The House resolution vote to condemn President Donald Trump’s tweet from Sunday morning in which Trump singled out four Democratic congresswomen suggesting that they “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came” mostly fell along typical partisan lines, but resulted in two very different responses from Republican members on opposite sides of the state.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) joined the Pennsylvania Democratic delegation last night in voting for a resolution to condemn Trump’s tweet, making him just one of four Republicans in the nation to vote for this resolution, while House Democrats unanimously voted in support of the resolution.
In a tweet last night, Fitzpatrick called on the “language and tone” being used by many in the nation to change and likend the current brand of politics to Hatfield vs McCoy.
The language and tone being used by so many in our country needs to change. The Hatfield versus McCoy brand of politics must end. Democrats and Republicans need to start treating each other respectfully and like human beings. We are all created in the image and likeness of God.
— Brian Fitzpatrick (@RepBrianFitz) July 16, 2019
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Butler) had a much different response from his GOP colleague in the Southeast. Kelly, who voted no on the resolution, explained his reasoning in an interview with VICE News saying that he was not offended by Trump’s tweet, adding that he is a “person of color” and believes there is a double standard.
“It does not offend me,” Kelly said. “Are some people offended? I’m sure…”
“They talk about people of color, I’m a person of color,” Kelly said. “I’m white. I’m an Anglo-Saxon. People say things all the time, but I don’t get offended.”
Kelly said people have told him to go “back to his country” while he was in the private sector, referencing his Irish heritage.
Ironically, Kelly misattributed his own heritage. Anglo-Saxons, defined by Encyclopaedia Britannica, are Germanic peoples “who, from the 5th century CE to the time of the Norman Conquest (1066), inhabited and ruled territories that are today part of England and Wales” – not Ireland.
Other Republicans like Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne) also came to the defense of Trump saying that Democratic leadership vote was an “effort to harass” the President and that he and his supporters “have been subjected to baseless attacks.” Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) voted no on the resolution, but sent out a tweet Monday afternoon saying that although he sometimes disagrees with his Democratic colleagues in the House that “racially motivated statements or behavior is totally unacceptable and unbecoming of our great nation.” He confirmed to the LNP | LancasterOnline that the tweet was in reference to Trump’s tweet Sunday morning.
The Senate has not voted on this resolution, but Pennsylvania’s GOP Sen. Pat Toomey was among the first elected Republicans to criticize Trump. On Monday he said the President was “wrong” to suggest the congresswomen “should go back to where they came from” and that the citizenship of all four is “as valid as mine,” although he added he disagrees with “virtually every policy issue” with them.
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16 Responses
Any discussion of the “squad” that doesn’t initially recognize they’re Jew-haters is null/void; that brother brian condemned The Donald because he wants civility [even though he said he disagreed with the lingo in the resolution, per his comments both to Dom and to Dean] is BEYOND infuriating to the base [which has been pushed over-the-edge]
Kelly is an ignorant, racist pig.
If you have ever met Brian Fitzpatrick then you know he is a weirdo and a creeper. He is only there because of his brother. His time in office will soon be a blip on the radar and he can go back to being a nobody loser similar to people like Charlie Dent.
Anonymous idiot calling a sitting Congressman and successful former Member of Congress a nobody loser. LOL. The credibility is UNREAL.
The color of stupid.
Kelly is in a position that he needs to support Trump for $$$ reasons and for district reasons. He’s in a tricky district but this type of mindset….aka. fix your own home before fixing others isn’t an uncommon mindset among many in Kelly’s district and at least in my view the direction Trump was trying to take the conversation. To bad he’s a terrible word smith…but does appeal to the Blue Collar types that live in Kelly’s district. This gruff, uncouthness Trump has turns of MANY academic, well educated and folks that have a bit more sophistication. Many who don’t fit into this categories LOVE trump….look at district numbers.
Fitzpartick’s district is one of the most unpredictable districts in the country. Bucks is heavily moderate Rs and Ds – strong limited taxes but pro environmental concerns, supports minorities but don’t play favorites, LBGTQ ect is a major issue and Fitzpatrick is supportive (Doylestown and New Hope are historical pro-Gender equality enclaves). Democrats have seemed to miss the mark here and potentially could in other Philly collar counties. They are strong Ds in the traditional sense. Socially progressive – they are VERY economically conservative which suits Rs better as social policy is 2nd to defense, foreign policy ect. Fitzpatrick’s move fits perfectly in line his district and his historical stance as a moderate and member of the Tuesday group and problem solvers.
The reality is this dems. really don’t care about ‘racism’ at least in my view. This was a 100% political move and a show vote to defuse the commentary launched by the Squad against Pelosi and to fund raise. Ironically, it’s actually likely hidden the Epstien issue which could have done more political damage to Trump then this will and really just made more moderate dems increasingly warry of the direction of their party. I do give credit to the Squad in seeing what the HFC saw years ago and trying to start the Left leaning version, however her political inexperience is becoming apparent as the entire squad doesn’t seem to understand that the house is run like a cartel. 4 junior members don’t hold much financial or political of financial sway. It has NOTHING to do about RACE…it has everything to do about politics, influence and you can’t build that over night. Even for independents!
As a registered independent…I completely disagree with everything you said. Technically you are correct, it’s not about race, but it is about racism. Think about that for a minute.
I think you are missing the point here in this well thought out analysis. What is being said and that is true is that Fitzpatrick can and will win in this Bucks County Congressional District but not as a Republican. This makes a lot of sense.
I’m not sure Fitzpatrick will win the district. It depends on a number of.factors but incumbency is a huge help here.
Stop think with so much raw emotion and think like a politician. Sorry. This writer picked the wrong words but I believe if you want to fix these issues…you have to have a discussion like an adult and realize not everyone say things properly. This is a purely political analysis and your pissed off bc they didnt talk about the morality of the issue or use the right word. Grow up. This is why the dems are stumbling. Also realize how DC works,This whole mess started bc of tweets by the squad and trumps illogical response. Just last week the squad accused Pelosi of being racist as well…errr and long term members were quick to come to her defense.
I dont know but I see this vote as an easy fix to appease the squad without any political damage. Personally, the squad has some great ideas but their tactics are absurd and doing more harm to the progressive movement and trashing allies wont help them in the long run.
I’m not sure what the hell you are trying to say, but I am “warry” (sic) of your thinking.
You make no sense Gulag. Clearly, Fitzpatrick has a choice. Switch to Dem and win or stay R and lose. It’s his choice but without question Dems will elect him should he make the switch to Dem from R.
He can win as a R. He already did so under unfavorable conditions. Some of that had to do with the Dems going with the wrong horse. They could make the same mistake again.
suppose the Dems don’t make the same mistake next year; can brother brian survive?
I am an Independent and could not disagree more. It was racist to tell people of color to go back to their own countries when 3 of them were born here and 1 is a naturalized citizen. Only blind adherence to a Dear Leader would prevent a person from clearly seeing that.
Trump said go back from where you came from. I dont love the comments either but it could be read as go back to your districts and fix the problems.there first.