Rest in peace to the former GOP. Gus Walz has proven they’ve been supplanted by the ‘NOP.’
Politics :
Last week, Democrats came together for their first “in-person” political convention in 8 years (thanks to COVID) — and filled Chicago’s United Center with joy and hope and an ongoing theme of freedom. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and his MAGA/Republican flunkies were busy stewing over all the love and attention Kamala Harris was receiving, as well as the party’s celebratory mood. For that, they’ve earned a new moniker: the NOP.
Yes, thanks to Trump, the once Grand Ol’ Party has morphed into the Nasty Ol’ Party (AKA ‘NOP’). Instead of championing a promising future, they’re predicting nothing but doom and gloom. Instead of offering Americans hope, they’re threatening them with despair. Instead of lifting people up, they’re tearing them down.
Last Wednesday night, everyone saw the Democratic Convention moment when Gus Walz, the son of vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz, could not hold back tears of joy as his dad took the stage to accept the nomination for vice president of the United States.
“That’s my dad! I love you, Dad,” the teen shouted with pride.
For most people, it was a touching moment that moved America to weep right along with him. However, for the NOP, it was a cheap opportunity to spew anger and nastiness.
Soon thereafter, Republicans were tripping over each other racing to be the first to mock the teen for their own personal gain.
“I’d never tug my kid’s hand like that,” posted Fox News contributor Joe Concha (after seeing Tim Walz grab his son’s hand to prevent him from tripping over the teleprompter). “Especially in front of 25 million people.”
“Talk about weird,” Ann Coulter tweeted next to a photo of the crying 17-year-old.
Gus Walz is a “stupid crying son,” posted podcaster Mike Crispi. He then added, “You raised your kid to be a puffy beta male. Congrats.”
“Sorry, but this is embarrassing for both father and son,” tweeted conservative radio host Jay Weber. “If the Walzs represent today’s American man, this country is screwed: ‘Meet my son, Gus. He’s a blubbering bitch boy. His mother and I are very proud.'”
“Get that kid a tampon already,” said MAGA-influenced podcaster Alec Lace.
Firstly, there’s nothing wrong with a son expressing pride in his dad through tears. However, there’s more to this story.
What the nasty ol’ Republicans didn’t realize (or bother to check before posting their vicious attacks on a child) is that Gus Walz is neurodivergent, has a nonverbal learning disorder, and suffers from anxiety and ADHD. These individuals are typically clumsy with motor and spatial coordination (hence, the reason Tim Walz grabbed his son’s hand to prevent him from tripping) and can also experience moments of heightened emotion.
Thankfully, social media users were quick to denounce the bitterness from the NOP.
‘I’m sure someone having human emotions would be weird for you,’ one user posted.
‘If you’re attacking or making fun of Tim Walz’s neurodivergent son for his reaction and love for his father, you are a terrible human being,’ stated another.
‘Being moved to tears by pride in someone you love is the coolest and most normal thing there is. Also, he’s 17 years old, you irredeemable monster. I’d tell you to go to hell, but you’re already there,’ another user wrote.
Even Michelle Obama was moved to defend the teen.
“I was touched to see Gus Walz’s joy when his dad @Tim_Walz took the stage last night. Thankful for you showing us all what real love looks like, Gus,” the former first lady posted on Twitter/X.
“Let’s be a nation that embraces this kind of warmth and vulnerability, instead of making fun or mocking it. We could all use some.”
I was touched to see Gus Walz’s joy when his dad @Tim_Walz took the stage last night. Thankful for you showing us all what real love looks like, Gus.
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 23, 2024
Let’s be a nation that embraces this kind of warmth and vulnerability, instead of making fun or mocking it. We could all use some…
An embarrassed Ann Coulter has since deleted her tweet but has offered neither an apology nor an explanation.
Weber felt so deservedly stupid that he didn’t report to work on Friday. He did, however, post an apology to Twitter/X before taking his leave.
“I said it without thinking or having the facts,” Weber wrote. “No excuses Having been a teacher, I’ve had a standard of never involving children, I broke that and I’m disappointed with myself.”
He added, “I apologize to the Walz family and anyone who was offended. I feel horrible, I am so sorry.”
The other nasty Republicans have gone radio silent and have expressed no remorse.
Despite the forced or implied apologies for attacking Gus Walz, the truth is that this is what the once-Grand Ol’ Party has become thanks to Donald Trump.
From Thom Hartmann of Raw Story:
“During the 2020 election, Trump followers tried to run a Biden/Harris campaign bus off the road in Texas, threatening to kill the occupants (which they believed included Kamala Harris). A crazed Trump supporter broke into Nancy Pelosi’s home and attacked her 82-year-old husband with a hammer. Trump tweeted a picture of the bus being attacked, writing below it, “I LOVE TEXAS!” and repeatedly makes jokes about the attack on Pelosi, as if to encourage future attacks on the families of other Democratic politicians. Most recently, Donald Trump posted a picture on social media of Joe Biden tied up in the back of a pickup truck with a bullet hole in his forehead.
“Not a single elected Republican (as best as I can find with a pretty thorough web search) has condemned any of these, because all they have left is cruelty.”
Ana Navarro, who co-hosts ABC’s The View also spoke out against the Gus Walz attack.
“What ass-wipes! Of course, Republicans and Trumpers on social media are taking shots at Gus Walz,” Navarro posted on Instagram. “You have to be a special kind of heartless mutant to attack a 17 year old special needs kid — not involved in politics — for the simple act of expressing love for his father.
“I don’t and won’t attack Barron Trump,” she continued. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s out of bounds. They need to leave Gus Walz the f*ck alone.”
These members of the Nasty Ol’ Party are simply doing what they’ve seen their leader, Donald Trump, do. After all, he did verbally attack a disabled journalist and he frequently mocks the weaknesses of his enemies.
So, not only is this sheer ignorance born out of a likely superiority complex, but it’s also a classic case of monkey see monkey do!
OK WASSUP! discusses Politics:
The GOP exposes themselves over Gus Walz.
The Daily Beast: Conservative political commentator Ann Coulter was hit by a blizzard of criticism for her tweet describing Tim Walz’s son as “weird,” with clips of an old roast resurfacing and going viral in the wake of her comment. Gus Walz, 17, went viral himself Wednesday night for his heartwarming reaction to his father’s speech at the Democratic National Convention. The teenage son of Kamala Harris’ running mate stood and applauded with tears in his eyes, proudly telling other attendees: “That’s my dad!” “Talk about weird,” Coulter wrote in response to the heartwarming moment, turning Tim Walz’s favorite term to attack Donald Trump and JD Vance to insult the Minnesota governor’s own son. Coulter later deleted her post amid an angry backlash. “I took it down as soon as someone told me he’s [autistic], but it’s Democrats who go around calling everyone weird thinking it’s hilariously funny,” she explained.… Read more »