Following Democratic President Joe Biden's call for bipartisan cooperation during his inauguration speech on January 20, many Republicans have tried to dodge accountability for their role in the January 6 insurrection by claiming that punishing those in the wrong would be harmful to "unity."
Other Republicans have claimed Democrats shouldn't pass the legislation they campaigned on because it would similarly hurt national "unity."
Congressman Adam Schiff of California saw a pattern quickly emerging and took to Twitter to explain what unity actually means to the Republicans who seem confused.
Some Republicans in Congress seem confused about what “unity” means. They seem to think that if you don’t give the… https://t.co/nGE91hMvlP— Adam Schiff (@Adam Schiff) 1611706011.0
Twitter was there to back Schiff up and elaborate on his point.
@RepAdamSchiff Even more disturbing is the fact that Republicans seem to think that America (and the rest of the wo… https://t.co/FYY9dudt2T— Frederik (@Frederik) 1611706477.0
@RepAdamSchiff Unity follows justice.— Bobak K. Persis (@Bobak K. Persis) 1611706047.0
@RepAdamSchiff Unify around truth. Science. Facts. Biden won the election and it was fair. The climate crisis is r… https://t.co/DssK9tCR3m— Emily Spitzer (@Emily Spitzer) 1611706979.0
Many online felt that unity was a pipe dream without accountability and justice.
@RepAdamSchiff Unity will only happen when you choose to remove some people from their seats and show there are con… https://t.co/z2TJP1acjK— Astatine At #85 (@Astatine At #85) 1611706213.0
@RepAdamSchiff In game theory, a zero-sum game is a win-loss equation. GOP views competition with Democrats as a 2-… https://t.co/jKs5KjLaNL— David Fisher (@David Fisher) 1611712699.0
@RepAdamSchiff When Republicans say “unity”, what they really mean is “we don’t want to be held responsible for the… https://t.co/WQoIdzcl5s— SlowMoney Green (@SlowMoney Green) 1611759487.0
When things don't turn out the way you want them to, it's not always an affront to unity.
@RepAdamSchiff Please remind them that unity requires fair treatment and accountability. If ppl go to prison for th… https://t.co/V9CEQq4V2K— iJoe (@iJoe) 1611755104.0
@RepAdamSchiff Accountability levels the playing field. Accountability clarifies the law and its expectations all… https://t.co/jMxoplgZn0— Karen Akers-McDowell (@Karen Akers-McDowell) 1611759113.0
@RepAdamSchiff In this case, it would be nice if the country unifies around the desire for justice, accountability,… https://t.co/H82TL8tDcg— p. haines-ainsworth (@p. haines-ainsworth) 1611707933.0
It seemed to some Twitter users that "unity" was going to be the new "political correctness"—an empty phrase used by the GOP to push back against anything they disagree with.
@RepAdamSchiff They like making up their own definitions for trigger words to fit their narratives and actions no m… https://t.co/q4ao9CcTGb— Paul T. Bennethum (@Paul T. Bennethum) 1611744208.0
@RepAdamSchiff Sadly only a very few Republicans will agree. The rest saw how powerful Trump was and want that for… https://t.co/Ep9ruFzy77— Andrea 🍩🍩 (@Andrea 🍩🍩) 1611738864.0
@RepAdamSchiff The only "unity" that counts now is uniting to honor their oath of office to protect & defend the Co… https://t.co/jzFLYk0BHx— Bill Kammerer (@Bill Kammerer) 1611719823.0
If Republicans were truly interested in unity, they'd be eager to work across the aisle and compromise with the incoming Democratic majority.
But that is far from the case.
@RepAdamSchiff They not confused,they don’t care about unity never have their policies show you this,they only inte… https://t.co/Nr23f4Uc3f— Chad Wiggins (@Chad Wiggins) 1611711502.0
@RepAdamSchiff @PalmerReport We’ve had years and years of GOP “my way or the highway.” Time for them to either move… https://t.co/xWQG7FoLab— Antonia Ward (@Antonia Ward) 1611729404.0
Fortunately, it seems Adam Schiff isn't being won over by any bad faith arguments about the impact justice and progress might have on "unity."
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