The Republican Party, which is locked in what some believe is a battle for power to determine the very future of the United States, finds itself in a very awkward position today, personified by U.S. Rep.-Elect George Santos, R-N.Y.
Smarting from the outcome of the midterm elections, where an expected red wave crashed into a blue wall leaving in its wake a razor-thin four-seat majority in the House, the GOP can ill afford to lose a single seat, all of which leaves them in the unenviable position of having to stand by Santos even though he fabricated key details about his life while running for office.
Santos has embarked on a bold campaign of seeking forgiveness by owning up to his “mistakes,” while hypocritical Democrats pounce on a potential opportunity to force him out. That campaign included a brutal interview on Fox News’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight” where fill-in host Tulsi Gabbard grilled Santos over his dishonesty. The effort didn’t sit well with U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., who took to Twitter to call out Gabbard as a former Democrat for taking a stand in integrity in the interview.
“Being a person of integrity, if I were one of those in New York’s Third District right now, now that the election is over and I’m finding out all of these lies that you’ve told — not just one little lie or one little embellishment — these are blatant lies,” Gabbard told Santos. “My question is, do you have no shame? Do you have no shame in the people who are now — you are asking to trust you to go and be their voice for them, their families and their kids in Washington?”
Greene was incensed that Santos was not granted any grace in the interview and proceeded to turn the focus away from the liar from New York and onto Gabbard, tying her in with the actions of Democrats — never mind that Gabbard was smart enough to leave the party and did so for all the right reasons.
“Tulsi Gabbard, who says she is a former Democrat, gave Rep-elect George Santos zero grace, while George is admitting and apologizing for lying about his resume, just like her former colleagues are giving George zero grace & even demanding he resign,” Greene tweeted.
Tulsi Gabbard, who says she is a former Democrat, gave Rep-elect George Santos zero grace, while George is admitting and apologizing for lying about his resume, just like her former colleagues are giving George zero grace & even demanding he resign.
1/6
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) December 28, 2022
Granted, Democrats lie like a rug, and few politicians alive can spin as many yarns as the feeble 80-year-old man in the White House today, President Joe Biden. Yet, we know that if Santos was a Democrat, many of those now defending him would be up in arms — this being a reality that turns so many Americans off when it comes to politics.
“Tulsi says that George’s actions on the House floor are what is most important, but George has not even had the chance to take action for his district on the House floor because he isn’t even sworn in yet,” the Republican lawmaker from Georgia continued in a series of follow-up tweets. “Tulsi also says how can his district believe anything he says.. I too believe actions and words are extremely important, but I don’t think a former Democrat who’s actions on the House floor as recent as 2020 that gave her an A from Planned Parenthood, an F from the NRA, and introduced a climate agenda signature piece of legislation called the OFF Act – designed to end all fossil fuels (the same as AOC’s Green New Deal) should lecture a newly elected Republican member of congress on how he should vote to represent his Republican district.”
when he is standing on the House floor fighting for them.
I too believe actions and words are extremely important, but I don’t think a former Democrat who’s actions on the House floor as recent as 2020 that gave her an A from Planned Parenthood, an F from the NRA, and
3/6
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) December 28, 2022
I do appreciate that Tulsi says words that sound conservative now even though she can’t take action to back them up.
I am glad she, like George, realized she made mistakes and was wrong every time she voted to support killing the unborn, taking away our gun rights, and
5/6
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) December 28, 2022
“I do appreciate that Tulsi says words that sound conservative now even though she can’t take action to back them up. I am glad she, like George, realized she made mistakes and was wrong every time she voted to support killing the unborn, taking away our gun rights, and legislated to kill America’s energy independence and the fossil fuel industry,” Greene tweeted. “I hope Tulsi is sincere, just like I hope George is sincere. I think we Republicans should give George Santos a chance and see how he legislates and votes, not treat him the same as the left is.”
legislated to kill America’s energy independence and the fossil fuel industry.
I hope Tulsi is sincere, just like I hope George is sincere.
I think we Republicans should give George Santos a chance and see how he legislates and votes, not treat him the same as the left is.
6/6
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) December 28, 2022
While Gabbard’s politics are not the issue here, to her credit the former congresswoman from Hawaii has never claimed to be something she is not and has never hidden from her liberal stance on many issues or her support for Bernie Sanders in 2016.
As for the issue of grace, many feel there is little grace in defending a man who blatantly lied about himself to get elected — Republican or Democrat.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.