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Mo Brooks on Principles & Values
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Move on from 2020; it's Trump Derangement Syndrome
Brooks voted "No" on H.R. 5314, a bill by Socialist Democrats that perpetuates the now-debunked Russian Collusion claims that have resulted in indictments against the Democrat shills that fabricated it. Congressman Brooks said, "Trump Derangement
Syndrome does not do justice to the word 'obsession'. HR 5314 is a list of grievances against President Trump that go back to 2016 and beyond." Brooks concluded, "The American people would be better served if Socialist Democrats spent their time
investigating Hunter Biden's shady art and influence-peddling deals that reek of corruption. The American people would be better served if the House considered border security legislation, welfare give-a-way program rollbacks, or bills aimed at
addressing rising prices and the crime crisis. Instead, we're wasting time on partisan, unnecessary legislation that's going nowhere in the Senate." [See details of H.R.5314, "Protecting Our Democracy Act"]
Source: 2021 AL-5 House incumbent press release on H.R.5314
, Dec 9, 2021
We can surrender or we can fight back against socialists
Brooks urged conservatives [at CPAC] to "fight for America" like the colonial soldiers who endured a freezing winter at Valley Forge during the American Revolution. "That's the kind of sacrifice we have to think about," he said. "Our choice is
simple: we can surrender or we can fight back," Brooks said of the situation facing conservatives now. He has "never felt such fear for the future of our country," Brooks said, because "dictatorial socialists want to cancel America."
Source: The Birmingham News on 2021 CPAC Conference
, Jul 11, 2021
Trump endorsement: Brooks has COURAGE and FIGHT
Trump is endorsing Rep. Mo Brooks in the Alabama Senate race. "Few Republicans have as much COURAGE and FIGHT as Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks," Trump said in a statement, adding that Brooks is "a great Conservative Republican leader,
who will stand up for America First no matter what obstacles the Fake News Media, RINOs, or Socialist Democrats may place in his path." Trump added that Brooks "has my Complete and Total Endorsement."
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2022 Alabama Senate race
, Apr 7, 2021
Spoke at rally: start taking down names and kicking ass
Brooks, who was first elected to the House in 2010, became a staunch Trump ally.
The congressman was a speaker at the pro-Trump Jan. 6 rally that preceded the Capitol riot. Brooks, 66, urged the crowd to "start taking down names and kicking ass."
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2022 Alabama Senate race
, Apr 7, 2021
Designate first weekend in May as Ten Commandments Weekend.
Brooks co-sponsored Resolution for Ten Commandments Weekend
Expressing support for designation of the first weekend of May as Ten Commandments Weekend to recognize the significant contributions the Ten Commandments have made in shaping the principles, institutions, and national character of the United States.
- Whereas from the founding days of the United States, the Ten Commandments have been part of the Nation's basic cultural fabric;
- Whereas the Ten Commandments are a widely respected code of personal conduct and a declaration of fundamental principles for a fair and just society that transcend the diversity of cultural expression and faith in the United States;
- Whereas images of the Ten Commandments are prominently displayed in many Federal buildings, such as the US Supreme Court, National Archives, and Library of Congress; and
- Whereas in addition to being understood as an elemental source for US law, the Ten Commandments have become a recognized symbol in the Nation's culture:
Now, therefore, be it-
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
- supports the designation of Ten Commandments Weekend;
- celebrates the significant role the Ten Commandments have played in the development of significant public and private institutions of the US; and
- encourages citizens of all faiths and religious persuasions to reflect on the important impact that the Ten Commandments have had on the people and national character of the US.
Source: H.RES.211 11-HRes211 on Apr 7, 2011
Member of the Republican Study Committee.
Brooks is a member of the Republican Study Committee
Organizational Self-Description: The Republican Study Committee (RSC) has served as the conservative caucus of House Republicans and a leading influencer on the Right since its original founding in 1973. It exists to bring like-minded House members together to promote a strong, principled legislative agenda that will limit government, strengthen our national defense, boost America's economy, preserve traditional values and balance our budget.
The RSC provides the tools and research that members of Congress need to craft and advance policies that will benefit the American people. It also provides a forum for like-minded members to join together to support common causes and challenge the status quo. By doing so, the RSC ensures that conservatives have a powerful voice on every issue coming before the House, whether it is the economy, health care, defense, social safety net reform, or Washington's dangerous, out-of-control spending.
We believe that the appropriate role of a limited government is to protect liberty, opportunity, and security, and that it is the responsibility of this generation to preserve them for the next. We believe that more government is the problem, not the sol
Source: Republican Study Committee press release 16-RSC on Jan 1, 2016
Member of the House Freedom Caucus.
Brooks is a member of the House Freedom Caucus
Excerpts from press release from House Freedom Caucus (HFC) founders (1/26/15): According to its mission statement, the HFC "gives a voice to countless Americans who feel that Washington does not represent them. We support open, accountable and limited government, the Constitution and the rule of law, and policies that promote the liberty, safety and prosperity of all Americans." HFC leader Rep. Mark Meadows said, "The HFC will work to provide a unified conservative voice in the House Republican Conference. I look forward to working with leadership to make the concerns of conservatives known as we work together to advance a pro-growth, limited government agenda in the House."
Excerpts from Wikipedia article on HFC: The HFC is a congressional caucus consisting of conservative Republican members of the US House of Representatives. It was formed by a group of Congressmen as a "smaller, more cohesive, more agile and more active" group of conservatives.
Many members are also part of the Republican Study Committee, another conservative House group. The caucus is sympathetic to the Tea Party movement.
Supporting argument: (Heritage Foundation, "Conservatives and the HFC," by Jim DeMint, 11/9/2015): The HFC had the audacity to challenge the status quo in Congress, and in the eyes of Washington's elites, that's a serious offense. For years, Washington's chattering class has guarded the status quo Establishment. But despite the howls of media outrage, the HFC has fought to stop business-as-usual in Washington. They are dedicated to [ending] the irresponsible federal spending we've seen over the last decade. This support for commonsense policies has led the Establishment to brand them as "radical" and "ultra-conservative." In reality they are merely advocating for doing what Republican leaders pledged to do. The Freedom Caucus exists to serve as a strong, conservative conscience guiding Congress.
Source: House Freedom Caucus 17MEM-HFC on Jan 26, 2017
Overturn presidential election due to pandemic voting rules.
Justice Brooks wrote the Court's decision on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton: "TX v. PA, GA, MI & WI" on Dec 11, 2020:
Summary of lawsuit, Dec. 7:: The 2020 election suffered from significant and unconstitutional irregularities including:
- Michigan's Secretary of State, without legislative approval, unilaterally abrogated [under the pandemic emergency] several statutes requiring signature verification for absentee ballot applications. [Similar in GA, PA, & WI].
- Pennsylvania's election law requires that poll-watchers be granted access to the opening, counting, and recording of absentee ballots: Local election officials [in 2 counties] decided not to follow this law.
- Georgia state law prohibits the opening of absentee ballots until after the polls open on Election Day: In April 2020, without legislative approval, [a new rule] authorized processing absentee ballots three weeks before Election Day.
- The Wisconsin Elections Commission positioned hundreds of drop boxes to collect absentee ballots--including the use of unmanned drop boxes, in contravention of Wisconsin law.
Supreme Court Order, Dec. 11: The State of Texas's motion is denied for lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution. Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections. All other pending motions are dismissed as moot.
Texas Tribune analysis, Dec. 11:: Trump--and Republicans across the country--had pinned their hopes on the Texas suit. In a series of tweets, Trump called it "the big one" and later added, "it is very strong, ALL CRITERIA MET." If the court had heard the case, Sen. Ted Cruz said he would have argued it, at the request of Trump.
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas indicated they would have allowed Texas to bring the case but said they would "not grant other relief." In a series of tweets after the ruling, Trump raged against the decision, which he called "a disgraceful miscarriage of justice."
Source: Supreme Court case 20-SCOTUS argued on Dec 7, 2020
Endorsed Disendorsed by Donald Trump/MAGA after presidency.
Brooks is endorsed by Trump/MAGA endorsement list
Endorsements by Donald Trump, implying support of Trump's agenda and electoral style.
The phrase "Make America Great Again" was popularized in Trump's 2015 book Time to Get Tough:Making America Great Again. It is the campaign slogan embroidered on the ubiquitous red caps seen at Trump rallies (which after Trump's presidency, became known as "MAGA rallies").
Source: Ballotpedia 2016-2022 endorsement list 2022-MAGA on Jan 1, 2022
Oppose certification of the 2020 Presidential election.
Brooks voted YEA blocking certification of the Electoral vote
Explanation of 1/6/21 Electoral Certification, by Emily Brooks, Washington Examiner:Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar led an objection to counting Electoral College votes from the state of Arizona, the first formal objection to state results in a series of moves that will delay the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election over President Trump. Cruz is advocating for an `emergency 10-day audit` of election returns in disputed states. The usually ceremonial joint session of Congress that convenes to count and accept Electoral College votes will be put on hold as the House and Senate separately debate the objection.
Timeline of 1/6/21 by Wikipedia:- 1:12 PM: Gosar and Cruz object to certifying the votes. The joint session separates into House and Senate chambers to debate the objection.
- 1:35 PM: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) warns that refusing to certify the results of the
presidential election under false pretenses would push American democracy into a `death spiral`.
- 2:12 PM: The first rioter enters the Capitol through a broken window, opening a door for others
- 2:24 PM: President Trump tweets, `Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify.`
- 4:17 PM: Trump denounces the riots, but maintaining the false claims that the election was stolen
- Around 5:40 PM: As the interior of the Capitol is cleared of rioters, leaders of Congress state that they will continue tallying electoral votes
- 8:06 PM: The Senate reconvenes, with Vice President Pence presiding.
- 10:15 PM: The Senate votes 93-6 against the objection (Senate rollcall #1).
- 11:30 PM: The House votes 303-121 to reject the objection (House rollcall #10).
Source: Congressional vote 21-Cert on Jan 6, 2021
Opposed creating Commission to investigate Jan. 6 events.
Brooks voted NAY creating a January 6th Commission
Bill summary:The select committee must (1) conduct an investigation of the relevant facts and circumstances relating to the attack on the Capitol; (2) identify, review, and evaluate the causes of and the lessons learned from this attack; and (3) submit a report containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations to prevent future acts of violence, domestic terrorism, and domestic violent extremism, and to improve the security of the U.S. Capitol Complex and other American democratic institutions.
CBS News summary, by Grace Segers on June 30, 2021:H.R. 3233 would have created a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate the root causes of the breach of the U.S. Capitol, modeled after the 9/11 Commission.
On May 28, the House passed the bill by a vote of 222 to 190, including 35 Republican votes. It then failed in the Senate, where it received an insufficient number of Republican votes to advance.
In response, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on June 24 that the House would establish a select committee [appointed by House Democrats, instead of a bipartisan independent commission] to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection and general security issues related to the incident. Pelosi said its leadership and members would be announced later. The House passed the resolution to form the committee on June 29, 2021, by a vote of 222-190.
OnTheIssues note: The Senate voting record refers to the earlier rejected bill H.R. 3233, and the House voting record refers to the later bill H.Res.503. The later bill had no Senate vote (but the two House votes were almost identical).
Source: Congressional vote 21-HR503 on May 28, 2021
Page last updated: Sep 25, 2022; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org