Far-right Congressman Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina has repeatedly embraced violent rhetoric in support of Christian fascism in the United States.
The 26 year old freshman representative has urged Christians to "take our country back" amid what he believes is a "spiritual battle." He's repeatedly referred to the Capitol insurrectionists as "political prisoners." He's foreseen "bloodshed" if elections continue to be "stolen," and claims we're headed toward "Second Amendment solutions."
In a bizarre House floor speech this week, Cawthorn once again resorted to nationalist rhetoric and petty insults in an effort to paint himself as a supporter of veterans.
Watch below.
Cawthorn calls Biden a “geriatric despot” and says he deserves a “one finger salute” pic.twitter.com/pmjvCHw70X
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 2, 2022
Cawthorn said:
"The sons and daughters of America are not foot soldiers for your party's inept, geriatric despot. They are not expendable pawns to be dispatched at the whims of an idiot, tossed carelessly around the world to godforsaken caves and bloody sandboxes. They are Americans worthy of honor and dignity. The only salute from them Joe Biden deserves involves one finger."
He continued:
"We will preserve our strength through nationalism. We will champion America First today and America First forever. We earned our greatness, let others earn theirs. And if Joe Biden hasn't prostituted our preeminence to the military industrial complex, by the time Donald Trump returns, we will preserve this great city on a hill for the descendants of our grandchildren."
Despite claiming to defend veterans, Cawthorn—who lied about his own acceptance into the U.S. Naval Academy—has repeatedly run afoul of them. As recently as last week, during a virtual hearing of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Cawthorn began cleaning his gun as service members testified about breathing problems they incurred after exposure to burn pits in Afghanistan. 9/11 first responder John Feal, who was in the meeting, called the Congressman a "child," and said "I think the congressman was overcompensating for something that he lacks and feeling inadequate among the heroes on that call."
One of the first votes Cawthorn cast in Congress was against the American Rescue Plan, which allocated $2 billion for assistance to homeless veterans, despite Cawthorn lying that it didn't provide any funding for them whatsoever. Just last month, Cawthorn voted against legislation that would automatically enroll veterans in the VA healthcare system.
In the wake of this latest diatribe, actual veterans are calling Cawthorn out for his hypocrisy.
Hey @CawthornforNC, this is quite the performance. Now tell us why you keep voting against veterans. https://t.co/OQi9nmGQaH
— VoteVets (@votevets) February 3, 2022
@CawthornforNC lied about being accepted to the Naval Academy. He doesn’t deserve to salute anyone even with one finger. I’m a submarine veteran. Come at me bro. My DM’s are open if you’re too weak publicly. https://t.co/2iuWSFIQXy
— Navy_Man (@Submarine_Guy) February 3, 2022
Hey @CawthornforNC, this American Daughter, who took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States with my life if necessary, is sending YOU this one finger salute, and it’s far better than your Stolen Valor, traitorous ass deserves. https://t.co/88E5FrIq05 pic.twitter.com/zK3dRcuBJJ
— Jax Persists (@LadyJayPersists) February 3, 2022
This is an absolute insult and a spit in the face to America’s Veterans from WW1 and WW2 to the Korean War, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. To the men who died in conflicts all over the world. To the women who serve and protect the nation. He needs to be censured and voted out. https://t.co/EH0KJ065wP
— Go Steelers! (@JValentineD) February 3, 2022
They weren't the only ones criticizing his diatribe.
This guy is an oxymoron. “Geriatric despot?” You don’t have to go to the Naval Academy to know that you can’t be both a geriatric and a despot. #TrueFiction#DeafeningSilence#LeadBallon https://t.co/i5VoL00yXV
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) February 3, 2022
.@RepCawthorn is everything the Founding Fathers feared, as is the deranged conman at Mar-A-Lago he worships like a mindless tool, so he can raise $. An ignorant, uneducated anti-democratic little shitbag who riles up the worst of the worst in the dregs of society like himself. https://t.co/Py8KkxTfgb
— Spiro Agnew’s Ghost (@SpiroAgnewGhost) February 3, 2022
This is really out of control... https://t.co/QfGinuB5PN
— Cyrus Toulabi (@CyrusToulabi) February 2, 2022
I'm old enough to remember when the GOP made an issue of civility. Cawthorn tends to prefer the Nazi salute he and his "leaders" have made popular again. https://t.co/lymAyIC9Er
— EM (@savedemocracy18) February 2, 2022
Joe Biden is psychiatrically healthy.
Madison Cawthorn is a delusional cultist.pic.twitter.com/NHfXFWttJ6
— NeuroPsychoPhD (@SethN12) February 3, 2022
Cawthorn is currently battling an effort from a group in North Carolina's 13th District.
