Monday, after 28 years in Congress. Republican lawmaker Pete King announced his retirement.
After talks w my family I will not seek re-election in 2020. Difficult decision as my 28 yrs in Congress have been extremely fulfilling while fighting for my constituents: 9/11 & Sandy funding/combating terrorism & MS-13. I thank residents of NY2 for allowing me to represent you.
— Rep. Pete King (@RepPeteKing) November 11, 2019
Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer tweeted a positive message as a send-off to King, but may not have anticipated the resulting avalanche of criticism from Democrats.
Schumer wrote:
Peter King stood head & shoulders above everyone else
He’s been principled & never let others push him away from his principles
He’s fiercely loved America, Long Island, and his Irish heritage and left a lasting mark on all 3
I will miss him in Congress & value his friendship
Peter King stood head & shoulders above everyone else
He’s been principled & never let others push him away from his principles
He’s fiercely loved America, Long Island, and his Irish heritage and left a lasting mark on all 3
I will miss him in Congress & value his friendship https://t.co/GSXizZ2c5D
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 11, 2019
Nearly all the responses to Schumer’s tweet were angry Democrats unhappy with the concession and praise for a Republican.
Kno wrote “You’re an enabler living in 1993.”
You're an enabler living in 1993.
Retire, Chuck.
— Kno (@Kno) November 11, 2019
Bernie foreign policy advisor Matt Duss wrote “In 2019 you can be one of Congress’s most outspoken anti-Muslim bigots and still be considered “one of the more moderate GOP members of the House.”
In 2019 you can be one of Congress's most outspoken anti-Muslim bigots and still be considered "one of the more moderate GOP members of the House." https://t.co/08koDo1iXd https://t.co/aaS5jgNKBy
— Matt Duss (@mattduss) November 11, 2019
Close Clinton ally Peter Daou wrote:
“If you EVER wonder why I criticize Democratic “leaders”for enabling Republicans, look no further than this tweet.#PeteKing has praised Trump’s immigration policy, and here is @SenSchumer fawning over his “principles.”
We need a new Democratic Party.”
SERIOUSLY SCHUMER??
If you EVER wonder why I criticize Democratic "leaders"for enabling Republicans, look no further than this tweet.#PeteKing has praised Trump's immigration policy, and here is @SenSchumer fawning over his "principles."
We need a new Democratic Party. https://t.co/ARQpd76TSq
— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) November 11, 2019
Medhi Hasan of the Intercept wrote:
“If he had not had asthma, and a heart condition and was so obese, almost definitely he would not have died from this” – Peter King on the late Eric Garner.
But Schumer calls him “principled” and mourns his impending departure from Congress.
Ridiculous. Shameful.
“If he had not had asthma, and a heart condition and was so obese, almost definitely he would not have died from this” – Peter King on the late Eric Garner.
But Schumer calls him “principled” and mourns his impending departure from Congress.
Ridiculous. Shameful. https://t.co/wB9FmAGOqe
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) November 11, 2019
Per Mediaite, in 2007, King controversially claimed there were “too many mosques in this country” during a Politico interview.
“There are too many people sympathetic to radical Islam,” he continued, adding, “We should be looking at them more carefully and finding out how we can infiltrate them.”
King insisted that his words had been “taken entirely out of context,” and that he was referring to mosques which “do not cooperate with law enforcement.”
This article first appeared on TheConservativeOpinion.com
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