Rep. Justin Amash is a millennial conservative’s dream congressman. He’s got substance, including a libertarian streak, a principled record, and independence from President Trump. He’s also got style, including Twitter clapbacks.
He doesn’t use social media as a personal diary like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York or to mock people and employ insults in tweets like President Trump. Rather, Amash just engages with constituents and voters who criticize him and brings receipts too.
“Receipts” is millennial jargon for evidence backing up your claims. Amash’s come in the form of citing his old statements.
For instance, when Amash demanded in a tweet the end of U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia which uses them to commit atrocities, the congressman was reasserting a position he has long held. But a critic jumped in, suggesting that his stance against Trump on this issue was somehow newfound.
Man. If only you had been this loud two years ago. I feel like you waited to see if it would benefit you. It didn’t. So what now?
I realize you only voted with him on the big stuff, but your voice was weak when it mattered.
— GRMedic (@GRmedic7604) July 25, 2019
Amash deserves credit for not letting false charges of hypocrisy stand. He calmly and politely links to roughly a dozen times he’s stood up for the same point in the past, refuting the critics’ argument and setting the record straight.
This isn’t the first time Amash has done this on Twitter. In fact, it’s a semi-regular habit. Some might find it unusual, but this form of radical Twitter transparency is unquestionably a good thing, and other politicians should take note.
Critics say that it’s unbecoming of the office and unprofessional to spout off on Twitter at critics. To them I say: Really?
President Trump uses Twitter for late-night rants, bashing his political opponents, and chaotic policy announcements. Meanwhile, congressional Democrats have used Twitter to call for impeachment and invoke anti-Semitic rhetoric about Israel. In comparison, there’s nothing unprofessional about Amash politely refuting arguments with public records on Twitter, even if it’s a bit unorthodox. He deserves credit, not condemnation, for engaging with constituents and voters when others regularly block critical voters.
More politicians should follow Amash’s example. If there’s one thing the swamp dwellers of Washington, D.C. could use, it’s more accountability, not less.
