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In a shocking series of tweets, President Donald Trump joined with liberal Democrats in attacking Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), essentially because Massie takes his oath to the Constitution seriously, opposes spending over $2 trillion without so much as a roll call vote, and for, well, being a conservative Republican.
“Looks like a third rate Grandstander named @Rep Thomas Massie, 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 and costly,” Trump tweeted in response to the news that Massie would be attempting to force a recorded vote on the bill.
Despite Massie’s efforts, the bill passed with no roll call vote when he was unable to get support from any other member of the House.
Trump continued his Twitter storm against Massie (who sports a 99-percent score on the The New American’s Freedom Index, which scores members of Congress according to their fidelity to the U.S. Constitution): “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!”
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This is not the first time that Trump has attacked fellow Republicans who failed to go along with his agenda — even some of the most conservative members of Congress, such as Massie. Early in his tenure, Trump forcefully criticized the House Freedom Caucus for opposing some of his agenda, which they did not consider very conservative. When the group scuttled his healthcare overhaul in 2017, Trump was furious, tweeting, “The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don’t get on the team, & fast. We must fight them & Dems, in 2018!”
In subsequent tweets, Trump even lambasted individual members of the Freedom Caucus, comparing them to Democrats (which is, of course, ridiculous) and urging Republicans to “fight them” in the 2018 midterm elections if they continue to oppose him. To their credit, the Freedom Caucus did not buckle before Trump’s tirade, and have been among his best supporters in Congress. But they did not support his healthcare proposal, for it was not a free market solution any more than ObamaCare.
Later, Trump publicly castigated Representative Justin Amash, then a Michigan Republican, for not jettisoning his conservative principles and supporting the Trump agenda. Amash has since left the Republican Party, and become an Independent, even voting for Trump’s impeachment last year.
Now, Massie has moved into Trump’s crosshairs for opposing a $2.2 trillion spending bill. Of course, Massie has consistently opposed excessive government spending, even joking that the buttons members of the House push to register their votes on the House floor should be changed from “yea” and “nay” to “spend,” and “don’t spend,” USA Today once reported.
Massie explained his opposition to the bill. “This stimulus should go straight to the people rather than being funneled through banks and corporations like this bill is doing.”
Some Republicans rose to Massie’s defense, however, including Representative Chip Roy of Texas, who bluntly told the president to “back off,” adding, “Representative Thomas Massie is one of the most principled men in Congress & loves his country. He is defending the Constitution today by requiring a quorum. There’s nothing 3rd rate about that.”
Of course, Democrats predictably lambasted Massie. After Massie said, “I swore an oath to the Constitution, and I take that oath seriously,” Representative Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) caustically retorted, “Shameful. Your 428 colleagues take their oaths to the Constitution just as seriously. But unlike you, they take the health of their colleagues, Capitol staff, families, and communities seriously. That’s the difference. Even @realDonald Trump and I agree on that.” Phillips has a dismal 12-percent score on the Freedom Index.
It is certainly disappointing that Trump would make common cause with such a liberal Democrat as Phillips, even going so far as asserting, “By empowering the Radical Left Democrats, do nothing Kentucky politician @RepThomasMassie is making their War on the 2nd Amendment more and more difficult to win (But don’t worry, we will win anyway!). He is a disaster for America, and for the Great State of Kentucky!”
But perhaps the most shocking tweet of all was Trump’s response to the profanity-laced tweet of former Secretary of State John Kerry. Kerry tweeted, “Breaking news: Congressman Massie has tested positive for being an ***hole. 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!
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
Trump could have just not responded. Instead, Trump tweeted approval of the disgusting Kerry tweet: “Never knew John Kerry had such a good sense of humor! Very impressed!”
Never knew John Kerry had such a good sense of humor! Very impressed! https://t.co/vCVNMUeY2h
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020
Constitutional conservatives who are serious about limited government are not very impressed — with Donald Trump — at least not with this episode.
Image: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons
Steve Byas is a university instructor of history and government, and the author of History’s Greatest Libels. He can be contacted at [email protected].
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