When Massachusetts Air National Guard Airman Jack Teixeira was arrested for having supposedly leaked highly classified information to a Discord server that he ran under a pseudonym, one of this first defenders was none other than Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-GA). This prompted visceral castigations from the usual suspects, such as former Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) and an indirect rebuke from Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
In retaliation for Sen. Graham’s remarks criticizing MTG’s position on the suspected leaker, Rep. Greene posted a photo of Graham standing beside CNN’s Dana Bash, grinning from ear-to-ear, as the two toasted each other with cans of Bud Light.
The implication was clear: Graham is a creature of the dreaded Establishment; a person who cannot be trusted and who is out to betray the “MAGA” coalition that MTG represents.
Certainly, this is true on some level. Graham has never been aboard the “MAGA” train the way that MTG has been. Sen. Graham has likely used his close connection to former President Donald J. Trump to elevate himself, not because he believes in the nationalist-populist ethos that drives the “MAGA” movement. Instead, because it was Graham’s fastest route to career enhancement.
Fake News
The only problem for MTG is that the image she posted on her social media account of Graham and Dana Bash holding their Bud Light cans was fake. In fact, the actual image of Graham was taken from a 2016 photoshoot for Getty Images. And the South Carolina Republican senator wasn’t holding a Bud Light. He was holding a glass of beer that was not identified in the Jason Bahr photograph.
MTG had to have known that the image in question was fake. She posted it because she didn’t care about the truth. It was designed to muddy the waters; to make the story not about whether the young Airman Teixeira was guilty but about how Graham is untrustworthy. That MTG (or one of her fellow travelers) added in the Bud Light was a particularly deft touch.
Presently, conservatives are apoplectic over the inclusion of trans activist and influencer, Dylan Mulvaney, as part of a recent Bud Light marketing campaign. Bud Light is losing much business over this and even their CEO is concerned about the ramifications of the controversial move by Bud Light’s marketing team.
So, not only was MTG deflecting legitimate criticism over a controversial stance she is taking on the leaker’s innocence, but she is also further clouding the issue by linking Lindsey Graham to the Bud Light scandal.
The Georgia congresswoman has mastered the art of propaganda and counteraccusation. She is one of the most skilled practitioners of it in Washington, D.C. today. Yet, it was an unnecessary move. First, no one cares about Lindsey Graham’s opinions (other than the three people who watch CNN and, oddly, former President Trump).
Second, she might end up being wrong about the leaker. Why place so much political capital on this issue when she’s been maneuvering so well in Washington since aligning herself with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)?
Don’t Do That Again
The controversial Georgia congresswoman clearly has ambitions that transcend her current position. To the surprise of many, who viewed the “QAnon Congresswoman” as a one-hit-wonder who’d disappear from our screens (and Congress) within a single term, MTG has proven her ability to survive and thrive. She has adapted to the environment with great élan. Yet, the old crazy MTG—the 1.0 version—still pops out from time to time.
Then again, MTG is sly. This was no accident on her part. While off-putting to everyone else, the propagation of the fake image will likely endear MTG to the base of the GOP. That alone is worth something for MTG. Overall, though, trading in this gutter-snipe political controversy will only get MTG so far.
If she has greater aims for her political career, such as running for the United States Senate, she needs to go easy on this low-brow behavior.
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A 19FortyFive Senior Editor, Brandon J. Weichert is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, as well as at American Greatness and the Asia Times. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower (Republic Book Publishers), Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life (May 16), and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy (July 23). Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
