Far-right Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s tweet evoking veterans backfired.
The North Carolina Republican appeared to criticize House approval of $40 billion in aid for Ukraine with this post on Wednesday:
Imagine if we spent $40 Billion on veterans.
— Rep. Madison Cawthorn (@RepCawthorn) May 11, 2022
In response, he received a series of searing reminders of his own votes against bills that assist former U.S. military service members.
“DON’T EVEN pretend you care about Veterans,” responded VoteVets, a progressive PAC promoting Democratic military veterans for Congress.
Other critics remembered Cawthorn’s misleading campaign ads that sought to spin his rejection by the U.S. Naval Academy.
In March, Cawthorn voted against a bill to provide $20 billion per year to veterans exposed to toxins during their service https://t.co/ySn2OTuhJl
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) May 12, 2022
Fact #1: The U.S. spends hundreds of billions of dollars a year on the VA.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen) May 11, 2022
Fact #2: Cawthorn is a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and he really ought to be aware of Fact #1. https://t.co/RJpxEJ8E7c
Imagine if @RepCawthorn, @GOPLeader McCarthy and 172 other House Republicans hadn't voted against the #HonoringOurPACT Act earlier this year.
— Henry Connelly (@HenryVConnelly) May 11, 2022
But no, House Republicans don't think health care for veterans sick & dying from burn pit exposure is worth it. https://t.co/Tq8Vgjvs0L https://t.co/ebJ6S7EWou
Imagine if we had a Congressman who, being a member of the VA committee, didn't vote no for helping veterans with their debts simply because the book had too many pages to read. https://t.co/P1PLkYLE5W
— Josh Remillard (@JoshRemillardNC) May 11, 2022
We currently spend $340 billion a year on veterans, you ignorant jackass.
— Kendall Brown (@kendallybrown) May 12, 2022
You also vote against veterans' benefits every chance you get, so kindly fuck off and stop using our service members as political pawns. https://t.co/95EGIrJMaV pic.twitter.com/KcSL5VbNsl
You vote against Veterans EVERY CHANCE YOU GET. You even voted against expanding care for those exposed to burn pits. DON'T EVEN pretend you care about Veterans.
— VoteVets (@votevets) May 11, 2022
The annual VA budget is nearly $300 billion. You'd know that if you were remotely competent. https://t.co/sj95YPLz8l
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) May 11, 2022
Cawthorn voted against a major toxic exposure package which is arguably the most significant boost to veteran healthcare since the creation of the VA itself. https://t.co/ztUUijaiBM
— Steve Beynon (@StevenBeynon) May 11, 2022
Imagine if Cawthorn could remember back just 6 weeks ago when Republicans were demanding the U.S. send assistance to Ukraine? https://t.co/CMifLqHrJE
— K.C. Banks - (Something Goes Here) (@kenbax47) May 11, 2022
playing his last card. https://t.co/ySvSX2alFT
— john (@johnsemley3000) May 13, 2022
"Things aren't going great for me. Time to turn things around and tweet something random about veterans" https://t.co/hts8raEhoI
— J.D. Simkins (@simkins_jd) May 11, 2022
More America first messaging. https://t.co/HYEaYKhaNj
— David Knowles (@writerknowles) May 12, 2022
Republicans have repeatedly voted against helping veterans. https://t.co/71awJVhYIL
— Nathan Schneider (@SchneiderLD35) May 12, 2022
Dear @RepCawthorn: Unlike you, I’m a veteran and didn’t lie about getting accepted to the Naval Academy. Wanted to let you know Democrats increased funding to veterans last year to $270 billion. https://t.co/XhTxT9Ka96
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) May 11, 2022
Imagine voting against 12 bills that would benefit veterans and then posting this tweet. https://t.co/WQ5KKES5kf
— PoliticOhMyGawd (@PoliticOhMyGawd) May 11, 2022
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