While Democratic Senator Chris Murphy (who formerly represented the district that included Sandy Hook Elementary School) took to the floor to beg for gun control, GOP Senator Mitt Romney’s not exactly a portrait of action in the wake of Tuesday’s Texas school shooting, which left at least 19 children dead. Romney, who’s been doubling down on foot-in-mouth syndrome this year already, decided to take to twitter with a “thoughts-and-prayers”-style tweet. In doing so, he claimed to desire “answers” on how to solve the problem of having essentially no gun laws and being surprised each time this happens.
“Grief overwhelms the soul,” Romney wrote. “Children slaughtered. Lives extinguished. Parents’ hearts wrenched. Incomprehensible. I offer prayer and condolence but know that it is grossly inadequate. We must find answers.”
Grief overwhelms the soul. Children slaughtered. Lives extinguished. Parents’ hearts wrenched. Incomprehensible. I offer prayer and condolence but know that it is grossly inadequate. We must find answers.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) May 24, 2022
To say that the Internet had receipts for Romney (to the tune of almost $14 million in NRA dollars) would be an understatement. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence keeps a running list of gun lobby donations to U.S. lawmakers. Writer Bess Kalb’s tweeting out a thread of these donations (timed to lawmaker reaction tweets about this latest school shooting), and Romney’s a centerpiece, alright.
$13,647,676 from the NRA https://t.co/vg9biSc0kG
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) May 25, 2022
In fact and as human rights attorney Qasim Rashid points out, “Mitt Romney is America’s #1 recipient of NRA money, with $13,647,676 in NRA contributions in his bank.”
Mitt Romney is America’s #1 recipient of NRA money, with $13,647,676 in NRA contributions in his bank.
— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) May 24, 2022
NRA Contributions to GOP Senators
Mitt Romney (UT) $13,647,676
Richard Burr (NC) $6,987,380
Roy Blunt (MO) $4,555,722
Thom Tillis (NC) $4,421,333
Cory Gardner (CO) $3,939,199
Marco Rubio (FL)$3,303,355
Joni Ernst (IA) $3,124,773
Rob Portman (OH) $3,063,327Thread
/1
— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) May 25, 2022
Soledad O’Brien was quick to respond to Romney: “I frequently call this man a coward. Maybe one day the words he says and what he actually does, will match.”
The NRA gave you just under 14 million dollars, sir.
I frequently call this man a coward. Maybe one day the words he says and what he actually does, will match. https://t.co/It637F4VLQ
— Soledad O’Brien (@soledadobrien) May 25, 2022
Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg called Romney’s bluff, and the Romney pile-on began, since he seems to have forgotten his staunch opposition to any new federal gun laws as these shootings continue.
So let’s do something. Will you vote for universal background checks ?
— David Hogg
(@davidhogg111) May 25, 2022
I’m thinking no pic.twitter.com/fJYHt6zLF1
— krista
(@89rulzall) May 25, 2022
You could start by taking less money from the NRA. Your words are hollow until you do. https://t.co/XMTIsv8tzr
— Olivia Lorraine
Gosh, Mitt. I wonder why you haven’t been able to find the answers yet. https://t.co/8acQcu3hnH
— Patioboater (@Patioboater) May 25, 2022
This you? https://t.co/HXvOzVnTpm
— NaomiOMy
of House Moderna (@NaomiOMy_) May 25, 2022
— Shannon Angel (@73SNAngel) May 25, 2022
Clearly, thoughts and prayers won’t do anything to bring these children back, although one can expect the push-and-pull in the Senate to reach another peak soon.
There are answers, Senator. But you lack the courage to act upon them.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) May 24, 2022
No one wants your prayer or condolence. We want your ACTION.
— Barbara Malmet (@B52Malmet) May 25, 2022
— Beautiful (@Needtoresist) May 24, 2022