Here Are the 16 Republicans Who Voted to Block Afghan Refugees
Predictably, republicans and the corporate for-profit media pandering to them are tripping over themselves in piling on critiques of President Joe Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan evacuation.
Some of the right-wing media headlines range from “ Biden Subcontracts U.S. Security to Terrorists,” “ The ‘Cut and Run’ Senator Became the ‘Cut and Run’ President,” to Trump Says Afghan Failure Is the ‘Single Most Embarrassing Moment’ in U.S. History.
There is little to no mention, however, of how former president George W. Bush lied us into our 20-year entanglement or the surrender agreement Donald Trump signed with the Taliban a year and a half ago.
What is getting even less mention are the 16 republican lawmakers that voted against legislation introduced in June intended to expedite visas for Afghans fleeing the Taliban.
The “ Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs” (ALLIES) Act bill passed the House 407 to 16.
As The Daily Kos reported:
“It was a no-brainer piece of legislation…The idea is that these are people who have, in many cases, risked their lives and their families’ lives in order to help the United States achieve its goals on foreign soil. The bill was co-sponsored by 104 Democrats and 36 Republicans.”
But 16 republican “Freedom Caucus” members who could have helped make the tumultuous Afghan withdrawal more efficient and humane decided it’s more advantageous to take cheap pot shots at Biden’s “incompetence”.
First is climate-denier, “Stop the Steal” rally co-creator Andy Biggs.
Conveniently omitting his role, he tweeted:
Every passing day, Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal gets worse and brings with it national shame not seen since Vietnam.
- Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) August 18, 2021
Next, National Rifle Association (NRA) darling and Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, tweeted:
Joe has a 48 year history of making bad decisions.
Add this weekend’s foreign policy decisions to the list.
- Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) August 15, 2021
Joining them is Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks, who, like his colleagues, seems to revel in his role of trying to enflame the situation:
In a recent news conference, Biden said he bears responsibility for what has unfolded in Afghanistan. I agree. As such, the honorable thing for Biden to do is resign. Failing that, Vice President Harris should invoke the 25th Amendment and remove President Biden from office.
- Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) August 27, 2021
Fourth is the “ Episcopalian” republican from Tennessee, Scott Des Jarlais, who is leap-frogging Donald Trump’s hand in the Taliban takeover to blame former president Barack Obama.
Next up-”birther” South Carolina’s own Jeff Duncan, who tweeted:
If the Taliban executes any Christians in Afghanistan, the United States should retaliate violently against the Islamists.
- Rep. Jeff Duncan (@RepJeffDuncan) August 18, 2021
Virginia Rep. Bob Good tweeted:
The events unfolding in Afghanistan are a reflection of a President who makes decisions with his “leadership team” based on America Last priorities.
(1/3)- Congressman Bob Good (@RepBobGood) August 26, 2021
Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, another Jan. 6th architect, voted against it too.
What would partisan republican obstruction be without Q-Anon darling Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?
Her fellow Peach state colleague Rep. Jody Hice is on the list as well.
And why not?
He’s already voted against certifying the 2020 Electoral College results and is party to a lawsuit seeking to overturn the results.
Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern is among them as well, tweeting:
“In Biden’s America, our allies can no longer trust us and our adversaries no longer fear us.”
There’s Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who just tested positive for COVID after filing a lawsuit over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s mask mandate.
The final four are former Alabama Rep. Barry Moore, running again for his old seat; Pennsylvania’s Scott Perry; Florida’s Bill Posey; Montana’s Matthew Rosendale; and Texas’s Chip Roy.
Each one of them could have voted for the ALLIES Act.
But then they would be the ones being attacked on right-wing hate media for making it easier for more brown-skinned Muslims to enter the United States, and just imagine what that would do for their image among their base.
It’s a lot easier to blame one’s political rivals than to work with him or her to help create mutually desired outcomes.
But they’re republicans.
Enough said.
If they represent you, perhaps you might want to give their offices a call at 202–224–3121.
Originally published at http://liberalamerica.org on August 31, 2021.
