Marjorie Taylor Greene Could Be First Rep. (R-QAnon)
Bigoted fabulists are at home in GOP
Ive been following the laughably insane QAnon conspiracy theory for a few years. And to my dismay, it’s not going away. It’s only getting bigger, more mainstream and according to The Atlantic might be morphing into a religion.
This shouldn’t be surprising because all religions begin as cults, Christianity certainly did. And is believing in hogwash about a cabal of child-murdering Satanists who control the world (QAnon) any more absurd than believing humans carry the souls of dead aliens executed by the galactic overlord Xenu? However, the FBI regards QAnon as a domestic terror threat since several adherents have committed acts of violence.
QAnon gaining political power?
But the frightening part of QAnon is its adherents are on the verge of achieving real political power. Media Matters counts more than 70 QAnon followers running for office. And one of them, Majorie Taylor Greene, has a good chance of getting elected to Congress.
Greene just defeated her Republican challenger in a runoff in a reliably red Georgia district. (In 2016, Donald Trump won 53 percent of the votes in the 14th District. ) So unless the voters of that district suddenly come to their senses and vote for Democratic candidate Kevin Van Ausdal, we’ll have another conspiracy theorist, alongside the president, in government.
It’s bad enough that Greene believes in the QAnon conspiracy theory, but she also seems to be frothing at the mouth with hatred towards Blacks, Jews and Muslims— the Republican trifecta.
Here are some of her past comments:
- When Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashia Talib were elected to Congress, she complained about a “Muslim invasion.” (According to Pew Research, Muslims make up 1 percent of the nation’s population.)
- She’s referred to Blacks as “slaves to the Democratic plantation.”
- She’s also called Democratic donor George Soros a “Nazi.” Soros is a Holocaust survivor.
Greene has also attacked Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.,) according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein, who was covering one of her rallies. Greene said, “She’s a hypocrite. She’s anti-American. And we’re going to kick that b***h out of Congress.”
The growth of QAnon candidates, such as Greene and Boebert, is a damning reflection of American politics’ brokenness, especially the Republican Party. How do you reach across the aisle when you’ve called the speaker of the House a b***h? How do you take a briefing from the FBI when you think the agents are part of the Deep State conspiracy? You can’t operate a government with extremists who have their version of reality.
When the Greene camp found out Bluestein was covering her speech, he was escorted out of the event.
But of course, President Trump loves her. In a tweet, he called her a “future Republican Star.”
Republicans court QAnon nuts
However, other Republicans are nervous about sharing the halls of Congress with a loose-cannon who has a tenuous grip on reality.
According to a Washington Post article, Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, has criticized Greene’s comments. But plenty of Republicans are okay with her, because an insane, racist conspiracy theorist is better than a Democrat!
However, the GOP seems to be playing both sides of the fence with QAnon adherents. While some moderate Republicans realize the dangers of inviting conspiracy theorists into their party, others try to recruit them.
“Trump has tweeted or retweeted QAnon accounts over 160 times, I think is the last tally. And, of course, we have instances of Eric Trump on Instagram posted a clear Q image. But no one in the current administration has ever done anything to endorse QAnon. But it seems as though they have been willing to sort of wink and nod and encourage these people,” said Travis View, host of the QAnon Anonymous podcast, in an NPR interview.
According to Media Matters, the California Republican Party has backed at least four QAnon candidates. And FOX News propagandist Sean Hannity recently welcomed QAnon adherent and political candidate Lauren Boebert on his show. Although Boebert appeared on a show with conspiracy theorist and QAnon fan Ann Vandersteel, she’s recently tried to back away from the idea.
“QAnon is a lot of things to different people. I was very vague in what I said before. I’m not into conspiracies. I’m into freedom and the Constitution of the United States of America. I’m not a follower.” said Boebert in a KDVR interview. However, she was recently endorsed by white nationalist and xenophobe Tom Tancredo.
The growth of QAnon candidates, such as Greene and Boebert, is a damning reflection of American politics’ brokenness, especially the Republican Party. How do you reach across the aisle when you’ve called the speaker of the House a b***h? How do you take a briefing from the FBI when you think the agents are part of the Deep State conspiracy? You can’t operate a government with extremists who have their version of reality.
I wonder, how can people vote for bigoted, anti-government conspiracy theorists? But they also voted for Trump! I’m afraid the QAnon nuts will fit right in with the GOP!
