Why does Twitter give a COVID-19 liar like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene 5 strikes?

Twitter announced that it has suspended the account of the intellectually unhinged Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for one week for spreading lies about the COVID-19 vaccine.

This would be the fourth time Twitter has found Taylor Greene in violation of its misinformation policy. A shocking number, really.

I’d have thought it would be 10 times that. Or more. A lot more.

Green is the QAnon conspiracy-touting kook who aligned herself with those who believe Hillary Clinton and a band of Satan-worshipping, child-abusing Democrats ran a human-trafficking and pedophilia ring out of a pizzeria in Washington, D.C.

Greene’s support for lunatic beliefs is unending

She has referred to David Hogg, a young survivor of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 dead, as a “paid actor.”

Her lunatic beliefs and/or her lunatic support for the lunatic beliefs of others is unending.

This time around, Taylor Greene said the FDA “should not approve covid vaccines,” which she said were “failing” to reduce the spread of the virus.

No.

The vaccines have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. And would be saving a lot more if high-profile crackpots like Taylor Greene didn’t spread lies and disinformation.

The reason there is a surge in cases of COVID-19 is the lack of vaccinations among individuals who listen to people like her. She shouldn’t be suspended for a week. She should be banned permanently.

But Twitter only suspended her account, with a spokesman saying, “The account will be in read-only mode for a week due to repeated violations of the Twitter Rules.”

Naturally, Kelli Ward backs her

That would be Taylor Greene’s fourth strike. Twitter’s misinformation policy says that violating its COVID-19 guidelines five times could result in a permanent ban.

Fingers crossed.

In the meantime, Arizona’s own conspiracy-touting Taylor Greene-wannabe, Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward, tweeted a response to Twitter’s action that reads: I’m tired of censorship, aren’t you?

Again, no.

It’s interesting how Ward, a doctor, seems to have trouble grasping what are fairly simple, uncomplicated concepts. Not only is she indicating support for the nation’s premier congressional conspiracy kook but she demonstrates an abysmal confusion on the concept of censorship. Censorship is something a wayward government might do to outspoken critics.

Twitter is not the government. Twitter is a version of those changeable letter signs popular these days with schools, businesses and religious institutions. I passed a church recently with a reader board outside that read: Sinners wanted. Apply within.

The congregation of that church owns the sign, the way Twitter owns its space. The owner gets to decide who is permitted to leave a message.

I’m guessing the church elders wouldn’t invite a devil worshipper to post a satanic missive on their space. Sort of the way Twitter shouldn’t allow Taylor Greene to post messages.

Actually, exactly that way.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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