President Donald Trump’s rebuke of a Republican lawmaker for being a “third rate Grandstander” prompted an eyebrow-raising response from former Secretary of State John Kerry
The president unloaded on Rep. Thomas Massie in a tweet on Friday, saying the Kentucky Congressman should be thrown out of the Republican Party for holding up the Senate’s $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill after he threatened to raise a procedural objection.
“He just wants the publicity,” Trump tweeted, calling out the “Congressman from, unfortunately, a truly GREAT State, Kentucky” over his objections to the bill which was unanimously passed by the Senate on Wednesday.
The House of Representatives was prepared to pass the measure by a “voice vote” on Friday which would not require any one of the lawmakers to be present in person, amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. But Massie’s objections to the bill, which would send $1,200 payments to many Americans, led him to demand a roll-call vote, thereby holding up the process and forcing lawmakers to return to the Capitol.
He raised his concerns about the effect on the national debt in a tweet on Thursday, calling the sweeping stimulus package “not a good deal.”
$2 trillion (Congress)
+$4 trillion (Fed & Treasury)
———————————
$6 trillion stimulus$6 trillion divided by 350 million citizens = $17,000 per citizen
times a family of 4
=$68,000 per family of new national debt and dollar devaluation in this stimulus.
not a good deal
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 26, 2020
Trump called the delay caused by Massie “both dangerous and costly.”
“Workers & small businesses need money now in order to survive,” he teetered, adding that the coronavirus, which has exceeded 86,000 cases in the U.S., and its effect on their livelihood was not their “fault.”
“It is ‘HELL’ dealing with the Dems, had to give up some stupid things in order to get the ‘big picture’ done,” the president added, referring to the days of negotiations that led to the final unanimous vote in the Senate.
Looks like a third rate Grandstander named @RepThomasMassie, a Congressman from, unfortunately, a truly GREAT State, Kentucky, wants to vote against the new Save Our Workers Bill in Congress. He just wants the publicity. He can’t stop it, only delay, which is both dangerous……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020
…& costly. Workers & small businesses need money now in order to survive. Virus wasn’t their fault. It is “HELL” dealing with the Dems, had to give up some stupid things in order to get the “big picture” done. 90% GREAT! WIN BACK HOUSE, but throw Massie out of Republican Party!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020
Former Massachusetts Senator Kerry chimed in and declared his surprising agreement with Trump as he tore up Massie who “tested positive for being an a–hole.”
“He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity,” the Democrat added.
Breaking news: Congressman Massie has tested positive for being an asshole. He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity. He’s given new meaning to the term #Masshole. (Finally, something the president and I can agree on!) https://t.co/N1CNLPsZjc
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) March 27, 2020
Kerry and Massie locked horns last April during a House Oversight hearing over climate change.
Kerry has a special hate place in his heart for Massie 😂. https://t.co/CXzLrwJKFI
— Matt (@FraijNT) March 27, 2020
Others were also angry at the Kentucky lawmaker, such as Rep. Peter King who tweeted about heading to Washington from his home state of New York which is at the U.S. epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, with more than 39,000 confirmed cases of the illness.
Heading to Washington to vote on pandemic legislation. Because of one Member of Congress refusing to allow emergency action entire Congress must be called back to vote in House. Risk of infection and risk of legislation being delayed. Disgraceful. Irresponsible.
— Rep. Pete King (@RepPeteKing) March 27, 2020
It is quite the statement of his character that Thomas Massie is legitimately threatening the health of his colleagues, many in their 60s or 70s even 80s, for a stunt on a bill he knows is going to pass. I hope no one forgets what he’s done here.
— Brendan Buck (@BrendanBuck) March 27, 2020
Yo, Kentucky. Put your boy @RepThomasMassie in check.
I’m getting over these self-important, pretend principles of “libertarianism“
— Reese Roz (@reeseonable) March 27, 2020
I might have a grudging respect for Thomas Massie if this were truly a principled stance, but it’s not. This is purely a move of vanity meant to bolster his profile, and in doing so, he is putting his colleagues and their staff and all their families at risk. It’s beyond selfish.
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) March 27, 2020
Many others came to Massie’s defense, however, calling him a true conservative for trying to slow down the race to add to the nation’s debt.
We have very few men on principal left in Congress. @RepThomasMassie seems to be one of them. The only Congressmen who are deserving of re-election are those who vote against the stimulus bill. No one should donate one dime to the campaign of any member who votes in favor of it!
— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) March 27, 2020
There are very very few people in congress I respect. But Thomas Massie is one of them. I don’t agree with him on everything but the guy is worth more than 50 empty suited Republicans combined. Trump’s attack on him is foolish and arrogant.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 27, 2020
@realDonaldTrump Mr. President. @RepThomasMassie is a good man and a solid conservative. He believes in the Constitution strongly. We won’t always agree on strategy or policy. But he doesn’t warrant this dressing down. Thomas—Hang tough brother. #CoronavirusOutbreak https://t.co/f0gydIQHTX
— Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) March 27, 2020
Doing the right thing when it isn’t popular is integrity. Good for him.
— Aintropy (@Aintropy) March 27, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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