Duncan Hunter (R) — California, fresh from completing a hat-trick, capturing the “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” award for his third year in a row, shows no desire to relinquish his title, despite spirited challenges from talented contenders within the ranks of the “Freedumb Caucus”.
Desperate to retain his title Hunter surreptitiously removed David Pulpus’ thought provoking canvas depicting the turmoil in Ferguson, Mo in 2014 (above) from the wall outside Rep. William Lacy Clay’s (D) — Missouri, office yesterday, where it had hung since Clay selected it for a Congressional Art competition.
As Duncan chose to do this on a Friday morning, after Clay had left Washington to return to his district, the frustrated art critic, imminent philistine and frequent rabbit flier left the painting in the care of Clay’s office staff, bragging that he had “increased the value” of the work.
“”Asked about First Amendment arguments allowing even objectionable speech, Hunter said: “I guess it is my First Amendment right to take it down. Lacy can put it back up if he wants to.”
Clay’s spokesman, Engelhardt, would not say what his boss would do. But if Clay does decide to put the painting back where it was, Hunter said he would not again remove it, saying his point had been made.
He also said he had probably made Pulphus’ painting famous and worth a lot of money.
“Tell him, ‘You’re welcome,’ ” Hunter said.””
Several other Republican devotees of the arts cheered his heist, proving only, that, try as you might, you can’t find the bottom of Republican stupidity.
Charter member of the Republican No-Brain Trust, Steven King (R) — Iowa was quick to applaud Hunter’s bold actions…
“”Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, said he had ask for a resolution to take it down again and, if that fails, try to put a blue ribbon signifying solidarity with police over the painting.
King said in an interview that he believed the painting depicts a false “hands up, don’t shoot” narrative about the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson in 2014.
“It is just a sick demonstration of a piece of our culture that is not patriotic, it does not support American values, and undermines the cultural continuity of the United States of America,” King said. “And Lacy Clay should have stepped up and taken that kind of leadership. But he is fomenting that kind of hatred.””
Determined not to be out-stupided by Duncan and King, (R)s Billy Long — Missouri and Dave Reichert — Washington, had their say as well.
””Even before most members of Congress had learned of Hunter’s move, Reps. Billy Long, R-Springfield, and Dave Reichert, R-Wash., both spoke against the painting in a meeting of House Republicans on Friday morning.””
And, I am shamed to say, my own Democratic Senator from Missouri, Claire McCaskill, joined the idiot chorus.
“”Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., through a spokesman said she considered the painting “distasteful,” but that the House of Representatives needed to figure out what to do about it.””
Fuck all these people.
Seriously, can’t you all get on with doing the job we are paying you for and leave this talented young artist’s work unmolested?