The reelection campaign for U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13) is selling $29 “Impeach the MF” T-shirts, Fox News reported.
The quote is a reference to a remark Tlaib made soon after she was sworn into Congress in January. “We’re going to impeach the mother****r,” she said in a video that went viral about President Donald Trump, whom Democrats are now trying to impeach.
After making her offensive remark in January, Tlaib continued to defend it in an interview — but only after first running away from reporters, Battleground State News reported at the time.
Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans, including fellow Michigander U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI-02), said the T-shirts are inappropriate and said he would let his supporters know about them.
But Tlaib is not backing down.
“You’ve asked for ‘em. And now we’ve got ’em,” her campaign posted. “We are at the most critical moment in our movement to impeach Donald Trump. We need to keep up the momentum and get even louder to make sure Congress acts swiftly and passes articles of impeachment against this lawless president.”
On Twitter, she said, “Lean in with me to hold this lawless President accountable. Together, we will fight back and protect our democracy. Our country depends on it! …and yes you can even wear what you feel”.
Lean in with me to hold this lawless President accountable. Together, we will fight back and protect our democracy.
Our country depends on it!
…and yes you can even wear what you feel https://t.co/8C3BUfp1kf pic.twitter.com/QwBADidAHo
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) September 26, 2019
A Twitter user named Texas Conservative tweeted in response, “Best way we can protect our democracy.. is to make sure there is a very good candidate running against you in the primary!! So looking forward not to having to see some of you all again.. once you’re voted out.”
Best way we can protect our democracy.. is to make sure there is a very good candidate running against you in the primary!!
So looking forward not to having to see some of you all again.. once you're voted out.
— ⭐️ Texas Conservative ⭐️ (@TexasConservati) September 26, 2019
Another Twitter user said, “Act in a manner befitting your position maam”.
https://twitter.com/peace4all333/status/1177695194034180097
Perhaps Tlaib is feeling the heat, because she tweeted up a storm justifying her shirts.
The first of the series of tweets said, “Impeachment is serious – I know this. But it is a mistake to try to equate t-shirts with the destruction of our democracy or try to paint those who’ve risked our safety calling for it, as not taking it seriously. (1/4)”.
Impeachment is serious – I know this. But it is a mistake to try to equate t-shirts with the destruction of our democracy or try to paint those who’ve risked our safety calling for it, as not taking it seriously. (1/4)
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) September 27, 2019
And Tlaib campaign spokesman TJ Bucholz justified the decision to offer the shirts to people who donate at least $29, The Washington Post reported.
“With the House moving forward as they are, we thought it was a good time to lean back into the phrase,” said Bucholz, who described the T-shirts as “a fun item” and “probably a collectible.”
Unlike Tlaib, Huizenga is one Michigander who has stood up for Trump.
He tweeted, “Calling for an impeachment inquiry before fully grasping what was discussed isn’t in defense of the Constitution, it’s merely a craven political move to try to invalidate millions of Americans who voted to elect President Trump.”
Calling for an impeachment inquiry before fully grasping what was discussed isn’t in defense of the Constitution, it’s merely a craven political move to try to invalidate millions of Americans who voted to elect President Trump. Full statement here: https://t.co/HBVKJ5dWHy
— Rep. Bill Huizenga (@RepHuizenga) September 24, 2019
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “T-Shirts” by Rashida Tlaib.