Rosie O’Donnell offered senators $2 million in cash to vote against the tax bill
In our modern political climate, it seems that politicians pay most attention to those with money. And however pure her intentions, comedian Rosie O’Donnell seemed to make light of that on December 19th, when she offered to pay senators $2 million to vote against the Republican tax plan.
“so how about this,” O’Donnell tweeted on December 19th. “i promise to give
2 million dollars to senator susan collins
and 2 million to senator jeff flake if they vote NO.”
The two senators O’Donnell tweeted about, Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona and Senator Susan Collins of Maine, have been reportedly on the fence about the Republican tax bill. Collins is noted as one of the more moderate Republicans in Congress, and she was one of three senators to vote against the Obamacare repeal earlier this year. She agreed to support the tax bill if other Republicans voted on two of her bills to help fund health care for low-income and sick people. Republican leaders promised Flake a seat on the committee to draft a DACA replacement in order to secure his vote on the bill.
Neither Flake nor Collins responded to O’Donnell’s tweet. The bill passed along party lines in the Senate, with all Republicans including Flake and Collins voting yes.
so how about this
i promise to give
2 million dollars to senator susan collins
and 2 million to senator jeff flakeif they vote NO
NO I WILL NOT KILL AMERICANS
FOR THE SUOER RICHDM me susan
DM me jeffno shit
2 million
cash
each— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 20, 2017
Some Twitter users interpreted O’Donnell’s promise as legitimate and remarked that her offer was bribery. Some then suggested that she should be arrested.
Someone ought to take Rosie O'Donnell aside and explain to her that she literally just committed a federal felony with this Tweet. pic.twitter.com/ay4EPRr3az
— Jeff B. is *BOX OFFICE POISON* (@EsotericCD) December 20, 2017
It is hereby requested of the @FBI that Rosie O'Donnell be charged for Bribery of Public Officials – 18 U.S.C. § 201
O'Donnell's public attempt at influencing US Senators' votes is illegal & morally repugnant.
Thank you.
Please RETWEET & SHARE https://t.co/XQsyNtZlY7
— Tom Kennedy 🇺🇸 (@ThomasPKennedy3) December 20, 2017
We’re likely all guilty of dumb things on social media. Rosie O’Donnell bribing 2 US Senators with $2 million a piece & violating FEDERAL LAW…is much worse.
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) December 20, 2017
But others defended O’Donnell, joking that politicians already received large sums of money from lobbyists and corporations. O’Donnell retweeted several users’ defenses of her original tweet.
How dare Rosie O'Donnell try to bribe Congress for their vote. Doesn't she know only lobbyists and corporations get to do that?
— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) December 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/943475496163168257
O’Donnell also tweeted several articles that expressed concern over the tax bill.
The former co-host of The View is known for her liberal beliefs and as a steadfast Donald Trump critic. O’Donnellhas been critical of Trump long before he ran for president. She has also been an outspoken opponent of Trump’s agenda as president, and in February, she protested the president’s first speech to Congress. And she has also offered to play Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, on SNL.
It’s hard to say if O’Donnell was serious about paying Collins and Flake, but we get the feeling that if she was, she wouldn’t post about it on Twitter. Bribery is a crime that we don’t condone, but with the rough outlook for many Americans after this tax bill passes, we’ll take all the laughs we can get.
