Democrats are completely outraged over a fake quote from Democratic California Rep. Maxine Waters. A Twitter troll replaced Waters' original tweet that targeted Trump administration staffers with Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Democrats took the bait and called Waters' words "dangerous" and many said it was "inciting violence."
In June 2018, Waters delivered a fiery speech where she called for members of the "Resistance" to harass staffers of the Trump administration.
"History will record while he tried to step on all of us, we kicked him in his rear and step on him," Waters bellowed. "If you think we're rallying now, you ain't seen nothin' yet!"
"Already, you have members of your Cabinet that are being booed out of restaurants...who have protesters taking up at their house, who say, 'No peace, no sleep! No peace, no sleep!" Waters said, referencing Trump's former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen being intimidated by socialists at a Mexican restaurant.
"God is on our side," Waters proclaimed. "Let's stay the course!"
"Let's make sure we show up wherever we have to show up and if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them, and you tell them they're not welcome anymore, anywhere," she yelled to rile the crowd into a frenzy.
Waters then zeroed in on then-President Donald Trump, "Mr. President, we will see you every day, every hour of the day, everywhere that we are to let you know you cannot get away with this!"
Maxine Waters @ Keep Families Together: Protest Rally and Toy Drive www.youtube.com
Twitter user @CuomoWatch took a portion of the congresswoman's speech, but altered it slightly to target the Cuomo administration instead of Trump's Cabinet.
"If you see anybody from the Cuomo Administration in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. And you tell them they're not welcome anymore, anywhere," the now-viral tweet said.
“If you see anybody from the Cuomo Administration in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, yo… https://t.co/j1l0o9gzKX
— Cuomo Watch (@Cuomo Watch)1611875347.0
Democrats, who are obviously not familiar with Waters' tempestuous tirade, immediately condemned the threatening words, likely assuming the menacing comments were made by Republicans or Trump supporters.
New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) fell for the fake quote, "This is encouraging violence against public officials - plain & simple. Absolutely disgusting. No tolerance for this. Haven't we learned the lessons from Washington D.C. just weeks ago?"
Former Pete Buttigieg adviser Lis Smith wrote, "Way way way over the line. Especially in light of what happened at the Capitol on Jan 6."
Democratic New York City Councilwoman Debi Rose reacted by saying, "Really? Did we not learn anything from the Capitol insurrection? We must condemn violence and harassment in any form. #StopTheViolence #MobMentality."
Democratic City Council Member Keith Powers said, "There are plenty of strong opinions and online angst these days, but there is no place for inciting violence or threatening people. This tweet should be removed ASAP. Full stop."
Democratic Senator for the 36th District of the New York Senate Jamaal T. Bailey tweeted, "This is more than tonedeaf, especially considering what's happened in recent days. This is unacceptable and ridiculous. Read the room."
Democratic member of the New York State Assembly Daniel Rosenthal said, "This is dangerous and unacceptable, especially after what happened in DC. Encouraging this kind of violence is unacceptable."
Democratic County Executive of Suffolk County Steve Bellone declared, "Democrats and Republicans must denounce this threat of violence against our fellow New Yorkers. After the Capitol riots, I call on @Twitter to ban this account immediately."
Former Democratic Speaker of the New York City Council Christine Quinn exclaimed, "This is dangerous and outrageous!"
Democratic County Executive of Nassau County Laura Curran was also fooled by the fake quote, "No matter your political party or beliefs, this is completely unacceptable. Nassau County has zero tolerance for hatred and inciting violence."
Democratic Speaker of the New York State Assembly Carl E. Heastie wrote, "This is appalling and dangerous. Encouraging violence must never be tolerated. Shame on whoever is behind this kind of garbage."
Democratic Assembly Member for the 42nd District of the New York State Assembly Rodneyse Bichotte was duped, "Threatening government officials & their staff is a crime for which there is a ZERO tolerance policy in Brooklyn & anywhere else. I condemn this tweet & the violence it incites, especially following the insurrection we just experienced at the capitol."
Democratic Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan wrote on Twitter, "This kind of dangerous rhetoric must be called out and condemned by all. Or else we risk repeating the horrendous events of Jan 6th. As leaders, especially in a time of such great challenge, it's incumbent on all of us to appeal to the 'better angels of our nature."
Democratic member of the New York State Senate Todd Kaminsky said, "Completely unacceptable. Haven't we learned the hard lesson that incitements to violence like this actually result in violence? There is no room for this in our discourse. None."
Luis A. Miranda, Jr. said, "You don't like the Governor, you vote him out. After the terrorist attack on our Capitol, threats, of any kind, especially as the right is targeting state capitals, are dangerous. And to target staff? Not cool."
Democratic Speaker of the New York City Council Corey Johnson stated, "The terrifying events of the last month have shown us more clearly than ever that words have consequences. This sort of targeting and incitement is simply wrong, and totally unacceptable."
Democrats finally condemn Maxine Waters' dangerous rhetoric, two years later, and only after they thought it was a Republican saying it.
This is encouraging violence against public officials - plain & simple. Absolutely disgusting. No tolerance for thi… https://t.co/eVBI26AHZQ
— Kathy Hochul (@Kathy Hochul)1611888134.0
Way way way over the line. Especially in light of what happened at the Capitol on Jan 6. https://t.co/bsYpq2tFYK
— Lis Smith (@Lis Smith)1611881727.0
Really? Did we not learn anything from the Capitol insurrection?We must condemn violence and harassment in any… https://t.co/lgfFRJAuxq
— Debi Rose (@Debi Rose)1611888906.0
There are plenty of strong opinions and online angst these days, but there is no place for inciting violence or thr… https://t.co/Iz1MWekVPq
— Keith Powers (@Keith Powers)1611884903.0
This is more than tonedeaf, especially considering what’s happened in recent days. This is unacceptable and ridicul… https://t.co/74qtb6MDj8
— Jamaal T. Bailey (@Jamaal T. Bailey)1611888591.0
This is dangerous and unacceptable, especially after what happened in DC. Encouraging this kind of violence is unac… https://t.co/TZGKg2bsYf
— Daniel Rosenthal (@Daniel Rosenthal)1611888419.0
Democrats and Republicans must denounce this threat of violence against our fellow New Yorkers.After the Capitol… https://t.co/KBBVH4hTP0
— Steve Bellone (@Steve Bellone)1611887868.0
This is dangerous and outrageous! https://t.co/ZnBLqYZLzt
— Christine Quinn (@Christine Quinn)1611887483.0
No matter your political party or beliefs, this is completely unacceptable.Nassau County has zero tolerance for h… https://t.co/0WgM05ngOv
— Laura Curran (@Laura Curran)1611887393.0
This is appalling and dangerous. Encouraging violence must never be tolerated. Shame on whoever is behind this kind… https://t.co/PETZ4fGeZM
— Carl E. Heastie (@Carl E. Heastie)1611886933.0
Threatening government officials & their staff is a crime for which there is a ZERO tolerance policy in Brooklyn &… https://t.co/wLy9bA6Us4
— Rodneyse Bichotte (@Rodneyse Bichotte)1611886755.0
This kind of dangerous rhetoric must be called out and condemned by all. Or else we risk repeating the horrendous e… https://t.co/GDYLjQiOmt
— Pat Ryan 🇺🇸 (@Pat Ryan 🇺🇸)1611891172.0
Completely unacceptable. Haven’t we learned the hard lesson that incitements to violence like this actually result… https://t.co/OqBHv2k9sB
— Todd Kaminsky (@Todd Kaminsky)1611886447.0
You don’t like the Governor, you vote him out. After the terrorist attack on our Capitol, threats, of any kind, esp… https://t.co/zenufFQ70J
— Luis A. Miranda, Jr. (@Luis A. Miranda, Jr.)1611886288.0
The terrifying events of the last month have shown us more clearly than ever that words have consequences. This sor… https://t.co/Pss10jhdZE
— NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson (@NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson)1611885188.0