Marjorie Taylor Greene Doubles Down On Comparing Covid Measures To Holocaust
Topline
Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is not backing down from her comparisons between coronavirus restrictions and the Holocaust, in which around six million Jews were killed by Nazi Germany between 1941 and 1945, instead doubling down in a Tuesday morning Twitter rant.
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 20: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) speaks at a press conference on the … [+]
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Key Facts
Greene said a Tennessee supermarket’s decision to add a “vaccination logo” to the name badges of vaccinated employees is “just like” the yellow stars Jews were forced by Nazis to wear to identify themselves.
Greene also tweeted that “it appears Nazi practices have already begun on our youth,” in response to a report about the University of Virginia barring unvaccinated students from classes, adding, “Show your VAX papers or no in person class for you.”
The comments come even after Greene sustained backlash from Jewish groups and fellow Republicans for comparing the House chamber mask mandate to the yellow stars, which she calls the “gold stars.”
Greene claimed in a followup tweet she “never compared it to the holocaust” and was just referring to the “early Nazi years,” but yellow stars were part of the classification system in concentration camps, according to the Holocaust Museum.
Greene is one of several Republican lawmakers who have publicly refused to get vaccinated, with her spokesperson saying in March Greene is a “perfectly healthy woman and doesn’t see a reason to do so.”
Chief Critic
“WTF is wrong with you? I think you need to pay a visit to the US Holocaust Museum. I’d be happy to arrange. Then maybe going forward you wouldn’t make anymore disgusting, ignorant and offensive tweets,” tweeted Jeff Miller, a pro-Trump lobbyist and bundler with close ties to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who has often defended Greene. “If I’m wrong and you’re not ignorant about Holocaust… then you are disgusting,” Miller added.
Key Background
Greene has a history of offensive comments, in the past promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory and conspiracy theories about 9/11 and school shootings. She has also frequently described congressional security measures with severe polemics, claiming metal detectors set up outside the House chamber following the Jan. 6 attack are “the real voter suppression.”
Crucial Quote
“She considers this a HIPAA violation, and quite frankly it’s none of the media’s business,” Greene spokesperson Nick Dyer told Forbes earlier this month when asked if Greene is vaccinated. Greene has blasted the vaccine as “experimental” and said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “cannot force” her and other members to take it, even as she rails against a mask mandate Pelosi refuses to lift until all members are vaccinated.
What To Watch For
Stripped of her committee assignments over her past comments that– includeing advocating Pelosi’s execution, – Greene has nothing to lose and minimal incentive to stop her publicity stunts, which helped her rake in an eye-popping $3.2 million fundraising haul in the first three months of 2021. Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) has organized an effort to expel Greene from Congress, but that vote would require support from two-thirds of the House, making it all-but-doomed if it reaches the floor.
