Hours after the House delivered President Biden’s first legislative victory by passing a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package on Wednesday, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) suddenly acted as though he did not vote against the plan last weekend alongside his fellow Republican senators — and was swiftly dragged by Twitter users for it.
In a Wednesday afternoon tweet, Wicker touted that the passage of the COVID-19 relief plan in Congress will deliver targeted relief to independent restaurant operators that have struggled amid the pandemic.
Independent restaurant operators have won $28.6 billion worth of targeted relief.
This funding will ensure small businesses can survive the pandemic by helping to adapt their operations and keep their employees on the payroll.https://t.co/Ob4pRb9Xh4
— Senator Roger Wicker (@SenatorWicker) March 10, 2021
Pressed by CNN’s Manu Raju on his tweet shortly after posting it, Wicker defended his vote opposing the legislation last weekend by arguing that “one good provision” doesn’t mean he was obligated to “vote for the whole thing,” according to a Hill pool report.
Wicker quipped that it’s “a stupid question” to ask about his tweet touting the COVID-19 relief plan that he voted against.
“I’m not gonna vote for $1.9 trillion just because it has a couple of good provisions,” Wicker said, according to a Hill pool report.
Senate Democrats passed the package through reconciliation — which only required 51 votes and allowed Democrats to circumvent the filibuster — last weekend, Senate Republicans complained that the process was partisan, and deployed delay tactics such as forcing the entire bill to be read aloud and proposing a slew of amendments.
Twitter users were quick to call out the irony in Wicker’s praise for the COVID-19 relief plan that he voted against last weekend:
HE VOTED *AGAINST* THE BILL. LIKE EVERY SINGLE OTHER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO SHAME. NONE. ZERO. ZILCH. https://t.co/eD8oGGviwn
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) March 10, 2021
Republican tries to try to take credit for bill he just voted against. World historical shamelessness. https://t.co/9KsiwmjY0S
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 10, 2021
Dude, you voted against this. https://t.co/YkUQjACjVf
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) March 10, 2021
You should add the phrase "Despite my own personal vote against it …" to the start of this tweet. https://t.co/3mvvpsQqc8
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) March 10, 2021
I'm obliged to point out here by the requirements of…truth and facts…that Senator Wicker voted against the bill. https://t.co/N1Ip95PwyR
— Kai Ryssdal (@kairyssdal) March 10, 2021
How deep is the disinformation sickness in the GOP?
Wicker voted against the bill he’s touting here. https://t.co/1o9I7jkKKd
— Dave Pell (@davepell) March 10, 2021
THIS TYRANNICAL DISASTER OF A BILL I JUST TOTALLY OPPOSED AND VOTED AGAINST IS AWESOME! https://t.co/yGbJ23Is9Y
— Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) March 10, 2021
Does, "Nay" ring any bells here? https://t.co/qoAAhgpK14
— Schooley (@Rschooley) March 10, 2021
Cue Republicans throughout the country will now seek PR wins for the relief that the package they unanimously voted against will bring. https://t.co/2rYmNj17Hp
— Taniel (@Taniel) March 10, 2021
YOU VOTED AGAINST IT RATIO HALL OF FAME. https://t.co/IX980fVRWv
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) March 10, 2021
Senator Wicker is clearly trying to win some kind of bet about who can get ratio’d the most on here or something. https://t.co/1cgUIs2DLo
— Jim Saksa (@saksappeal) March 10, 2021
republicans love taking credit for things they originally opposed and voted against, because they know those policies are good and popular. https://t.co/QX27sOzMmF
— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) March 10, 2021
What Republicans fail to mention, of course, is that they all voted against the funding they're apparently so thrilled about now.
If you're going to keep gaslighting us at least put some effort into it. https://t.co/d5oMStji4I
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) March 10, 2021
