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Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

Dec 6

Today was my final vote in the House. As I walk out of the chamber for last time, I wanted to share something almost no one notices. The center aisle, the one the President walks down for SOTU, the aisle that divides the R and D sides, ends at an inscription of “Tolerance.”THREAD

It caught my eye the very first time I stepped into the House chamber when first elected. There is a desk in front of it so you can’t see it on TV. I thought it was a curious choice for such a central location. I’ve thought about it for a long time. Why “tolerance?” 2/11

Tolerance isn’t a particularly inspiring word. In fact it can sound a bit negative. Tolerating noise or bad behavior etc. That’s why political leaders often use “unity.” Why isn’t the word “unity” inscribed in this central location? 3/11

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Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

Nov 10

If we’re only having comfortable conversations in politics, it means we aren’t talking to all the people we need to be talking to. What comes next will be hard but needed. Here are my lessons learned for having effective “uncomfortable conversations” in district Trump won. THREAD

THE POWER OF RESPECT:
One of most profound moments of my time in politics happened after finishing a town hall in a deep Trump area. An older man waited 45 min to talk to me. He said “I want you to know I didn’t vote for you…and was very hesitant to come to this town hall.” 2/12

But then the man said “but I’m glad I did.” He shook my hand and walked off. For weeks I thought hard about this moment to unpack it. What I concluded was I don’t think I necessarily earned this man’s vote for showing up and listening, but I do think I earned his respect. 3/12

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Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

Nov 7

In 2020 I was one of 7 dems that won a district that Trump won, so I held a series of listening sessions with people who voted for Trump and voted for me to understand their actions. I reread the transcripts yesterday and much of it felt like it could have been said today. THREAD

Across the board the conversations began with expressions of what I can only describe as deep disgust in politics. Severe distrust in politicians and the status quo. And this wasn’t about the specifics of the moment, but instead deep seated long-term dissatisfaction. 2/12

Even after 4 yrs in office, Trump wasn’t seen as the status quo or as a “politician.” There was a clear belief that Trump was different. Some raised real concerns about Trump’s policies and personality, but those concerns didn’t override their disgust for politics. 3/12

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Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

Oct 16

Last night a Republican delegate from NJ accused me of wearing a North Korea flag on my tie and questioned my allegiance to America. This is a disgusting attack and I urge NJ Republican leaders including @BobHugin and @CurtisBashaw to condemn this xenophobia. THREAD

When I first ran for Congress, mailers sent out with my name in Chinese take out font. TV ads with the phrase “Andy Kim He’s Not One of Us.” I tried to ignore it but I realized that I should have done more to stand up. Unfortunately we see hate growing in our country… 2/12

In CA, Derek Tran is running against Rep Michelle Steele. Steele is now using these horrible mailers. Tran is son of Vietnamese refugees who fled communism. He served in the US Army. Steele is accusing him of supporting communism. Shameful. She should apologize. 3/12

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Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

Jul 26

I heard about vandalism of the United Synagogue of Hoboken and it pains me to see the way some people are acting on their deep disagreements and prejudices in ways that intentionally seek to intimidate and strike fear in others…THREAD

I walked past the defaced statues at Union Station yesterday as the park service power washed the disgusting “Hamas is Coming” threat from the marble. No matter how deeply one disagrees, that is no justification for threats or antisemitism. 2/

Threats and intimidation are not a form of protest, they are a form of coercion and retribution. Often instilling fear, they risk opportunities for understanding, and weaken and draw focus away from the cause of legitimate protests. 3/

Read 8 tweets

Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

Jul 14

When Lincoln was shot he wore a coat embroidered with “One Country, One Destiny.” I’ve turned to those 4 words to help me process this moment. This assassination attempt was one of the worst events I’ve seen in our democracy. It feels like we are a country unmoored…THREAD

I’ve never experienced a time more unpredictable yet with such generational consequence. So what does this particular moment mean? I remembered a passage in a book I read. “Power and violence are opposites; where the one rules absolutely, the other is absent.” 2/10

The deep unease we carry is in part the fact that we witnessed with the shooter one person trying to use the means of violence to impose their will upon a nation of 330 million and subvert the power of people that underlies our very democracy. 3/10

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