U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat representing Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, let loose this weekend with a series of incendiary tweets and retweets blaming U.S. Republican President Donald Trump for the mass shooting in El Paso.
One tweet, which Tlaib directed at Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, wrote:
Your prayers aren’t working. Try checking your dad on his tweets. 251 mass shootings in the U.S. in 216 days. He incites violence every day w/ his hate agenda & racism. More people are dying b/c he fails to fight white supremacist terrorists. They are the ones who hate America.
Your prayers aren't working. Try checking your dad on his tweets. 251 mass shootings in the U.S. in 216 days.
He incites violence every day w/ his hate agenda & racism. More people are dying b/c he fails to fight white supremacist terrorists.
They are the ones who hate America. https://t.co/dYzF2G7fEa
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 4, 2019
In other tweets, Tlaib marginalized the power of prayer and told U.S. Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina “to serve the people, not gun lobbyists.”
Star News Political Editor Steve Gill said Sunday that Tlaib’s rhetoric is irresponsible.
“Like many of the Democrats who are overstating the number of mass shootings this year to promote their political propaganda agenda, Tlaib is using bogus numbers to inflame an already volatile situation. It’s interesting that she has not expressed similar outrage over the garlic festival shooting in California that involved a half-Iranian man who had radical Islamist materials in his home, or the dozens shot in Chicago just this weekend in black-on-black crime in a gun control haven,” Gill said.
“She and her colleagues have ignored real violence and promoted violence, but now tries to pretend concern over a tragedy that she is anxious to exploit. She is a shameful example of the worst underbelly of politicians taking advantage of the sorrow of others to promote themselves.”
Tlaib, meanwhile also retweeted a comment from U.S. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
What speaking truth to power looks like ⬇️ https://t.co/ZQ9PbW9IQD
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 4, 2019
In it, Warren called FOX News “a hate-for-profit machine that gives a megaphone to racists and conspiracists.”
Tlaib, in her comment above the Warren retweet, said that is “what speaking truth to power looks like.”
Tlaib also retweeted comments from left-leaning activists and journalists who said several mass shooters were not immigrants and white supremacist terror poses a greater threat to America.
Tlaib also retweeted remarks from U.S. Congressman James McGovern, a Democrat representing Massachusetts’ Second Congressional District.
In one tweet, McGovern said Trump and people who attended one of his rallies encouraged other people to shoot immigrants.
In May, Trump said we are being “invaded” by immigrants. The El Paso shooter said he wanted to stop the “invasion.”
Trump asked his rally crowd: "How do you stop these people" from crossing the border?
"Shoot them!" Someone screamed.
He laughed. Then the crowd laughed.
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) August 4, 2019
In another tweet, McGovern said Trump is “one of the biggest national security threats in our country.”
Words matter. The domestic terror attack in El Paso was targeted at Hispanic Americans & inspired by the racism and white supremacy of the president.
Let’s tell the truth. One of the biggest national security threats in our country is the current resident of the White House.
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) August 4, 2019
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
