Mark Liberman has a post over at Language Log on the general subject of Obama’s reference to Washington in his inaugural address. It’s a little too long to quote in full, so follow the link and read it for yourself.
Tories then and now
But it’s worth remembering that the Washington of 1776 was the general of a revolutionary army, and the words that he ordered to be read to his men were written by Tom Paine, a radical agitator.
