Is it the panic or the pushback? The conspiracy theory or the coincidence? The homophone or the iPhone?
Whatever it is, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) stepped face-first into the zeitgeist with just a handful of loose change while bidding for steeply-priced caution—trying to calm people down by casually referring to many Americans’ absolute worst fears: Martial law. He didn’t spell it that way, though.
“Please stop spreading stupid rumors about marshall law,” the senior Sunshine State senator tweeted late Monday morning.
Was it an homage to our 45th president’s proclivity for the oddly-placed typo? Speech-to-text gone awry? Or did Sen. Rubio not know it was “martial” and not “marshall”? Suspend those questions for now.
Rubio also did the thing that’s proven to totally soothe fractured and fractious nerves: He used all caps.
“We will continue to see closings [and] restrictions on hours of non-essential businesses in certain cities [and] states,” Rubio continued—using the phrase again. “But that is NOT marshall law.”
The Twitterverse exploded with mentions of laws both martial and Marshall.
What the fuck is Marshall law?
Dude, at least try.
It’s MARTIAL law https://t.co/RnAyG7O2LR
— Benjamin J Stults (@Benjerman99) March 16, 2020
Can’t believe CBS never generated a spinoff of “Walker, Texas Ranger” or “Blue Bloods” about a sheriff named “Marshall Law.” https://t.co/QJ73pZZHMK
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) March 16, 2020
Marshall Law was Marco Rubio’s best friend in college and he would like you to stop bullying him by spreading rumors. https://t.co/lyTgo6SiOD
— Dan Baer (@danbbaer) March 16, 2020
But, with the full force of internet-speed evolution, a true meme was born as verbal dexterity and wordplay took the reins.
An economist sensed an opening.
Marshall Law begins right now. https://t.co/RGP50n4iYy
— Marshall Steinbaum 🔥🍉 (@Econ_Marshall) March 16, 2020
A cartoonist offered a history lesson.
Marshall Law kept things under control in the old west. https://t.co/gTc5st4eBM
— Very very ready Tom Tomorrow (@tomtomorrow) March 16, 2020
A dictionary helped clear things up.
‘Martial’: an adjective referring to an army or to military life
‘Marshal’: a noun or verb, often used in reference to an officer or the act of leading
‘Marshall’: a variant of ‘marshal,’ usually found in proper nounshttps://t.co/rVoDwiFKFC
— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) March 16, 2020
A journalist referenced a justice.
I am a huge fan of Marshall Law, personally. https://t.co/3gm4ivkXK4 pic.twitter.com/x2FbNhwpDf
— Adam Serwer🍝 (@AdamSerwer) March 16, 2020
Another journalist referenced a meme.
this mf said marshall law pic.twitter.com/w4PR8Sz740
— molly conger (@socialistdogmom) March 16, 2020
A podcaster set progress back by referencing a comic book.
— Rich Lather (@allahliker) March 16, 2020
There were video game references, too:
Marshall Law? Tekken is one of my favorite games too, but it’s “Martial Law”
This is Marshall: pic.twitter.com/ZkLGKLpu4x— #BasedShaun (@DayHova29) March 16, 2020
There was also this:
NO ONE HAS DECLARED MARSHALL LAW EXCEPT FOR SUSAN AND KAREN SO EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOCK IT OFF.
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) March 16, 2020
[image via Samuel Corum/Getty Images]
