Pretty Gnostic MachineDec 27, 2022
Joaquin Castro
George Santos should resign as Congressman-elect. If he refuses, Congress should expel him. He should also be investigated by authorities.
Just about every aspect of his life appears to be a lie. We’ve seen people fudge their resume but this is total fabrication.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/26/nyregion/george-santos-interview.html
George Santos Admits to Lying About College and Work History

The congressman-elect confirmed The New York Times’s findings that he had not graduated from college or worked at two major Wall Street firms, as he had claimed.

Dec 27, 2022 at 1:35amMastodon for iOS
Show threadJoaquin CastroDec 27, 2022
George Santos represents more than an individual case for American democracy. If he’s allowed to serve there will be more who seek office up and down the ballot who will believe that they can completely fabricate credentials, personal features and accomplishments to win office.
Show threadJoaquin CastroDec 27, 2022
Total fraud about academic and professional credentials, religion, sexual orientation, etc.
It doesn’t appear he lied about being Latino, unfortunately.
Show threadMartha HowellDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx Do we know if he is even a US citizen?
Show threadprogressiveartistDec 27, 2022
@MHowell @Joaquincastrotx Good point! 0.o
Show threadMartha HowellDec 27, 2022
@progressiveartist @Joaquincastrotx It would nip a lot of this in the bud.
Show threadprogressiveartistDec 27, 2022
@MHowell @Joaquincastrotx Cut to the chase, as it were.
Show threadActiveCulturesDec 27, 2022
@MHowell @Joaquincastrotx He’a a liar and a charlatan, but we can do better than birtherism. If he had a different last name that wouldn’t be coming up.
Show threadMartha HowellDec 27, 2022
@activecultures @Joaquincastrotx He is under indictment in Brazil, where he and his mother lived at some point. That, combined with his lies about almost every aspect of his life, were the reasons it seemed a relevant question to ask.
Show threadActiveCulturesDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx @MHowell There’s so much to criticize him for, including whatever he was indicted for. I just have an automatic reaction when a first generation American with a “foreign” sounding last name has their US citizenship questioned, especially if they’ve lived abroad. We saw the ugliness with Obama. Unless there’s some evidence, this feels like an unnecessary direction, when he’s lied about so much
Show threadMartha HowellDec 27, 2022
@activecultures @Joaquincastrotx Being as he's lied about so much, his money situation suggests he's beholden to a 3rd party, and the GOP is protecting him and preparing to put him in Congress, wouldn't it make sense to investigate the one avenue that would immediately disqualify him from office, and not ignore it because Trump was a world-class racist ass?
Show threadActiveCulturesDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx @MHowell Yeah, I’ve read the other recent pieces, which are pretty damning. That’s why falling back on immediately investigating a child of immigrants feels over the line and just as distasteful as it did with Obama and Kamala Harris.
Show threadUnprecedented 2023Dec 29, 2022
@MHowell @Joaquincastrotx 🤣🤣 Right?
Show threadPsychiatric Help 5¢Dec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx
There's no "peacefully and patriotically" excuse for the Republican Party not to know before the election. The Parties don't allow candidates to walk in off the street, use their name and not check them out.
Show threadMichael ZDec 27, 2022
@Sanityreturn2us @Joaquincastrotx I don’t know, have you seen some of the crappy people they’ve been running in recent years?
Show threadPsychiatric Help 5¢Dec 27, 2022
@fizzixrat @Joaquincastrotx
That's exactly what I meant. GOP knew. They're being silent because he got caught.
Show threadDanDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx "I was jew-ish" made me laugh out loud.
Show threadLittleGoatGirlDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx we jews are grateful he is only
Jew-ish...
Show threadKKDec 27, 2022
@aliza @Joaquincastrotx he’s not even “ish”! https://forward.com/fast-forward/529798/george-santos-jewish-american-republican-congress/
Document reveals Santos boasted of being 'proud American Jew' during campaign

Congressman-elect George Santos did not hedge on his religion in a position paper on Israel.

The Forward
Show threadKKDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx he’s a Ted Cruz/Marco Rubio #latino , also know as pendejos.
Show threadFábio Costa 🐇🕐🎩☕Jan 9, 2023
@Joaquincastrotx AFAIK Latino people living on US doesn't recognized those with Brazilian heritage as Latino, as in Brazil at speak portuguese not Spanish.
Show threadKansas GrantDec 27, 2022

@Joaquincastrotx Heck, we might even end up with a president like that some day.

Oh, we already have.

Show threadQuick Weasel 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈Dec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx It is NOT ILLEGAL to lie in your campaign. Maybe we ought to fix that first.
Show threadLiggs17Dec 27, 2022

@QuickWeasel @Joaquincastrotx How would this work, exactly? I would not want to criminalize campaign speech - imagine if a policy promise wasn't enacted exactly as discussed on a campaign: would this open up the elected rep to a lawsuit or criminal charges?

It's OUR job as voters to educate ourselves (with help from state and local parties, and, of course, the opposition candidate). The NY Democratic party really screwed the pooch here. This was Santos' 2nd time to run with the same lies.

Show threadacm4147Dec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx The Press was derelict for reporting this AFTER the fact. The GOP was derelict for not vetting. And NY Democratic party for no serious oppo research. The NY electorate will have to recall him.
Show threadMx. Amadi LovelaceDec 27, 2022
@acm4147 @Joaquincastrotx there is no recall on the federal level. If he’s not impeached, which he won’t be, because Republicans have absolutely no problem with who he is or the lies, he told, he will serve until he’s defeated electorally unless he resigns or is indicted.
Show threadacm4147Dec 27, 2022
@amaditalks @Joaquincastrotx Unbelievable. What an embarrassment.
Show threadJeff Shaffer CBET, retDec 27, 2022
@amaditalks @acm4147 @Joaquincastrotx
I blame the Democratic candidate running against him, they weren’t competent
Show threadacm4147Dec 27, 2022
@CivilityFan @amaditalks @Joaquincastrotx The district was jerrymandered, to include more GOP friendly areas. The state party failed with no oppo research. With the old district and a progressive candidate (primary voters rejected them), Santos would still be looking for a real job.
Show threadMx. Amadi LovelaceDec 27, 2022
@acm4147 @CivilityFan @Joaquincastrotx oppo research in congressional races is usually about policy issues and financial problems, not vetting a candidate’s entire résumé. There’s an assumption of basic integrity that is reasonable 95% of the time, but that number is worsening because Republicans are devolving.
Show threadDebbie156Dec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx I 💯 agree! He committed fraud upon the NY voters! He should not be seated!
Show threadWe Can Be GyrosDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx Santos should not have access to the internal workings of US government. (Much like Zeldin)
Show threadMichael ReganDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx Kevin McCarthy will probably give him committee assignments that involve national security to own the libs.
Show threadDejiDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx do glad to see you. The entire Democratic Party needs to migrate to the #fediverse AND leave #twitter Musk has turned it into a right wing conspiracy site, beneath the engagement of thinking, sane people.
Show threadKrysalixDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx
Yes he should, but he won't. And Congress should expel him but the Republicans won't. They knew he was lying and didn't care and they don't care now. He is just another vote for them. That is all that matters to them. There are no morals to appeal to in that caucus, unfortunately.
Show threadMartha HowellDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx I know this is crazy and all, but shouldn't his party lead the effort to remove him?
Show threadDejiDec 28, 2022
@MHowell @Joaquincastrotx Hah. You are talking about repugnicons.
Show threadNerdGirlInVR 💜🇺🇸🌎🐘💜Dec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx if he is seated in our Congress it undermines everyone that is a truthful candidate. If the politician that tells lies crafted to attract voters prevails, there will be no advantage to being truthful.
Show threadSueDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx I thought politicians investigated their opponents. Seems like it would have been easy to uncover and publicize this info before he was voted into office.
Show threadDiligence JonesDec 27, 2022

@suethepooh
Right!?

Apparently, the NY Dems thought they had it in the bag and *did nothing.*

Show threadErinPCDec 27, 2022
@suethepooh @Joaquincastrotx they DID investigate him! They had an 87 page oppo report which they shared with the media. But no one ever reported on it 😩
Show threadSueDec 27, 2022
@ErinPC @Joaquincastrotx holy hell, do we chalk this up to incompetence or malice?
Show threadErinPCDec 27, 2022

@suethepooh @Joaquincastrotx I mean it’s pretty outrageous that even in this Vanity Fair article they fail to acknowledge that the media should have done a better job of reporting on this. They call attention to gaps in the 87 page report as if THAT was the problem. 🙄

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/12/house-republicans-george-santos-democrats-ethics/amp

The Democrat Who Lost to George Santos Says Everyone Just Missed the “Anna Delvey Candidate”

A bombshell New York Times report exposing Republican Congressman-elect Santos as a possible fraudster has prompted a reckoning in the Democratic party. But Santos’s opponent says the allegations are old news, and a New York party official thinks it all came down to normal political headwinds.

Vanity Fair
Show threadSueDec 27, 2022
@ErinPC @Joaquincastrotx thank you for sharing that link
Show threadErinPCDec 27, 2022

@suethepooh @Joaquincastrotx you’re welcome!

Here’s some more great info about the lack of coverage (due to layoffs in newsrooms) and gaps in oppo research (it wasn’t started until Aug just before election because that’s when they got results of the primary)

https://democracy.town/@TonyStark/109588189877732778

Tony Stark 🎄❄️ (@[email protected])

@MariaHill I’m going to share two stories here. One is an MSNBC article from the day after I posted about Santos and local news being decimated. George Santos’ win highlights the sad state of local news- https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/george-santos-win-highlights-sad-state-local-news-rcna62849 The second is an article written by someone with experience in opposition research. It’s probably important to understand it from the viewpoint of a person involved. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/22/opinion/george-santos-oppo-research-dccc.html?unlocked_article_code=HGRzFuf0IZvcc9f7QghsfTp8ukVd3oc_0sTyJTCOODbHR4PoKPVP9mO15VcgLrFCe_G28GcjlIM1TRylDCy1FoxfggWzPYqExtrTkMmqCXlO6bCtE-0qXR-DkDN6eOJVxWo0AGvZXs9SyjWi-Kbg82jvw4dsLjgStP6JFvFcPGyjFwnGrMBzlqdoZUlsLOCyKjIxMJ-VdNAOP2Rf-LJW5JKtTVPO6Az3Tm3nbj_D4HCVFkDMxj1Dx1b95x0-RsUqZdEBWEX-BjM4U8pu1igqazdy1UuGBsfGDktWXdgcqNo1ciQsea_LysJCO4fRP-YhZKOta6d3w2XwArVh0qtPKIoEbVJ0xuHHPsXk&smid=share-url

Democracy Town
Show threadErinPCDec 27, 2022
@suethepooh @Joaquincastrotx although I should clarify that a few articles *were* written about his lies before the election but they never received the level of attention/outrage they deserved or would have gotten if Santos had been a Dem.
Show threadDejiDec 28, 2022
@suethepooh @ErinPC @Joaquincastrotx Pay offs. No local media.
Show threadErinPCDec 28, 2022

@Deji @suethepooh @Joaquincastrotx

I don’t know about payoffs.

But here’s some more great info about the lack of coverage (yes due to layoffs in newsrooms) and gaps in oppo research (it wasn’t started until Aug just before election because that’s when they got results of the primary)

https://democracy.town/@TonyStark/109588189877732778

Tony Stark 🎄❄️ (@[email protected])

@MariaHill I’m going to share two stories here. One is an MSNBC article from the day after I posted about Santos and local news being decimated. George Santos’ win highlights the sad state of local news- https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/george-santos-win-highlights-sad-state-local-news-rcna62849 The second is an article written by someone with experience in opposition research. It’s probably important to understand it from the viewpoint of a person involved. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/22/opinion/george-santos-oppo-research-dccc.html?unlocked_article_code=HGRzFuf0IZvcc9f7QghsfTp8ukVd3oc_0sTyJTCOODbHR4PoKPVP9mO15VcgLrFCe_G28GcjlIM1TRylDCy1FoxfggWzPYqExtrTkMmqCXlO6bCtE-0qXR-DkDN6eOJVxWo0AGvZXs9SyjWi-Kbg82jvw4dsLjgStP6JFvFcPGyjFwnGrMBzlqdoZUlsLOCyKjIxMJ-VdNAOP2Rf-LJW5JKtTVPO6Az3Tm3nbj_D4HCVFkDMxj1Dx1b95x0-RsUqZdEBWEX-BjM4U8pu1igqazdy1UuGBsfGDktWXdgcqNo1ciQsea_LysJCO4fRP-YhZKOta6d3w2XwArVh0qtPKIoEbVJ0xuHHPsXk&smid=share-url

Democracy Town
Show threadShailesh Kumar 🇫🇯🇺🇸Dec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx that’s a real Republican. No way they get rid of him. They need more like him.
Show threadT.WllmsDec 27, 2022

@Joaquincastrotx

Exactly…
He should be charged with fraud… not absolved and given a seat in congress… he cannot be allowed to hold that seat.

Show threadMary M. RedouteyDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx The total bait and switch candidate guilty of false advertising ... There should be a truth in political advertising and campaigning law. This guy should have been fined and outed prior to him being elected.
Show threadJeffDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx little Marco
Show threadBrian DugganDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx How do we know that he is eligible to serve?
Show threadDr. Juande Santander-VelaDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx well, he just committed the worst crime a Republican can perpetrate: admitting he did something wrong! It makes it a tad more difficult for doubling down on things being just a witch-hunt… but they’ll manage nonetheless.
Show threadBethany BergerDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx yes, that would be great, but how is it possible this guy ran twice and won (in New York City!) without his lies being uncovered? Most of this is pretty basic stuff to check up on—DCCC dropped the ball (as did the NY dems)
Show threadLeslie 🇺🇸🌻🌈 🌊Dec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx didn't he already say it's our fault for not catching him? 🤬
Show threadGreg BurnsDec 27, 2022
@Joaquincastrotx If this lying sack of shit was in the private sector HR would have walked his ass out the door in a New York minute. Why do people in public office get such special treatment?
Show threadSueDec 28, 2022
@gregsbrain @Joaquincastrotx Because they "police" themselves. It's working so well in Congress & SCOTUS! dump laid bare all the weaknesses & loopholes in our government. #GQP unapologetically taking full advantage.
Show threadBarry Schwartz 🫖Dec 27, 2022

@Joaquincastrotx Republicans will not expel him.

So the effort should be to get him extradited somewhere where he is wanted by the police.