OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and her colleague, Republican Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw have gotten into a Twitter fight over funding for Ukraine.
The House on Tuesday approved a package that went around $7 billion more than President Joe Biden requested to give Ukraine military and economic assistance.
On Wednesday Rep. Greene went after Rep. Crenshaw for supporting the package.
It started after Crenshaw took a swipe at the Biden administration about fentanyl deaths and immigration that got one random Twitter user to chastise him about sending funds to Ukraine.
“Our open border -and the fentanyl pouring across it – is killing Americans in record numbers. Biden doesn’t care. They only care what the radical immigration groups think, not you,” the representative said.
“Yeah you sound off about that stuff but then you vote yes on the $40 billion to Ukraine,” the Twitter user said.
Yeah you sound off about that stuff but then you vote yes on the $40 billion to Ukraine
— Chigg Bungus (@BungusChigg) May 11, 2022
“Yeah, because investing in the destruction of our adversary’s military, without losing a single American troop, strikes me as a good idea. You should feel the same,” the representative responded.
Yeah, because investing in the destruction of our adversary’s military, without losing a single American troop, strikes me as a good idea. You should feel the same.
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) May 11, 2022
Enter Taylor Greene who tore a strip off Crenshaw.
“So you think we are funding a proxy war with Russia? You speak as if Ukrainian lives should be thrown away, as if they have no value. Just used and thrown away. For your proxy war? How does that help Americans? How does any of this help?”
So you think we are funding a proxy war with Russia?
You speak as if Ukrainian lives should be thrown away, as if they have no value.
Just used and thrown away.
For your proxy war?
How does that help Americans?
How does any of this help? https://t.co/dButTWOqAZ— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 11, 2022
“Still going after that slot on Russia Today huh?” Crenshaw hit back.
Still going after that slot on Russia Today huh? https://t.co/WFtgrvTS6m
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) May 11, 2022
“Sanctions aren’t stopping anything, but they are driving inflation and fuel prices. I refuse to vote for useless measures that cause problems but solve none. While you send $40 billion for your proxy war against Russia, I’m focused on baby formula for American babies,” Greene smacked back, ending the conversation.
Sanctions aren’t stopping anything, but they are driving inflation and fuel prices.
I refuse to vote for useless measures that cause problems but solve none.
While you send $40 billion for your proxy war against Russia, I’m focused on baby formula for American babies. https://t.co/dJLNoECjaB
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 11, 2022
The Ukrainian aid package of $40 billion was approved on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.
The House emphatically approved a fresh $40 billion Ukraine aid package Tuesday as lawmakers beefed up President Joe Biden’s initial request, signaling a magnified, bipartisan commitment to thwart Russian President Vladimir Putin’s bloody three-month-old invasion.
The measure sailed to passage by a lopsided 368-57 margin, providing $7 billion more than Biden’s request from April and dividing the increase evenly between defense and humanitarian programs. The bill would give Ukraine military and economic assistance, help regional allies, replenish weapons the Pentagon has shipped overseas and provide $5 billion to address global food shortages caused by the war’s crippling of Ukraine’s normally robust production of many crops.
The measure was backed by every voting Democrat and by nearly 3 out of 4 Republicans. House debate reflected a perspective, shared broadly by both parties, that the U.S. has even more at stake than standing by Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian people, they need us, they are in desperate need of our support,” House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Rosa DeLauro, said. “Vladimir Putin and his cronies must be held responsible. This bill does that by protecting democracy, limiting Russian aggression and strengthening our own national security.”
“As China, Iran and North Korea watch our response, we must show the world that America stands firm with its allies and will do what is necessary to protect our interests abroad,” Republican Rep. Kay Granger said.
And it appears that the Senate will approve the measure quickly.
“I think we’re on a path to getting that done,” Senate Minority Leader and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell said. “It needs to be clean of extraneous matters, directly related to helping the Ukrainians win the war.”
But Rep. Greene was not the only Republican who did not approve of the measure.
“Democrats are throwing around taxpayer money like our massive ($30 trillion) national debt doesn’t exist,” Rep. Jody Hice said.
“Congress must take seriously our responsibility to be good stewards of Americans’ taxpayer dollars by putting the critical needs of America first,” Florida Rep. Greg Steube said.
“We are sleepwalking into a war,” fellow Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz said, “and the American people are left in the dark.”
