Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has been battered by the entirety of the political establishment, even President Donald Trump, for being the lone voice of reason pushing back against reckless government spending in Washington D.C.
“I came here to make sure our republic doesn’t die by unanimous consent and empty chamber,” Massie said on the House floor on Friday.
Massie, a libertarian constitutionalist, was brought into Congress among the initial waves of the tea party insurgency in 2012. Nearly a decade later, Massie has not forgotten what he was elected to do – fight big government on behalf of the liberties of the people.
Massie has taken flak for opposing a $2 trillion stimulus bill, one that was rushed through filled with tons of unrelated spending at the behest of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), being rubber-stamped by the swamp with coronavirus used as the excuse for no deliberation in Congress. Massie thought that this lack of transparency was unacceptable and drew a line in the sand as a result.
“The Constitution requires that a quorum of members be present to conduct business in the House. Right now, millions of essential, working-class Americans are still required to go to work during this pandemic,” Massie said in a long announcement on Friday morning that he would attempt to force a vote. “Is it too much to ask that the House do its job, just like the Senate did?”
Although Massie’s objection was not successful and the measure ultimately passed by a voice vote, he earned the ire of President Donald Trump, a man whose presidency Massie has supported since his election in 2016.
…& costly. Workers & small businesses need money now in order to survive. Virus wasn’t their fault. It is “HELL” dealing with the Dems, had to give up some stupid things in order to get the “big picture” done. 90% GREAT! WIN BACK HOUSE, but throw Massie out of Republican Party!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020
Massie’s primary opponent, former Never Trumper and attorney Todd McMurtry, is seizing upon Trump’s anger toward Massie to boost his chances at unseating the Congressman with the most conservative voting record in the GOP.
“Families are scared. Businesses are struggling. We should all be pulling together to protect our loved ones and end this pandemic quickly. Massie, however, supports policies that will only worsen the crisis and grossly expand COVID-19’s destructive impact on families and the economy,” McMurtry wrote in a Facebook post in favor of Pelosi’s spending boondoggle.
Some of Massie’s fellow travelers in the House Freedom Caucus – including Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) – did stand up for Massie while most were kicking him while he was down for taking his stand in favor of the U.S. Constitution.
.@RepThomasMassie is one of the most principled men in Congress & loves his country. He is defending the Constitution today by requiring a quorum. There’s nothing 3rd rate about that, @realDonaldTrump. I may miss vote if he forces roll call (flights) but it will pass. Back off. https://t.co/ms8TM3rJp8
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) March 27, 2020
@realDonaldTrump Mr. President. @RepThomasMassie is a good man and a solid conservative. He believes in the Constitution strongly. We won’t always agree on strategy or policy. But he doesn’t warrant this dressing down. Thomas—Hang tough brother. #CoronavirusOutbreak https://t.co/f0gydIQHTX
— Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) March 27, 2020
Massie will be in the battle of his political life against a charlatan in the Republican primary that is set to take place on Jun. 23. He will have his work cut out for him as the masses abandon the cause of liberty due to their panicked, feeble nature over coronavirus concerns.
