You'll see a lot in the news today about the candidates vying for the Speaker's seat, so I've done you a favor to save you the reading. From a radical anti-choice record to attacking Social Security and Medicare, you're about to see it all.
🧵Let's meet the extremists
Tom Emmer is former chair of the NRCC and has called Trump a “fantastic ally.” Despite his dramatic support of Trump in 2016 and 2020 to appeal to his base, Trump won’t even back him. Embarrassing!
Meet Byron Donalds: a far-right MAGA extremist and Trump ally who stated his main goal is to advance a radical “conservative agenda.” He has attacked abortion rights, voted against codifying gay and interracial marriage, and voted against capping insulin costs.
Meet Kevin Hern - a Trump loyalist who was elected to Congress with no political experience and adamantly claims the 2020 election was stolen. Hern was a candidate for Speaker earlier this year after being nominated by Lauren Boebert. Enough said.
Mike Johnson - a homophobic Trump-lover from Louisiana - is up next. Johnson helped lead the charge to overturn the 2020 election and it’s clear our democracy would be at risk with him in charge.
One of Dan Meuser’s own constituents, a registered Independent, said this when asked if Meuser should be Speaker: “I don't think he's capable, nor does he reflect the needs and wants of the people in Pennsylvania.” Ouch!
Introducing you to yet another member of the Freedom Caucus – Gary Palmer of Alabama. Palmer may keep a lower profile than many of his deeply conservative counterparts, but make no mistake, he has the same radical, anti-choice MAGA agenda as the rest.
Just like he lost his congressional race in 2018, Pete Sessions will lose his bid for Speakership.
McCarthy-lover Austin Scott already lost the Speaker nomination a few weeks ago, so what makes him think this time will be different? Keep in mind this is an individual who also voted against codifying gay & interracial marriage and bipartisan gun control.
Jack Bergman is a retired Marine lieutenant general, yet voted against expanding healthcare for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals. Seriously?
Each candidate except for two objected to certifying President Biden’s 2020 victory in at least one state. Only 3 voted to avert a government shutdown earlier this year. If these individuals can't fulfill their duties as Members, how can we trust them with the Speakership?
We can’t. House Republicans have a choice: they can vote to hand the gavel to MAGA extremists or work with Democrats to responsibly govern and deliver for everyday Americans. What do you think they’ll choose?
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🧵: In light of Trump’s praise of the J6 insurrectionists, his featuring them in a version of the national anthem, and him calling them hostages, I feel compelled to share my experience with the J6 prisoners since I’m one of the few members of congress to spend time w/ them.
Last year, I visited the DC Jail on behalf of @OversightDems to visit the January 6 prisoners.
The visit was organized by Marjorie Taylor Greene and I and @RepJasmine were there to observe. The actions of our GOP colleagues inside the facility were shameful.
Trump & Marjorie Taylor Greene continue to tell lies about the conditions of the facility and saying that there was no insurrection on January 6. The inmates that we saw were being treated fairly. They had 24 hr medical care, computer tablets & access to communicate with family.
Last year, I visited the DC Jail on behalf of @OversightDems to visit the January 6 prisoners.
The visit was organized by Marjorie Taylor Greene and I was there to observe. The actions of our GOP colleagues inside the facility and their lies about the visit were shameful.
Marjorie Taylor Greene continues to tell lies about the conditions of the facility and saying that there was no insurrection on January 6. The inmates that we saw were being treated fairly. They had 24 hr medical care, computer tablets & access to communicate with family
When we saw the inmates, my Republican colleagues rushed to them and treated them like celebrities rather than people who attacked our capitol police and our very democracy.
It was disgusting and gut wrenching. One of the inmates tried to shake my hand and I refused.
I just exited the DC Jail on behalf of @OversightDems. The actions of our Republican colleagues inside the facility and their lies about the visit are shameful.
Marjorie Taylor Greene is already telling lies about the conditions of the facility and saying that there was no insurrection on January 6. The inmates that we saw were being treated fairly. They have 24 hr medical care, computer tablets & access to communicate with family
When we saw the inmates, my Republican colleagues rushed to them and treated them like celebrities rather than people who attacked our capitol police and our very democracy.