New York Times columnist Timothy Egan accuses Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, who loves touting his Irish heritage, of missing the historical, political and moral lessons of Ireland’s Great Hunger.

There is no comparison, of course, between the de facto genocide that resulted from British policy, and conservative criticism of modern American poverty programs. But you can’t help noticing the deep historic irony that finds a Tea Party favorite and descendant of famine Irish using the same language that English Tories used to justify indifference to an epic tragedy.

Here’s the link to the full column.