Former President Obama attempted to lecture Tenessee House Republicans on Twitter on Thursday for expelling one of their members but was quickly countered by other Twitter users setting the record straight.
Two out of three Tenessee House democrats who led a disruptive protest on the House Floor were expelled Thursday by House Republicans. The protest called for more gun control in response to the Nashville shooting and forced House businesses to pause when it broke out onto the house floor with bullhorns and loud chants.
Two out of three Tenessee House democrats who led a disruptive protest on the House Floor were expelled Thursday by House Republicans. The protest called for more gun control in response to the Nashville shooting and forced House businesses to pause when it broke out onto the house floor with bullhorns and loud chants.
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The former president took to Twitter to condemn the expulsions, citing America’s history as allowing peaceful protest.
“This nation was built on peaceful protest. No elected official should lose their job simply for raising their voice – especially when they’re doing it on behalf of our children. What happened in Tennessee is the latest example of a broader erosion of civility and democratic norms. Silencing those who disagree with us is a sign of weakness, not strength, and it won’t lead to progress.”
Respondents on Twitter ripped into the tweet, pointing out its flaws line by line. One user noted that America was not founded on peaceful protest initially but on the revolutionary war.
Dude this country was born from a revolutionary war
— 𝐄𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚 (@EudaimoniaEsq) April 7, 2023
Conservative pundit Dinesh D’Souza stressed the hypocrisy of Obama’s line against attacking people for their political voice while pointing out that that’s not what the Democrat former House members were expelled for.
Democrats who just arrested a former President and leading candidate of the opposition party now say “democracy” is threatened because the Tennessee GOP legislature voted to expel 2 Democrats leading an occupation of the state Capitol and a disruption of official proceedings
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) April 7, 2023
Director and commentator Robby Starbuck questioned the former president’s argument that the disruptive protest was about protecting kids at all, citing Obama’s and the house members’ policies contrary to that ideal.
Didn’t you drone strike an American child and support late term abortion? Glad to hear you suddenly care about kids. Your agitators stole control of the Capitol though and shut the session down. All 3 voted AGAINST providing officers to kids at schools in TN before their stunt.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 7, 2023
You murdered a 16-year-old American citizen in a targeted drone strike without charges or due process.
You have no regard for children.
— Libertarian Party (@LPNational) April 7, 2023
Several users also pointed out the apparent hypocrisy, comparing Obama’s and other democrat’s defense of this invasion of a capitol building to their condemnation of January 6th.
Awesome. Now defend Democrats’ impeachment of Trump for imploring his voters to “remain peaceful”, “no violence” and “respect the law”.
Seems the right to protest, and democracy itself, is a one-way street with Democrats. pic.twitter.com/FJqRdnjBbb
— Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) April 7, 2023
@BarackObama I agree on l some of the things you brought forward. But why is it ok when the democrats do it. Why is there such a double standard. According to the new definition of insurrection created to fit the establishment leftist narrative, these folks were insurrectionists.
— John Matland for █████ (@WTPAreTheNews) April 7, 2023
Sorry, Barry, you guys decided protesting the government is an insurrection … your rules, Sparky. https://t.co/s9Yw1Rkclj
— 🐥The🐰FOO🌸 (@PolitiBunny) April 7, 2023
Yet individuals who walked through "The People's House" should be jailed for years without charges or due process? https://t.co/6Skpg5H5Yw
— ~TnT~ 🇺🇸 (@Snofox6) April 7, 2023
Other users took the time to explain why the expulsion was not a free speech violation, as Obama and other democrats have insinuated.
Heckling with a bullhorn inside a legislative chamber isn't "peaceful protest". It is Thirdworldisation of civilised politics. https://t.co/Jc0WwXA4ob
— Dr S Maitra (@MrMaitra) April 7, 2023
Join your fellow patriots and subscribe to our Youtube Channel.
We were told obstructing the legislature was insurrection, so, no. https://t.co/1riazngx9q
— Leslie McAdoo Gordon 🇺🇸 (@McAdooGordon) April 7, 2023
Your a real idiot. First of all it's called following the rule AKA decorum. They incited an insurrection, a real insurrection! Crazy, how had a republican done that it would have been the worse thing that's ever happened to America. https://t.co/hj3tdjzpOS
— Law and Order (@TrumpIsBack7) April 7, 2023
President Joe Biden followed Obama’s lead despite the massive backlash, taking to Twitter late Thursday afternoon.
“Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. It’s shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent.”
Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting.
And what are GOP officials focused on?
Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action.
It's shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. https://t.co/NB9gSdFI9h
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 6, 2023
Tennessee Democrat Party Chair Hendrell Remus told CNN that this event set a new precedent for political retribution, even arguing that dispelling those stopping the democratically-elected House’s business was anti-democracy.
“Their expulsion sets a dangerous new precedent for political retribution,” a statement from the party said. “The day that a majority can simply expel a member of the opposing party without legitimate cause threatens the fabric of democracy in our state and creates a reckless roadmap for GOP controlled state legislatures across the nation.”
Tennessee Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison told CNN that the caucus agreed the issue did not need to be considered by an ethics committee due to the expelled house members’ history of disrupting floor proceedings. He then briefly explained the choice to dismiss them.
“It’s not possible for us to move forward with the way they were behaving in committee and on the House floor. There’s got to be some peace.”
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