Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is being trashed online after making a legal argument against two life-saving precautions:
masks and vaccines.
There is no authority in the Constitution that authorizes the government to stick a needle in you against your will… https://t.co/ZmkkArvoMF— Thomas Massie (@Thomas Massie) 1593910516.0
Massie was given a thorough history lesson by Twitter.
They reminded him that America's first President, George Washington, ordered his men to receive a vaccine before fighting for him.
@RepThomasMassie Oh I love history. A lesser known fact: George Washington's bold decision to vaccinate the entir… https://t.co/qmya5ltrMi— Walter A. Clyburn Reed (@Walter A. Clyburn Reed) 1593973846.0
Some interesting history for your Sunday afternoon: George Washington required troops to get the smallpox vaccine… https://t.co/ULWCnpjk41— Alexis Zotos (@Alexis Zotos) 1593980140.0
@RepThomasMassie Why do people who write things like this never seemed to have bothered to study even cursory history?— Ida Bae Wells (@Ida Bae Wells) 1593988002.0
History has a much better understanding than Massie of how a pandemic can ravage a nation.
Given that the Founders saw many epidemics in their lifetimes, I would imagine that telling them they could stop di… https://t.co/GUhxQHa13Z— Julie DiCaro is writing a book (@Julie DiCaro is writing a book) 1593923378.0
Hi, @RepThomasMassie, It's time for Constitutional Law 101. "Congress shall have power to . . . provide for the… https://t.co/YV2dPmEHew— Teri Kanefield (@Teri Kanefield) 1593976825.0
Massie's argument was not only dangerous but also wrong from a legal standpoint.
I mean it's not like there's a law that says the government can force you to do something you don't want to do like… https://t.co/kqNPLWhWgO— Gene Wu (@Gene Wu) 1593973494.0
@RepThomasMassie George Washington would not allow any man to serve under him if he wasn’t vaccinated against small… https://t.co/pcxn8AdFhw— YS (@YS) 1593988885.0
The Preamble of the Constitution says its purpose is to, among other things, “insure domestic Tranquility” and “pro… https://t.co/getCK34fel— Clyde Haberman (@Clyde Haberman) 1593996377.0
Even if the Constitution said people shouldn't be allowed to wear a mask, the world has been known to change every couple hundred years.
The Constitution they signed approved of slavery, you black lung profiteering moron.https://t.co/PUtsWjczjr— Dan Murphy (@Dan Murphy) 1593976069.0
@RepThomasMassie I don’t think the Founders considered there’d be vehicular homicide laws for drunk drivers, either… https://t.co/d7tFQLM51R— Melissa Jo Peltier (@Melissa Jo Peltier) 1593978582.0
When people who make laws are at risk of winding up on @BadLegalTakes, that's pretty alarming https://t.co/BDq9123Ejl— Tim O'Brien (@Tim O'Brien) 1593990009.0
The government makes people do many things that aren't explicitly mentioned in the Constitution for the purpose of public safety.
Let's see. The government makes you: wear a seatbelt. Drive below the speed limit. Wear a motorcycle helmet. Have… https://t.co/x1rXEPGm9v— Augustus (@Augustus) 1593987792.0
There's nothing in the Constitution about stop signs either, so keep the pedal to the metal, patriots! https://t.co/BPdjsqg9yH— Trey Stokes, Cooler King (@Trey Stokes, Cooler King) 1593991306.0
none of these people believe a single thing they're saying. the one unified force driving the discourse in this c… https://t.co/82inbgoQyD— j_christley (@j_christley) 1593973567.0
In our strange world, GOP Congressmen like Thomas Massie don't seem to be most intent on protecting their own constituents.
The first paragraph of the constitution explains that its purpose is, amongst other things, to "promote the general… https://t.co/j9NJNk906M— Jeremy Howard (@Jeremy Howard) 1593985169.0
@RepThomasMassie I can actually. Because Washington did indeed inoculate his troops against smallpox. You should look it up.— kristin treado (@kristin treado) 1593974097.0
@RepThomasMassie You have never read the Constitution or you wouldn't be this wildly uninformed.— Greg "Wear Your Mask" Proops (@Greg "Wear Your Mask" Proops) 1593983253.0
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
@RepThomasMassie https://t.co/BNb3kGZA3G— 🌿ways & memes committee🌱 (@🌿ways & memes committee🌱) 1593918278.0
@RepThomasMassie JFC. It's really horrifying to see people so opposed to helping others. You are an awful person.— Main Street Muse (@Main Street Muse) 1593910867.0
@RepThomasMassie Actually there is "Under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, all powers not granted to… https://t.co/mP1x07ooEi— Eric Garcia (@Eric Garcia) 1593984228.0
Face masks aren't worn to protect the wearer.
They're worn to protect everyone around them.
@RepThomasMassie What kind of an idiot are you? You'd be arrested for leaving your house without pants. You CAN b… https://t.co/KCDOUNcZDR— Evan Handler (@Evan Handler) 1593973489.0
@RepThomasMassie You’re supposed to be a leader. Then lead by encouraging people to wear a mask and socially distan… https://t.co/dfvBUqJa2J— Abbie Guttenberg Youkilis (@Abbie Guttenberg Youkilis) 1593911386.0
Putting a small piece of cloth over one's nose and mouth isn't hard and certainly shouldn't be a reason for revolution.
@RepThomasMassie Grow up. I've already lost a family member to Covid because of you babies. And btw, you unread foo… https://t.co/fyNTrOnNdd— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald) 1593989877.0
Congressman Massie please, for the safety of your state, get behind masks as soon as humanly possible.