As part of the manufactured right-wing outrage that the Department of Justice should be concerned about threats and violence targeting school board officials, Cruz gave a big green light for more. “My God! A parent did a Nazi salute at a school board because he thought that the policies were oppressive!” Cruz shouted indignantly during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Then he demanded that Attorney General Merrick Garland say whether or not a Nazi salute is protected by the First Amendment.
Garland acknowledged that it is protected by the First Amendment. But that doesn’t mean it’s appropriate at a school board meeting.
But Cruz has a bigger agenda than trying to normalize anti-Semitic behavior at a time when it’s on the rise, although that’s awful enough. It's part of the GOP attack on democracy, from public schools to presidential elections that they’re trying to sneak past us by presenting democratic institutions as tyrannical. And oh, yeah, they think it will help them win or steal elections, too.
Fortunately, Twitter had some good pushback:
Nazis defend other Nazis.... https://t.co/ol74D88MDR
— Red (@Redpainter1) October 27, 2021
Ted Cruz thinks Nazi salutes at school board meetings are cool, but teaching about systemic racism in schools is bad? https://t.co/qrV7CLZRCF
— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) October 27, 2021
There is never a bottom.
There will never be a bottom.
There will always be new lows… https://t.co/tsch12vReu— Arne Duncan (@arneduncan) October 27, 2021
In the last few days San Antonio and Austin have experienced anti-Semitic, pro-Nazi demonstrations against Jewish communities.
Words like these from a United States Senator only embolden similar actions. https://t.co/VGNKFtKzU9— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) October 27, 2021
Ted Cruz just defended a Nazi salute at a school board meeting in Pittsburgh on the anniversary of one of America’s most horrific antisemitic attacks.
11 lives were lost 3 years ago from extremism rooted in language like this.
Hate speech begets hate crimes. https://t.co/9XXCfhTfG7— Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) October 27, 2021
Ted is frequently really angry. I think his underwear is too tight.
— Hal (@mobaluser) October 27, 2021
Imagine defending nazi salutes and calling yourself a decent human being.@tedcruz @SenTedCruz is trash https://t.co/2LOccUuJ42
— SitBacknLaugh 🇺🇲 (@ItsAllLaughable) October 27, 2021
Ted is the epitome of the self own. The more he talks, the worse he looks. That's why it is important to show him in his own words. Kudos!
— wdb — Masked & Vaccinated (@TheSpeedOfWDB) October 27, 2021
