Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) faced backlash after issuing a fear-mongering tweet about proof of vaccination.
"We're living in scary times when the most free nation in the history of mankind is seriously discussing mandatory vaccine passports," Cawthorn tweeted.
The covid pandemic should have revealed to us how hard it is doing democracy. The plague could be over by now had everyone agreed it's bad, had everyone agreed masks are good and had everyone agreed vaccines are the road of the righteous to liberation. While consensus is always difficult to achieve in any democracy, the radicalization of one of two major parties, such that it's more like a separatist movement than a legitimate bargaining partner, has meant consensus has become nearly impossible.
But the covid pandemic should have revealed something else, something related to how hard it is doing democracy. When one of two major parties is willing to hurt itself in order to achieve its objectives, that party is always going to have a political advantage over the other. Mutual benefit and trust are impossible when betrayal is optional. Put another way, having a political advantage over the other party is important enough that the Republicans will gladly hurt themselves. This is so important it will move heaven and earth so it does not appear to be suicidal but instead honorable—so self-harm doesn't look like masochism but instead freedom.
Consider recent remarks by Madison Cawthorn given during a speech on the floor of the United States House of Representatives during which he railed against new rules requiring members wear masks: "If I am to cowardly bend the knee here, like those on the left wish, then what is to stop you all from taking your tyranny to the rest of this country that I love," the North Carolina Congressman said. "How dare anyone in this institution attempt to dictate to the patriots on my staff how they may live their lives. … What makes this nation special is that here in this free land, the people are the royalty. So arrest us if you will, but I will not cower and I will not bend. You have come to take away our liberties, but Madam Speaker, in this country you are outnumbered."
U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) posted a short video clip of himself in a "round table" meeting with Donald Trump and over a dozen people, which he labeled, "Creating the Plan to Win," and captioned: "Behind the Scenes."
The video, since disappeared but captured by some savvy internet users, shows Trump at his usual place whenever he's seated at a table, dead center. One man can be heard saying something about "half a million dollar salaries for four years," and asking, "What do we do? We're a little bit of a special group."
Former federal prosecutor Ron Filipkowski posted a copy:
In alphabetical order. Please visit all the candidate’s websites, and social media to learn more. Revised 6/11/21
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
Website: jasmineforcongress.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/beachferrara
TW: @JBeachFerrara
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Grt6zkLs3o
Jay Carey
Website: jaycareyforcongress.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/JRCareyNC11
TW: https://twitter.com/jrcareyncdist11
IG: https://www.instagram.com/jaycareyforcongress/
Katie Dean
Website: electkatiedean.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ElectKatieDean
TW: https://twitter.com/electkatiedean
IG: https://www.instagram.com/electkatiedean/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSQGsOR60GrhvcqhJBl2CqQ
Eric Gash
Website: https://ericgash.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/GashForCongress/
TW: https://twitter.com/GashForCongress
IG: https://www.instagram.com/gashforcongress/
Bo Hess
Website: https://www.bohessforuscongress.com/
FB: https://m.facebook.com/bohessforuscongress
TW: https://twitter.com/bohessforus
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bohessforus/
Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC4bSAGC-GxtpExLA1ZBTGVQ
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bohessforuscongress?lang=en
Josh Remillard
Website: https://www.joshremillard.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/JoshRemillardNC
TW: https://twitter.com/joshremillardnc
IG: https://www.instagram.com/joshremillardfornc/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGD8uOV1fyKPWMVnLBLKeg
Thanks for reading and contributing. A lovely morning will be turning into a wet afternoon. Be safe, have a good weekend.