Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran turned Illinois Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger might not be a card-carrying conservative, but one legitimate question appears to be whether he most disdains Donald Trump, the Democrat Party that has relentlessly done everything it could do to delegitimize and destroy Trump’s presidency, or the 2020 election shenanigans that have deeply divided America even more than it was divided pre-election.
In response to a Saturday morning Trump tweet in which the president called out the “Justice” — the quote marks an obvious sarcastic dig at “justice” — Department and FBI over alleged “Presidential Election Voter Fraud.”
First, Trump’s tweet.
“The ‘Justice’ Department and the FBI have done nothing about the 2020 Presidential Election Voter Fraud, the biggest SCAM in our nation’s history, despite overwhelming evidence. They should be ashamed. History will remember. Never give up. See everyone in D.C. on January 6th.”
The “See everyone in D.C. on January 6th” is a reference to what Trump earlier in the month termed a “wild” protest on Capitol Hill over the presidential election, after claiming it was “statistically impossible” he lost the election. Congress will meet on January 6 to formally accept the election results.
The “Justice” Department and the FBI have done nothing about the 2020 Presidential Election Voter Fraud, the biggest SCAM in our nation’s history, despite overwhelming evidence. They should be ashamed. History will remember. Never give up. See everyone in D.C. on January 6th.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2020
In response to the tweet, Kinzinger put Trump on full blast, declaring the president “embarrassing” and then some.
“My God. Trying to burn the place down on the way out because you can’t handle losing. No evidence, nothing but your temper tantrum and crazy conspiracies. Embarrassing. #RestoreOurGOP”
Hashtag #RestoreOurGOP. #RestoreOurDemocracy There, congressman. I fixed it for you.
My God. Trying to burn the place down on the way out because you can’t handle losing. No evidence, nothing but your temper tantrum and crazy conspiracies. Embarrassing. #RestoreOurGOP https://t.co/dck64tuxJa
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) December 26, 2020
Kinzinger also went after his Republican colleagues who are supporters of Trump’s efforts to reverse the election results.
“All this talk about Jan 6th from @realDonaldTrump and other congressional grifters is simply explained: they will raise money and gain followers by blaming everyone else knowing full well they can’t do anything. It’s sad, and an utter scam.”
“Grifters.” “Utter scam.” For whatever the reason, “he bitter,” huh?
All this talk about Jan 6th from @realDonaldTrump and other congressional grifters is simply explained: they will raise money and gain followers by blaming everyone else knowing full well they can’t do anything. It’s sad, and an utter scam. #restoreourgop
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) December 26, 2020
Understand, there was already no love lost between Donald Trump and Adam Kinzinger. A most recent example dates to September 2019, when the representative of Chicago’s far-west and far-northwest suburbs responded to a tweet in which Trump included an impeachment-related quote from Texas megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress.
“‘If the Democrats are successful in removing the President from office (which they will never be), it will cause a Civil War like fracture in this Nation from which our Country will never heal.’ Pastor Robert Jeffress, @FoxNews.”
Having fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, Kinzinger did not take kindly to a comparison between an impeachment trial and a civil war.
“I have visited nations ravaged by civil war. @realDonaldTrump I have never imagined such a quote to be repeated by a President. This is beyond repugnant.”
“Beyond repugnant.” Kinzinger does have a way with adjectives.
I have visited nations ravaged by civil war. @realDonaldTrump I have never imagined such a quote to be repeated by a President. This is beyond repugnant. https://t.co/a5Bae7bP7g
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) September 30, 2019
On one hand, the proximity of Kinzinger’s Congressional District with the city of Chicago partially explains his (mis)calculated effort to walk a political tightrope.
On the other hand, purposely eliminating the Republican safety net seems even more foolish, given that Nancy Pelosi and the next Democrat challenger in the 116th Congressional District will do their damnedest to push Kinzinger off the wire to his demise.
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