM
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 8, 2018
I agree that this is probably not tactically sound but if your instinct is to empathize with the fear of the Carlson family rather than with the fear of his victims then you should take a moment to reflect on why that is.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 8, 2018
"I met a woman who didn’t leave the house for months because she was afraid of being picked up by ICE and never seeing her US citizen kids and husband again. What sense was there in terrorizing her family?" he wrote.
Of Carlson's wife, who was so frightened she locked herself in her pantry and called police, he wrote, "I honestly cannot empathize with Tucker Carlson’s wife at all — I agree that protesting at her house was tactically unwise and shouldn’t be done — but I am utterly unable to identify with her plight on any level."
I met a woman who didn’t leave the house for months because she was afraid of being picked up by ICE and never seeing her US citizen kids and husband again.
What sense was there in terrorizing her family?
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 8, 2018
I honestly cannot empathize with Tucker Carlson’s wife at all — I agree that protesting at her house was tactically unwise and shouldn’t be done — but I am utterly unable to identify with her plight on any level. https://t.co/1YRAY8DuWC
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 8, 2018
Finally, he decided to "stop tweeting for a bit."
This is good advice and I’m gonna try to take it and stop tweeting for a bit. https://t.co/jRx8aAGXeN
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 8, 2018
