To the delegate from Hanover, opposition to Medicaid expansion is just like Byrd-era racism
Since Speaker Cox announced his “deal” on Medicaid expansion, Del. Peace has been an aggressive and in your face advocate for the program. Today he took his attacks on fellow Republicans to an entirely new level.
In a tweet this morning, Del. Peace wrote,
“On the eve of the prospective end of a second ‘Massive Resistance’ in this Commonwealth, be encouraged, do not fear the fear-mongers, instead take heart that after years of legislative debate, the process gives way to our better angels with full Transformation.”
That’s right. Opposition to Medicaid expansion under Obamacare is just like Massive Resistance, the organized effort to maintain institutionalized racism and segregation led by Virginia Democrats in the 1950s and 1960s. Peace used similar language in a Facebook post which he later edited to sound more “spiritual.”
This is on the day the Virginia Senate is expected to expand Medicaid. It is one thing to have a policy debate. It is one thing for the Speaker of the House to lead a large part of the House caucus in supporting a program his party has long opposed. However, Del. Peace has taken this betrayal to an incredible low.
Republicans remember the attacks leveled against them by the radical left last year. We remember when Sen. Rubio and Ed Gillespie were monstrously protested as racist in the days leading up to the Gubernatorial election. We remember when Del. Rocky Holcomb was painted as a racist. We remember the vile Ralph Northam ad painting Ed Gillespie and his supporters as wanting to run down minorities with their trucks.
Today, Del. Peace chose to join the ranks of the vile left that paints their opponents as racist when they are out of ideas.
Simply deleting this tweet is not enough. Del. Peace owes an apology to the majority of his caucus who have been the bulwark against the financial ruin that will be caused by Medicaid expansion.
It is time for Speaker Cox to show leadership and strip Del. Peace of his Chairmanship of General Laws for this attack. Leaders need to lead and show there are consequences for this vile behavior.
Conservatives around the state need to watch this seat in 2019, and support the good conservatives in Hanover who will insist that an actual conservative represent them in the House of Delegates.
