Censored by the House of Representatives today, 62-year-old Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Az.) endured the public flogging well-deserved for spreading pernicious propaganda in an animated Japanese-style video that showed Gosar killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking 78-year-old President Joe Biden. Given today’s post Jan. 6 atmosphere, posting a video on his Website depicting violence against a member of Congress and the president reached new lows. Goser dismissed the hubbub, saying it was all in good fun, not meaning to hurt anyone. Passing the Censure Resolution 223-207, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wy.) and Rep. Adam Kinsinger (R-Ill) joined 221 Democrats to censure Goser for his outlandish video. No one in the House found it funny other than Gosar, who said it was a parody about the nation’s chaotic border immigration policy under Biden.
Gosar’s censure shows there’s little tolerance left for practical jokes that could fuel violence in the public, much like what happened on Jan. 6. No one disagrees that the Jan. 6 Capitol riots were a disgraceful chapter in U.S. history. Whatever one’s beef with the government, it’s not up to vigilantes to take over American streets or, in this case, cease the Congress to make a stupid point about street violence. “Any anime fan out there?” Gosar Tweeted. Gossar’s animated video altered the opening credits of the Japanese animated series “Attack on Titan,” including clips from the Mexican border. Gosar dismissed the video as a “joke” and refused to apologize, infuriating Democrats and some Republicans. After Jan. 6, where an angry mob chased members of Congress into underground bunkers, no one in Congress takes violence lightly. Gosar dismissed the cartoon as a “symbolic.”
Ocasio-Cortez hasd plenty to say to Gosar, demanding that he be removed from the House. “Threatening the life of a colleague is grounds for expulsion,” she reminded her House colleagues. “But given the Republican Party—especially the leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)—is too cowardly to really enforce any standard of conduct . . censure and committee removal is the next most appropriate step,” said Ocasio-Cortez, glad that Gosar was censured. Pelosi saw Gosar’s video as nearly offensive as Jan. 6. “Words spoke by elected officials weight a ton, people hear them very differently,” Pelosi said, concerned that the words could spark violence toward members of Congress. ”Depictions of violence can foment actual violence and jeopardize the safety of elected officials as witnessed in this chamber on Jan. 6. It is inconceivable that a member of our community would wish to repeat the violence of that dark day,” said Pelosi.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) embarrassed the Republican caucus making feeble excuses. “It is the old definition of abuse of power,” McCarthy said. “That’s exactly what’s happen here today,” not realizing that the vast majority of Americans agree that Gosar’s cartoon video was highly inappropriate. McCarthy’s statements only make matters worse for Republicans, trying to defend Gosar’s over-the-top cartoon. “This is not about me, this is not about Rep. Gosar, this is about what we are willing to accept,” Ocasio-Cortez said. But actually the matter is about Gosar’s incredibly bad judgment, making him unfit for office. Unable to see the consequences of his actions make Gosar a loose cannon for the Republican Party. McCarthy defended the indefensible, dismissing the Democrat Party-driven censure as politics. Gosar had the temerity to compare himself to Alexander Hamilton.
More bad judgment from elected officials puts on full display the arrogance of elected officials, breaching common standards of decorum. Gosar should have profusely apologized to publishing a video depicting harm to another member of Congress. Whatever Gosar’s disagreements with Ocasio-Cortez, promoting violent images undermines his credibility. Ocasio-Cortez is right that Gosar should have been forced to resign. Whatever Gosar’s views on Jan. 6 or the Mexican border don’t give him license to promote obscene imagery, even in cartoon form. Liberals have every right to attack Gosar on the issues but they don’t have the right to call for violence. Gosar puts himself into the same company of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Fl.) who also lost her committee assignments from Republicans for embracing conspiracy QAnon or violence against Democrats,
Republicans tarnished their image by not admitting that Gosar went over the top with his violent animation video against Ocasio-Cortez and Biden. Bipartisan members of Congress must show they can drop the Party loyalty when it comes to disciplining members that steps out of line. Gosar crossed a line revealing for all to see his incredibly bad judgment. Whether it’s a Democrat or Republican, the time to close ranks is not when one of Congress crosses the line, demanding some kind of consequences. Gosar may think his video was a “joke,” but in today’s violent world, there’s zero tolerance when it comes to endorsing any type of violence. While there’s no excuse for someone like Gosar, freshman Congressman should receive some kind of “common sense” training when it comes to controversial public remarks. While political zealotry got the better of Gosar, he should have known better.
