Tonight’s State of the Union address affords President Donald Trump and Republicans an opportunity bask in the sun during the darkness of the impeachment proceedings.
One congressman appropriated a ray of their spotlight with an unconventional accessory: hard, cold “cash.”
Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) showed up to the speech with what looked to be a wad of cash sticking out of his jacket pocket.
People were quick to notice Long’s accouterments.
Who is the man giving the thumbs up with a massive wad of cash in his pocket pic.twitter.com/kXr3a9sABx
— Alex Muresianu (@ahardtospell) February 5, 2020
minor coen brothers character missouri auctioneer billy long never fails to disappoint https://t.co/2zXJMfvv5r
— Matthew Zeitlin (@MattZeitlin) February 5, 2020
My congressman, Ozark Billy Long, giving the “it’s ok to rig an election” sign to the cheater-in-chief.
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 (@ErstwhileCon) February 5, 2020
@USRepLong pic.twitter.com/rHDyMpK6oj
https://twitter.com/JEHADAMS/status/1207425480888143872?s=20
https://twitter.com/KeeganHBrown/status/1207423416623681536?s=20
As it turns out, Long’s bedazzling with dollars wasn’t a gaffe—it’s kind of his thing.
In December, the Missourian congressman went viral for attending impeachment hearings with fake $45 bills with Trump’s face sticking out of his pocket, reports the Springfield News-Leader.
“It’s pretty easy to trigger the liberals,” he told the paper at the time.
Doug Andres, whose Twitter bio states that he’s the press secretary for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-K.Y.), tweeted tonight, “He hands them out all the time. No joke.”
“This isn’t the first time he’s had cash spilling out of his pocket like a Roaring 20’s cartoon fat cat,” @JenBriney tweeted. “The last time, they were $45 fake bills with Trump’s face on them. I bet that gag is getting recycled.”
https://twitter.com/lapavoni/status/1224886541715034113?s=20
U.S. Representative Billy Long, from the 7th congressional district of Missouri is a POS. Why does he have money coming out his pocket? Cause he’s showing off the economy? Nah bruh bruh. Talk about the Democrats but ignore this gluttonous pig. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/9BYRCoeSS5
— d. steven thompson II (@octobernative) February 5, 2020
Irrespective of Long’s amusement, the influence of money in politics is a serious concern for many Americans.
A 2018 study by the University of Maryland and nonpartisan research group Voice of the People found that a majority of Americans support a constitutional amendment to overturn the controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United that paved the way for unlimited campaign contributions.
At the end of the speech, Rep. Long had Trump sign his tie.
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