From voting rights to Build Back Better to the Equality Act and more, Republican lawmakers have yet again returned to obstructing productivity in Congress despite razor-thin Democratic majorities.
When asked by reporters about whether his campaign promises were overblown, a frustrated President Joe Biden pointed to the conservative unwillingness to reach across the aisle, claiming their platform was based on obstructing bipartisanship, not crafting legislation.
Biden said:
“I did not anticipate that there’d be such a stalwart effort to make sure that the most important thing was that President Biden didn’t get anything done. Think about this: What are Republicans for? What are they for? Name me one thing they’re for.”
As former President Barack Obama's vice president, Biden is all too familiar with this Republican tactic. He saw firsthand then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's refusal to consider Obama's judicial nominees—even a Supreme Court Justice—and other legislative goals of the Obama administration.
In a recent tweet, Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy attempted to respond to Biden's challenge.
I heard President Biden ask repeatedly: “What are Republicans for?” I'll happily answer. Republicans are for:
- The Constitution
- Kids in schools
- Safe streets and a secure border
- An economy that keeps food on the shelves
- Holding Biden’s failed administration accountable
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) January 23, 2022
Soon, Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison responded with edits to McCarthy's tweet.
.@GOPLeader here ya go… You seemed confused so I tried to help you out a bit. #Bipartisanship pic.twitter.com/JfGGaLcKch
— Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair (@harrisonjaime) January 24, 2022
To McCarthy's assertion that Republicans were for "The Constitution," Harrison replied with "See Jan. 6th," the day when more than a hundred congressional Republicans voted to toss out electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania, nearly invalidating the votes of millions, even hours after a deadly failed insurrection.
When McCarthy touted the goal of "Safe streets and a secure border," Harrison cited Republicans' votes against the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which included $350 billion earmarked for policing. The DNC Chair also pointed to the widespread Republican opposition to the Build Back Better bill, which would expand the child tax credit and SNAP access, further curbing child hunger.
As for "Holding Biden's failed administration accountable," Harrison changed Biden's name to Trump's, likely alluding to the House Select Committee's investigation of the origins of the Capitol Siege, for which the Biden Administration waived executive privilege over 700+ documents that Trump tried to block.
People cheered Harrison's response.
WOW! JH did a good job on McCarthy with this one.👇 https://t.co/cYqNuc7d8S
— DoomzDayv (@Doomz__Dayz) January 24, 2022
This is an excellent response to McCarthy from DNC Chair Harrison. https://t.co/scgWzIOobV
— RuleofLaw🇺🇸 (@ExInfantryGrunt) January 24, 2022
This is one awesome tweet. https://t.co/JLTlscGh12
— Craig Lazzeretti (@clazzeretti) January 24, 2022
Gotta say, I am enjoying the Dem party that claps back. https://t.co/ZGquyLhKue
— Dr. WTF (@ASparklyWTF) January 24, 2022
Jaime's twittergy stays at level petty 😍 https://t.co/B0mxZmRvVi
— No Okie Doke (@no_okiedoke) January 24, 2022
He wasn't the only one not buying McCarthy's spin.
Nothing says being for The Constitution like cheerleading an insurrection on the Capitol https://t.co/8PoDhZq8my
— Kim Mangone (@KimMangone) January 23, 2022
It took you 5 days to come up with this pitiful list? https://t.co/VvQAVbEEVL
— ☃️BarbaraG⛄💉💉💉 (@BarbaraGeisman) January 24, 2022
You're not for the Constitution. That is bold faced lie. Your party is part of a COUP.
Kids are in schools. Is yours?
The border is secure.
The shelves are full.
You didn't care about any of this when tfg was installed Kev. https://t.co/SoOgzVxhuJ
— 🇺🇸DaleWillResist📣 (@awelab1956) January 24, 2022
No, Republicans are for an economy that rewards the ultra rich and makes the poor even poorer. https://t.co/VgbxdACAKa
— Sen. TimRyanFan (D-KY) (@TimRyanFan) January 23, 2022
Not McCarthy's finest moment.
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images