Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: what's up
That's because Paine got weirder and weirder as time went on. The Fathers were embarrassed by his outspoken support of the French Revolution and the way he spoke out against Washington.

Paine appears to have made his religious leanings well known before the revolution, and it is submitted that "a majority of the founders turned on him" because of those beliefs. Thomas Jefferson was president at the time, and appears to have publicly supported it, so Paine wasn't alone in that regard.

28 posted on 09/03/2009 10:29:57 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies ]


To: tacticalogic
and it is submitted that "a majority of the founders turned on him" because of those beliefs

And for the radicalism which came from them. His behavior became more that way as time went on; of course his sniping at Washington the hero would result in a loss of friends...why wouldn't it? Also as I said, his overt support of the French Revolution embarrassed most. Jefferson also was famously in favor of the French Revolution so he was probably closest to Paine in his more radical beliefs.

Only 6 people attended Paine's funeral. He was obviously no longer as popular as he had been because his behavior and indiscretions had gotten worse over time.

29 posted on 09/03/2009 10:47:42 AM PDT by what's up
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson