Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Ronna McDaniel received applause during the final session of the RNC's annual summer meeting after she made the erroneous claim that Democrats are trying to take away people's rights to call themselves "mom."
McDaniel made the claim on Friday, August 13, while criticizing a litany of what she characterized as "radical" Democratic policies.
You can watch footage of her remarks in the video below.
RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel: "We will not allow Democrats to close our classrooms again or mask up our children again."pic.twitter.com/PgLMMubeab— The Hill (@The Hill) 1628904660
McDaniel's remarks served to criticize critical race theory and masking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in particular.
She said:
"Democrats and their radical policies have awakened a sleeping giant: the moms of America."
"Moms are mobilizing against what Democrats are doing to our kids. We will not let you teach our children that they were born racist or oppressed based on the color of their skin."
"We will fight for school choice and the best education for our kids. Democrats are the party of limiting opportunity and we [Republicans] are the party of limitless opportunity and we know the best path to the American Dream comes from a good education and the right to choose the best school for your child."
"We will not allow Democrats to close our classrooms again or mask up our children again."
It was then when McDaniel made her most absurd claim:
"We will not allow unions to do anything other than that the United States is the greatest nation on Earth. And finally, the Democrats cannot take away my right to call myself a mom."
"I am not a 'birthing person,' I am a mother, and it's the most important job I will ever have."
There is no evidence that Democrats want to stop people from calling themselves mothers. Nor has any Democrat ever gone on record to declare as such.
McDaniel's declaration that she is not, contrary to the supposed Democratic imposition, a "birthing person" is also misleading.
The phrase "pregnant person" was used recently in CDC guidance to acknowledge that not all people who give birth identify as women.
The words "birthing people" were used in President Joe Biden's 2022 budget proposal, in a similar rejection of gendered terms and pronouns for more inclusive ones.
Although critics like McDaniel have argued that gender inclusive terminology is cumbersome, the Biden administration's use of the term does not amount to an explicit prohibition of the word "mom."
Social media users were quick to criticize McDaniel for pushing this falsehood while further politicizing the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ronna McDaniel yelled to the crowd. \u201cI am not a \u2018birthing person\u2019, I am a mother, and it\u2019s the most important job I will ever have.\u201d\n\nI\u2019m wondering if she is any better at being a mom than she is running the RNC?— Paracelsus (@Paracelsus) 1628888816
Americans don't need to hear lies spreading saying Democrats don't want people using the term mom.\n\nWhy do Republicans feel they have to make up new asinine lies everyday.\n\nWhy can't any of them put forth actual legislation that would benefit their constituents.\n\nIts getting old.— John Mishler (@John Mishler) 1629126120
\u201cThe Democrats cannot take away my right to call myself a mom,\u201d McDaniel yelled to the crowd. \u201cI am not a \u2018birthing person\u2019, I am a mother, and it\u2019s the most important job I will ever have.\u201d\n\n\u2066Dumbing down continues @GOP\u2069 \u2066@GOPChairwoman\u2069https://apple.news/A0OtczPtUQ8aXZsK445K8qQ\u00a0\u2026— Novelette Dryden (@Novelette Dryden) 1628886968
Quit being weird. Mask up and get the vaxx. Take your stupid politics out of this worldwide pandemic and shove it where the sun don't shine.https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1426355642412015618\u00a0\u2026— Michelle Kenneth (@Michelle Kenneth) 1628943346
I don\u2019t know how to tell @GOPChairwoman this, but LOTS of moms are actually Democrats\u2026..— Ellen Slagle (@Ellen Slagle) 1628909098
So she thinks its okay to have everyones children get sick and maybe die or have like long health problems from covid.https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1426355642412015618\u00a0\u2026— John Murrell (@John Murrell) 1628948633
So.....the GQP wants your children to get sick and possibly die. Isn't there a law against child endangerment?https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1426355642412015618\u00a0\u2026— qb1csh (@qb1csh) 1628939059
@GOPChairwoman Ronna messaging for 2022/24 on behalf of MAGA & the GOP \u201csacrifice your kids to own the libs\u201d. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna fear monger u till ur dead, literally\u201d. She\u2019s such a clown!https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1426355642412015618\u00a0\u2026— Trump\u2019s AG just testifed DJT ordered a coup\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udfc4\u200d\u2640\ufe0f (@Trump\u2019s AG just testifed DJT ordered a coup\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udfc4\u200d\u2640\ufe0f) 1628950512
She should be charged for any child who contracts COVID-19.https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1426355642412015618\u00a0\u2026— Quixote Rules (@Quixote Rules) 1629140999
McDaniel has demonstrated time and again that she is not above making baseless claims.
In 2018, McDaniel was one of a group of prominent conservatives who accused Twitter of shadow-banning Republicans despite the lack of any discernible evidence.
She has also continued to elevate false allegations from former President Donald Trump that the 2020 general election was stolen. Under McDaniel's leadership, the RNC allocated $20 million to oppose Democratic lawsuits to make voting easier during the Covid-19 pandemic.
