A meme published by the Biden Department of Transportation is being blasted as straight-up propaganda by several people on social media, while others opined that it may have even violated federal law.
The meme was posted by the DoT on Friday and features a man and woman texting each other in bed from different locations to promote President Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda.
“What are you thinking about?” says the woman to the man.
He responds: “I’m thinking about how the new infrastructure law is going to make getting from place to place so much better over the next decade and how when combined with the Build Back Better Act, it will create millions of new jobs.”
She replies: “Same,” adding a smiley face emoji.
😊🙌🙌👩✈️👨🏭👩🔧👷♀️👷 pic.twitter.com/vBVanOBCuK
— TransportationGov (@USDOT) November 26, 2021
There was no shortage of social media users who did not think the meme was funny or appropriate. *Caution: Adult Language.
“Girl, run away. Fast,” former Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis tweeted.
Girl, run away. Fast.
— Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) November 28, 2021
Others joined in as well.
— Jack Bishop (@RealJackDBishop) November 27, 2021
thought this was a fucking parody account not the Department of Transportation 😂😂😂😂😂
— Comrade Zuccotti (@AlexSmi97455844) November 27, 2021
are our tax dollars seriously being used to fund propoganda?
Are you aware, as employees of the Executibe Branch, you have no business commenting on pending legislation? Separation of Powers and all that.
— Ann (@datmaven2) November 27, 2021
Infrastructure was a huge issue in the 2008 election. Biden was in the white House for 8 years after that and did what exactly? Zilch. Now when banks want to issue debt, he’s all about trillion dollar spending packages. Cool.
— $ETH Gas Fees LoL (@EthFees) November 28, 2021
But others blasted the meme and the department for allegedly violating statutes regulating lobbying.
“This appears to be lobbying,” Chuck DeVore, a former California Assemblyman and vice president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation tweeted. “I didn’t think federal agencies were allowed to be so blatant in promoting specific legislation. The Secretary of Transportation can, of course, but the DOT’s official website? Seems unusual.”
This appears to be lobbying. I didn’t think federal agencies were allowed to be so blatant in promoting specific legislation. The Secretary of Transportation can, of course, but the DOT’s official website? Seems unusual.
— Chuck DeVore (@ChuckDeVore) November 27, 2021
Why is an official government Twitter account making propaganda memes to support an infrastructure bill from the sitting president? https://t.co/ytystjPcaM
— Cameron Dixon 🪓💀🪶 (@praxisofman) November 27, 2021
Laws? Norms? Who needs norms?
— Son of Dr. Spengler (@spengjr) November 27, 2021
Please for the love of God tell me this is a Babylon Bee Tweet
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) November 27, 2021
Trying to get all the way through this meme pic.twitter.com/7bJuXgpmnr
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) November 27, 2021
38 state wipe out. https://t.co/wbfovuQKF0
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) November 27, 2021
Existing statutes prohibit government agencies from using federal funds to ‘lobby’ Congress and the general public in favor or in opposition to pending legislation before Congress, though it is not clear that the DoT tweet and meme meet the legal definitions contained in those statutes.
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