Republicans Slammed For Hypocritically ‘Honoring’ Martin Luther King Jr.
Posting a tweet “honoring” the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. while voting to take away healthcare, food stamps, and against equality is pure hypocrisy.
The Twitter accounts of a great many politicians today are filled with posts supposedly honoring the great civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but one astute journalist is exposing their hypocrisy.
Igor Volsky, Director of Video and Contributing Editor at ThinkProgress, and contributing host at the Bill Press Show spent a good part of Martin Luther King Day posting tweets of Republican politicians and right-wing pundits that claim to honor the late leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement.
For example, Illinois GOP Congressman Peter Roskam posted this tweet honoring “the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/wztI9Dx0W4
— Peter Roskam (@PeterRoskam) January 18, 2016
Roskam happens to be the powerful Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, and has held several hearings attacking the Affordable Care Act and has voted dozens of times to repeal or dismantle the Affordable Care Act. He also voted against expanding SCHIP in 2007, which would have extended healthcare to an additional 6 million children.
Volsky posted this tweet in response:
Can’t see how you’re honoring his “life and legacy” when you’ve voted to take away health care from millions 50x+ https://t.co/8fvJMyaret
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 18, 2016
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan posted this tweet that says Dr. King’s “words—& his example—inspire us now.” The tweet even includes a slickly-produced video clip including a message from the Speaker.
Today we celebrate a great American. https://t.co/0WcZkVNzWY His words—& his example—inspire us now. #MLKday https://t.co/IE5zDQ59Hs
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) January 18, 2016
Volsky pointed out Ryan’s hypocrisy of not bringing to the floor a vote to fix the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which the Supreme Court gutted in 2013, and his work cutting vital programs for students and needy families:
Too bad Paul Ryan doesn’t feel inspired enough to bring to a vote a bill restoring key Voting Rights Act protections https://t.co/MEoBzUgyvF
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 18, 2016
Ryan celebrates #MLKDay while advocating for billion in cuts to Pell Grants, Food Stamps, SSI, School lunch programs https://t.co/MEoBzUgyvF
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 18, 2016
Here are a few more. Visit Volsky’s Twitter timeline for the full collection, and feel free to retweet them!
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK):
Honored 2 attend #MLKDay wreath ceremony. We must keep Dr. King’s dream alive, ensuring equality & justice for all. pic.twitter.com/XXpSbZmEXx
— SenDanSullivan (@SenDanSullivan) January 18, 2016
Hard to honor #MLKDay when you oppose raising federal minimum wage & voted to repeal health care for millions https://t.co/HgiGz4vVSn
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 18, 2016
Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA):Â
Let’s remember – people shld “not be judged by color of their skin but by the content of their character.” #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/5QXn5sfmDu
— Congressman Rod Blum (@RepRodBlum) January 18, 2016
This guy claims Americans dependent on govt &should b drug tested. Today, celebrates #MLKDay https://t.co/CSlXcVCqTQ https://t.co/16QvQmXW8s
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 18, 2016
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee:
Remembering the memory of one of our nation’s most dynamic leaders in the struggle for civil rights. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/qcR0GuZuiS
— Financial Services (@FinancialCmte) January 18, 2016
.@RepHensarling calls social programs — SS, Medicare, Medicaid — “cruel ponzi schemes” https://t.co/9jQqD4HpKu https://t.co/EFl42yabMd
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 18, 2016
Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN):Â
May we always remember MLK Jr’s message of freedom & equality for all as we celebrate his life on #MLKDay https://t.co/j7J13DmsX7
— Senator Dan Coats (@SenDanCoats) January 18, 2016
Oh look, the guy who criticized Obama for declaring #blacklivesmatter is celebrating #MLKDay https://t.co/NvIteKBYJP https://t.co/5ZQzCCWqmx
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 18, 2016
Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA):
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” Martin Luther King Jr
— Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (@CongressmanGT) January 18, 2016
Since Thompson supported billions in cuts to food stamps, the answer is fairly clear: very little for poor people https://t.co/CnwPKxICkV
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 18, 2016
Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR):Â
Today, we celebrate #MartinLutherKing Jr. and his vision for America. #MLKDay #ihaveadream pic.twitter.com/WmLEI8ItBU
— Rep. Steve Womack (@rep_stevewomack) January 18, 2016
Hard to celebrate MLK when you voted to cut $40B from food stamps, kicking ~4 million kids off the rolls https://t.co/RqClAJGwy6
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 18, 2016
Volsky has posted many more – visit his Twitter timeline to see them all, retweet them all, and to thank him!
Thanks to everyone who RTed my #ReclaimMLK tweets. We gotta make it untenable for lawmakers to praise #MLK while working to repeal his dream
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 18, 2016
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Image by jerry dohnal via Flickr and a CC license

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