ICYMI, Indiana Congressman Jim Banks pin-tweeted an Appeal to Heaven flag on the night Trump was convicted in New York (~1 week after the Sam Alito ATH flag story broke).
@NOTUSreports asked him about it, & his answer is menacing. 1/
notus.org/newsletter/000…
@NOTUSreports asked him about it, & his answer is menacing. 1/
notus.org/newsletter/000…
As a refresher, Banks supported Trump's 2020 election lies () & was slated to be a right-wing plant (along w/ Jim Jordan) to derail the January 6th Cmte, until Nancy Pelosi put the kibosh on that little plan -- to the feigned outrage of Banks/Jordan. 2/facebook.com/RepJimBanks/po…
Banks is a far-right, Christian-nationalist Republican congressman & an election denier, so it's not shocking that he'd embrace the ATH flag's rebellious (&, frankly, violent) symbolism.
What I'm interested in is Banks' reply when asked by @NOTUSreports about his reasons. 3/
What I'm interested in is Banks' reply when asked by @NOTUSreports about his reasons. 3/
As I've written about, bc the ATH flag is a coded symbol that is both a Revolutionary War flag and a meme attached to spiritual-warfare-driven forms Christian nationalism, many politicians who use it claim they "appreciate the history" as a coy dodge. 4/
thebulwark.com/p/appeal-to-he…
thebulwark.com/p/appeal-to-he…
Rep. Jim Banks *does* play coy games about the flag, but his insinuations are much more ominous than claiming to be a maritime history buff.
Here are Jim Banks' 4 dodges in order of the article. Each is a paper-thinly veiled threat to American democracy. 5/
Here are Jim Banks' 4 dodges in order of the article. Each is a paper-thinly veiled threat to American democracy. 5/
Dodge #1: You Interpret It For Me
The reporter (@byrdinator) asks him if, w/ the ATH flag, he's calling for another American revolution to support Trump against the legal system.
Banks: "I'll let you make your own conclusions."
Translation: "I'm not not saying that." 6/
The reporter (@byrdinator) asks him if, w/ the ATH flag, he's calling for another American revolution to support Trump against the legal system.
Banks: "I'll let you make your own conclusions."
Translation: "I'm not not saying that." 6/
Dodge #2: We Live in Dire Times
The reporter asks him again whether he wants to send such a loaded signal.
Banks accuses "elites and those who are trying to destroy" the U.S. of being the real aggressors, so...
Yeah, maybe we do need war, if you're gonna force me to it... 7/
The reporter asks him again whether he wants to send such a loaded signal.
Banks accuses "elites and those who are trying to destroy" the U.S. of being the real aggressors, so...
Yeah, maybe we do need war, if you're gonna force me to it... 7/
I just have to pause to note that Banks emphasizes the word "reset" in his answer.
Dutch Sheets, the Christian extremist who has branded the ATH flag as a CN symbol, frequently uses the term "RESET" to describe the flag's meaning. Coincidence? 8/
facebook.com/dutchsheets/ph…
Dutch Sheets, the Christian extremist who has branded the ATH flag as a CN symbol, frequently uses the term "RESET" to describe the flag's meaning. Coincidence? 8/
facebook.com/dutchsheets/ph…
Dodge #3: What Insurrection?
@byrdinator (intrepid reporter) drills down: you're against violent insurrections though, right?
Banks: "Democrats are the problem & un-American."
This style of "existential threat" & dehumanizing rhetoric is the predicate for more violence. 9/
@byrdinator (intrepid reporter) drills down: you're against violent insurrections though, right?
Banks: "Democrats are the problem & un-American."
This style of "existential threat" & dehumanizing rhetoric is the predicate for more violence. 9/
Dodge #4: Get Out of My Face
Finally, @byrdinator asks: But you really don't want to go to war & slaughter your fellow Americans over this do you?
Banks: "That's a crazy question."
Is it though, Jim? Is it though? 10/
Finally, @byrdinator asks: But you really don't want to go to war & slaughter your fellow Americans over this do you?
Banks: "That's a crazy question."
Is it though, Jim? Is it though? 10/
It's hard to overstate the level of peril the U.S. is facing in this election:
There's a gun to the head of American democracy.
If Trump wins, he's promised dictatorship & vengeance.
If he loses, well, then Jim Banks, et al., might need to foment revolution or J6 2.0. 11/
There's a gun to the head of American democracy.
If Trump wins, he's promised dictatorship & vengeance.
If he loses, well, then Jim Banks, et al., might need to foment revolution or J6 2.0. 11/
It's also telling that right-wing elected officials aren't even bothering anymore to use the "history buff" defense when flying the Appeal to Heaven flag.
The subtext is becoming text.
Dog whistles are becoming whistles.
They don't feel the need to hide the agenda now. 12/
The subtext is becoming text.
Dog whistles are becoming whistles.
They don't feel the need to hide the agenda now. 12/
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