Fake outrage & lies highlight Virginia millionaire’s campaign for US Senate

In a desperate display of selective outrage, Tammy Murphy singled out one opponent for missing a vote on a bill targeting TikTok, conveniently ignoring similar absenteeism from other politicians she supported and making it clear that she cares little about the truth.

Murphy, the wife of millionaire Governor Phil Murphy, who bought that job with his Wall Street fortune and is using his influence to buffalo the state’s political establishment into backing his unqualified spouse to replace corrupt US Senator Bob Menendez, says that Washington needs more ‘ticked off moms’ although with her wealth and privilege it is hard to image what she has to be so mad about.

Perhaps it is the stubborn reality that her coronation might be blocked by one of three actual Democrats challenging her for the party’s nomination, but with a raft of investments in cigarette companies, fossil fuel corporations, and high tech firms it seems unlikely that she is genuinely upset over the social media enterprise that is the subject of this legislation.

The bill, which seeks to force a social media company to sever ties with the Chinese Communist Party, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, exposing the fecklessness of Murphy’s criticism.

“There are very real security concerns about TikTok and the protection of Americans’ information, but there are more steps and deliberations needed before we in Congress should take the proposed action in this legislation,” said Rep. Andy Kim, who added that he was unable to be in the House of Representatives for the roll call but he would have voted against the legislation.

“I previously called on my colleagues in Congress to take a comprehensive approach instead of this piecemeal effort to protect data privacy writ large and address the serious concerns about the public safety risks of social media,” said Kim.

It is also highly unlikely that Murphy is really bothered that her opponent failed to show up for work. She has previously supported candidates with records of chonic absenteeism as well as the corrupt US Senator who she wants to replace.

While Murphy’s campaign spokesperson, Alex Altman, lambasted Kim for being the only member of New Jersey’s congressional delegation that not support the bill, she conveniently omitted the fact that Senator Cory Booker missed more votes than any other member of Congress while running for president.

Notably, both Murphy and her husband had no qualms about contributing to Booker’s campaign fund, despite his own significant absenteeism. In 2018, Tammy and Phil Murphy each donated the maximum allowable federal campaign contribution to Bob Menendez while he was being challenged in the Democratic primary by a genuine progressive who took nearly four of ten votes away from the crooked Congressman.

The head of the New Jersey Republican Party called out Booker for spending more time on his presidential campaign than on his senatorial duties, yet Murphy remained silent on the issue in 2020. This double standard is glaring, especially when considering Booker’s staggering 45 percent absentee rate in the 116th Congress is a blip compared to Kim’s recent missed votes.

“We appreciate the opportunity to remind people that Congressman Kim has taken approximately 2,700 votes in Congress and has a 98% attendance record, one of the highest in Congress,” said Kim’s spokesperson Katey Sabo.

Murphy’s campaign’s attack on Kim’s integrity is further undermined by the bipartisan nature of the bill, which garnered support from both sides of the aisle. Even Congressman Tom Kean Jr., a Republican, voiced his backing for the legislation. The bill aimed to protect Americans from potential threats posed by foreign adversaries, particularly the Chinese Communist Party’s influence over applications like TikTok.

However, the bill’s passage is not without controversy. Critics rightly point out that it perpetuates a narrative reminiscent of the Red Scare, stoking fear of communist subversion without sufficient evidence. This fear-mongering tactic has long been exploited for political gain, and Murphy’s embrace of it is deeply concerning.

Moreover, the congressional hearings on TikTok revealed a fundamental misunderstanding of social media platforms among lawmakers, particularly the knowledge gap between generations. The skewed questioning and lack of comprehension highlighted the urgent need for informed decision-making in the digital age.

Furthermore, the singling out of TikTok raises questions about the consistency of lawmakers’ concerns regarding data privacy and national security. While TikTok faces scrutiny due to its Chinese affiliation, other American-owned platforms with dubious track records, such as Facebook, have largely escaped similar scrutiny.

The ban on TikTok is not merely about national security; it is about transparency and trust. By painting TikTok as a threat solely based on its Chinese ownership, lawmakers risk perpetuating xenophobic rhetoric and undermining genuine efforts to safeguard data privacy.

In light of these inconsistencies and double standards, Tammy Murphy’s criticism of Rep. Andy Kim rings hollow.

If Murphy truly cares about accountability and integrity in Congress, she should apply the same standards to all lawmakers, regardless of their political affiliation or campaign contributions.

Until then, her selective outrage remains a glaring example of political hypocrisy that is typical of her truth-challenged campaign.

In displays that entirely disregard the facts, her big-money campaign intentionally lied about positions taken by Tammy Murphy and her involvement in government programs.

“In this race, only Tammy Murphy supports lifesaving, cost-cutting Medicare For All,” said an email that clearly betrays the truth about Patricia Campos-Medina and Lawrence Hamm, two genuine advocates of universal health insurance who are being excluded from participating in debates sponsored by corporations that are forbidden from making federal campaign contributions.

“First Lady Tammy Murphy must think that Medicare for all supporters are stupid if she believes we are going to fall for her transparent attempt to tell us what we want to hear,” said Lisa McCormick, who earned nearly four of ten votes cast in the 2018 U.S. Senate race, when Murphy and her husband contributed $10,800 to Bob Menendez.