File this under “One of the Least Surprising Things of the midterms,” it seems as though Doug Mastriano’s proud racism and anti-Semitism have bubbled up to the surface on Facebook, where his site runs another meme site, and many are what you would expect, given Mastriano’s past. From The Daily Beast:
Republican Pennsylvania governor candidate Doug Mastriano’s official campaign Facebook account is also helping with another group on the social media site: a Facebook group which has for months featured a stream of xenophobic, transphobic, and antisemitic memes.
The campaign’s role in the public group—called “Mastriano Memes”—has not been previously reported, but Mastriano’s official Facebook account was still an active administrator for the page as of Monday evening.
Multiple recent posts make light of the would-be assassination attempt on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this weekend. One meme shared on Monday implies that President Joe Biden is a pedophile, and content earlier this month likened abortion to a mother sacrificing her child to Satan.
If someone described the account above but left off the name, saying only that it was a Senate or gubernatorial candidate, 75% of the country would guess Mastriano perhaps a few would suspect Kari Lake.
It leads to the natural and ultimate question. Why is this tolerated by the RNC? There is no mechanism by which to replace Mastriano on the Republican line of the ticket. But there is nothing stopping the GOP from disowning him and putting out a statement suggesting Republicans vote their conscience while stating that the GOP no longer officially endorses Mastriano.
The GOP won’t take that step because, increasingly, anti-Semitism is seen as acceptable in extreme corners. Transphobia is expected and better be present. Xenophobia is the GOP’s raison d’etre.
Twitter believes so:
#MorningJoe
Doug MastrianoPA Guv Candidate Secret Meme Page Is Far-Right Rats’ Nest
“One meme shared on Monday implies that President Joe Biden is a pedophile, & content earlier this month likened abortion to a mother sacrificing her child to Satan.”https://t.co/D4ZSX7pBOW
— 🕊Sharon 🗽⚖ #DefendDemocracy (@A_NHDogLover) November 1, 2022
If I were a candidate for #PAGOV accused of antisemitism and bigotry, I would not run and refuse to moderate a secret Facebook account that is overrun with antisemitic and bigoted memes.
But I am not @DougMastriano. https://t.co/6f26hFK0tt
— Alexandra De Luca (@AlexDe_Luca) November 1, 2022
A not so secret Facebook page filled with hate? Shocker!https://t.co/LxHarsMb54
— Patrick Sullivan (@patrickosully) November 1, 2022
He’s a candidate for governor in Pennsylvania. His campaign is also an administrator for a Facebook page of dark, racist memes.https://t.co/s5n88JNYEh
— Lise Latulippe Fully Vaccinated and Boosted (@lise_latulippe) November 1, 2022
@JasonMiciak believes a day without learning is a day not lived. He is a political writer, features writer, author, and attorney. He is a Canadian-born dual citizen who spent his teen and college years in the Pacific Northwest and has since lived in seven states. He now enjoys life as a single dad of a young girl, writing from the beaches of the Gulf Coast. He loves crafting his flower pots, cooking, and currently studies philosophy of science, religion, and non-math principles behind quantum mechanics and cosmology. Please feel free to contact for speaking engagements or any concerns.
