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Montana Republican blasted as the ‘Klan Kowboy’ for arguing against voting rights in DC
April 22, 2021
The House of Representatives passed a bill to make the District of Columbia the nation's 51st state in a party-line vote.
Citizens in DC are disenfranchised as their votes don't count for president and residents are not represented in Congress. Their local elected officials also have less power than Americans who are represented by governors, and lack of statehood prevented DC from calling up the National Guard to respond to the violent January 6th insurrection by supporters of Donald Trump seeking to overturn the 2020 election results.
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) attacked the legislation on Thursday, only days after his close friend Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) signed a voter suppression bill.
"This isn't about representation, it's a power grab to advance their radical agenda and destroy our Montana way of life," Daines claimed.
Daines, who has been repeatedly called out for racism and bigotry, received harsh pushback for his argument in favor of continued voter disenfranchisement. Here's some of what people were saying:
@SteveDaines PS: Steve the Big Sky Bigot knows the people of DC pay FIVE TIMES more into federal taxes than all Mon… https://t.co/TW54DkWMty— Colby Giffen (@Colby Giffen)1619112729.0
Say a member of a party that is deliberately going out and changing election laws in 20+ states so they can win elections to stay in power. 🙄
— christina m. brooks (@runewarrior) April 22, 2021
Montana barely has more people than DC.
This is about representation, but it's very telling that Republicans don't think congressional representation for 700,000 Americans is important if it doesn't benefit Republicans.
— Derp Merchant (@CigarInTheWall) April 22, 2021
Is the Montana way of life different from the American way of life? You know, the one where all citizens elect Senators to represent them?
— ∞ Monkeys say, nuke the filibuster (@hey_late) April 22, 2021
I see "purely partisan," "power grab," "radical agenda" and "destroy" and it's clear you are actually referencing this: pic.twitter.com/toasiOGM5b
— taradavi (@d_taradavi) April 22, 2021
I feel like you're confused about the makeup of DC. Or, like... anywhere? Mostly, they'll vote for the candidates they like the most. What you're admitting here is "the republican agenda is inherently tied to racism so we'll never win a majority black state". So, don't do that.
— Geoff Smith (@HappyFunNorm) April 22, 2021
That's so adorable. Maybe they should just take away Montana's representation. You don't seem too concerned about American citizens having voting representation in Congree.
— NickyTheSquid (@kenckar) April 22, 2021
@SteveDaines wants to shred the constitution to protect the white evangelical way of life.
— David Newbrough (@el_hubro) April 22, 2021
Maybe the GOP should make themselves more appealing?
— Brad B. (@AFBaylorBear) April 22, 2021
It's totally about representation 😂 DC has more residents than Wyoming.
— Lawson (@o_Henchman) April 22, 2021
Nobody cares about your Montana lifestyle, Steve.
We do care about Americans and their right to equal representation under the law, however. This wouldn't bother you at all if your party was going to pick up seats in Congress, so it's really hard to take you seriously.
— Edward Teach (@EdwardT54126517) April 22, 2021
Considering that DC could not order the National Guard in on January 6th, it is important that they become a state because we still have Republican insurrectionists in Congress.
Hawley
Cruz
Johnson
Greene
Boebert
Biggs
Gosar
Brooks
Gohmert
Tuberville
Scott
Lee#DCStatehoodNow
— we need leaders (@mastersinleadin) April 22, 2021
"Congress split the Dakota territory in half in 1889 to admit two new states with 4 Rep senators
So spare us the fake outrage over DC statehood"https://t.co/V7TJjX53uR
— 🐝Hoosierville🐝 (@Hoosierville) April 22, 2021
The majority of Americans don't give a 💩how people in MT live their lives, we just don't want to be dragged back into the 1850's w/them.
We, the majority of the people, want a more perfect Union in the 21st century!
GQP's #KochSucking radical right-wing agenda is a FAILURE!
— AC (@Abhinary) April 22, 2021
"No taxation without representation*" I didn't realize there was an asterisk there. While we're at it, any territories who want full rights and representation as states should also become states.
— Teresa Young (@TKYmt2sn) April 22, 2021
'I should determine whether you have the right to vote based on your voting behavior,' isn't a very strong argument, Steve. I don't like that Montanans elected you but the rest of us live with it.
— Chris Fitzgerald (@cofitzgerald) April 22, 2021
"No taxation without representation unless they will vote for Democrats, then fuck 'em." Steve Daines https://t.co/8RKLgv1gLd— Matt Ortega (@Matt Ortega)1619117000.0
Kindof explicit with the dogwhistle here https://t.co/qKbH4LdVoO— Daniel :-) (@Daniel :-))1619116502.0
Ensuring other Americans have representation definitely is offensive to the folks in Montana, huh? https://t.co/TsNBWiftRr— Bradley P. Moss (@Bradley P. Moss)1619111883.0
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‘Insurrectionist’ Josh Hawley slammed for being only senator to vote against COVID-19 hate crimes bill
April 22, 2021
Missouri Republican Josh Hawley just became the only U.S. Senator to vote against the COVID-19 Hate Crimes bill to protect Asian Americans. The vote was 94-1.
The bill is sponsored by Hawaii Democrat Maize Hirono:
PASSED: Today, the US Senate rejects anti-Asian hate. This historic, bipartisan vote on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act is a powerful message of solidarity to our AAPI community. Now, I urge the House to swiftly pass this legislation so President Biden can sign it into law. pic.twitter.com/gaoLgnwgO9
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) April 22, 2021
Hawley was criticized for his vote, with many calling him an insurrectionist for his role in the January 6 attempted coup.
Insurrectionist Josh Hawley was the lone Senator to not vote for this bill. Missouri demographics: White: 82.16% Black: 11.49% Two or more races: 2.63% Asian: 1.98% Native American: 0.44% Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.13% Other: 1.17%https://t.co/Hhc0Wtf8V8
— Piyush Mittal (@piyushmittal) April 22, 2021
It wouldn't be a day ending in y if insurrectionist Hawley didn't get his hate on.
— lc (@lcatboonies) April 22, 2021
Josh Hawley, the insurrectionist?😂
— Katy Bauman (@KatyBauman8) April 22, 2021
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Capitol police deny claim that an officer said to focus only on anti-Trump protesters
April 22, 2021
Reports this week claimed that a Capitol Police officer told other officers to stand down with supporters of President Donald Trump's but to arrest anti- Trump protesters.
"The department's Office of Professional Responsibility found that a radio transmission to 'all outside units' attention' that they should not be 'looking for any pro-Trump in the crowd,'" according to Rep Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Politico reported. "She added they were 'only looking for any anti-Trump.'"
According to Thursday's report by Politico, the Capitol Police are denying that that incident happened, noting that it's being taken wrong.
"The radio call has been misquoted and is lacking full and necessary context," the department said in a statement.
According to the department, the radio comment came at 8:24 a.m., saying, "With regards to pedestrian traffic on – on the grounds today, we anticipate a – a large presence for pro-Trump participants. What we're looking for is any anti-Trump counter-protestors."
"The radio call does not mean USCP was only looking out for anti-Trump counter-protestors," the Capitol Police statement said. "The next radio transmission requests that officers be on the lookout for a pro-Trump protester carrying a possible weapon."
The reason, they explained, that they were given that instruction was attributed to previous protests in which Trump protesters clashed with anti-Trump protesters. The night previously, Trump's supporters walked from their rally at Freedom Plaza to pick fights with Black Lives Matter protesters standing in Black Lives Matter Plaza. The same happened on Dec. 12 when Trump protesters came to the city to protest the election and walked to Black Lives Matter Plaza to pick fights.
Lofgren's aide said that the statement proves her point.
"The department's focus on potential street skirmishes that morning — despite clear indications and persuasive intelligence of right-wing violence aimed at Congress — underscores that the Capitol Police did not understand the gravity of the event that was about to unfold," said Politico.
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