We can argue about the finer points of the 2016 election until we’re green in the face, but one thing is for certain: No issue has been more important, or more divisive, than frogs.
One frog in particular has hogged the spotlight, though: Pepe. The 4chan-born meme amphibian’s name was shouted during Hillary Clinton’s watershed speech on the alt-right movement. He has repeatedly resurfaced in neo-Nazi guise, despite creator Matt Furie’s insistence that this is just a phase. Clinton’s campaign eventually had to issue a statement on Pepe, Donald Trump Jr. denied a relationship with him, and the Anti-Defamation League declared him a hate symbol.
But we all know Pepe isn’t the only meme frog out there. We also have Dat Boi, Foul Bachelor Frog, and the #TeaLizard himself, Kermit. The humble leader of the Muppets contains multitudes, but he always seems to be on the right side of history. And as he calmly sips his tea, he projects a certain confidence in our stupid world.
Boys at Jenkins always be crying when they friends trying to get with their ex girl. But that’s none of my business tho pic.twitter.com/Q7FZ5Koqxr
— Nate Ashley (@ashtag_16) September 22, 2016
Well, this time something is Kermit’s business: the future of the United States. Josh Marshall, editor and publisher of Talking Points Memo, has been tirelessly reporting on Trump and his Pepe army, and he’s sick of a one-sided fight. He’s enlisting Kermit.
I feel like the rest of us need to get behind a canonical pluralism frog to turn back the tide, re-appropriate what’s been lost. pic.twitter.com/bjXTzjR56c
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) October 3, 2016
And almost as soon as Marshall declared his allegiance to Kermit over Pepe, a hashtag was born.
https://twitter.com/BrooklynSpoke/status/782766895716003840
Activists quickly took up the cause.
https://twitter.com/kennyjacobs/status/782763400027791360
https://twitter.com/kennyjacobs/status/782782091763130368
Only one frog soars above the rest as a symbol of hope and possibility. #takingbackthefrog #teamkermit @joshtpm pic.twitter.com/nZQrkqYbyf
— Mike Scholtz (@MikeScholtz) October 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/AngelaWorkoff/status/782783403766738944
#Imwithker #ImWithHer pic.twitter.com/s0sMWHw6V5
— George A. Hickman (@popmortem) October 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/WizardOfStraya/status/782783703319613440
Hey may not be the frog we deserve, but he’s the one we need right now #ImWithKer https://t.co/E2t0080FY6
— Andrew Tumilty (@AndrewTumilty) October 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/brianjayjones/status/782947925605384192
Glad you like it @Konamali1 @AdamsFlaFan @joshtpm Here it is again for your enjoyment. Misery is Joy. #ImWithKer pic.twitter.com/sTiAATWf6c
— JosieHolford (@JosieHolford) October 3, 2016
#ImWithKer because Sesame Street has known about Donald Grump since I was a kid. pic.twitter.com/aRlz15mOp4
— Dusty (@DustinGiebel) October 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/AlexandraAimee/status/782824187664621568
https://twitter.com/JezebelButler/status/782795538659934208
https://twitter.com/boomboomsandi/status/782787111225139200
Then, perhaps to support Marshall’s claim that Pepe “embodies sadism, cruelty, and the lust for domination as touchstone of public life that are the makings of autocracy,” the alt-right sought to quash the Feel-Good Kermit Rainbow Rebellion as it began to trend.
Best sign Kermit is working, Trumpers/alt-right haters already attacking him. Some trying to hijack the hashtag. Onward. #imwithker
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) October 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/Luigi2600/status/782817767619571712
https://twitter.com/JaynePenelope/status/782897907569602560
https://twitter.com/michaelbeatty3/status/782906163692089344
https://twitter.com/Seanbeandood/status/782923276486008833
https://twitter.com/AlexBrks/status/782917046757650432
https://twitter.com/davisiain0/status/782909458024390660
Guided by Saint Pepe, we will #MAGA. Kermit only has Statler & Waldorf – all talk, no action. #ImWithKer #FreePepe pic.twitter.com/WAUaJT9ybw
— Deplorable-Elect Dr. Pepe, KEKsq. (@Pepe_MAGA_Team) October 3, 2016
Pepe is a highly-accredited research scientist, while Kermit relies on these two clowns. #ImWithKer #FreePepe pic.twitter.com/nZAEE7VjZ6
— Deplorable-Elect Dr. Pepe, KEKsq. (@Pepe_MAGA_Team) October 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/CatchJupiter/status/782978222900203520
Pepe has 24/7 expert technical staff, meanwhile Kermit just deleted 30,000 emails by accident. #ImWithKer #FreePepe pic.twitter.com/P2GSOzFYyK
— Deplorable-Elect Dr. Pepe, KEKsq. (@Pepe_MAGA_Team) October 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/xmssweetnessx/status/782971584541822976
Marshall, for his part, saw it as mere desperation from people who know they are about to lose.
2: one of the Kermit hashtags. Here’s the reply I sent back. pic.twitter.com/ucngHVFONb
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) October 3, 2016
Incredible to think that just a month out from the vote that will put either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in the White House, a seismic shift in the frog meme landscape could swing the decision either way. Will Pepe resort to draconian measures to keep his followers in line? And can Kermit be an effective surrogate in smacking down Pepe talking points?
Kermit has already given us the perfect response to the entire Trump campaign: pic.twitter.com/qaQ3UQ3pG6
— Mike Palamuso (@mpalamuso) October 3, 2016
Good luck explaining this election to your grandkids.
