It’s amazing what one can say on live television with little to no pushback, even against a sitting member of Congress.
Tucker Carlson, a man who once directly told his viewers that he will lie if he’s cornered in an argument, is now accusing Democratic House Representative Eric Swalwell of California of being “unclean.”
It’s an odd move, even for Carlson.
I guess this is how he gets ratings from demented viewers. Tucker Carlson throws out wild, meaningless allegations against member of Congress, with no evidence. Says Rep. Eric Swalwell is \u201cthe most physically unclean member of Congress\u201d & has had \u201cmultiple chlamydia infections\u201d.pic.twitter.com/2ikry1vAMz— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1640087678
The strange clip came during a segment where Carlson was discussing that Democratic Senators Cory Booker of NJ, and Elizabeth Warren of MA have tested positive for COVID, despite their vaccination status.
Carlson’s complaints ignored that so far, vaccination has reduced serious cases of the disease and helps keep people from being hospitalized.
Then, he cites a tweet from Rep. Swalwell where the congressman says:
“On a flight now to Bay Area and it is one-hundred percent batty that the unvaccinated are allowed to fly. It’s unsafe in the cabin and we are transporting the virus.”
“Requiring the vaccine to fly is the LEAST we can do to stop the spread.”
Here is where Carlson took umbrage and claimed that Swalwell’s suggestion was ridiculous.
On his show, Carlson said:
“Eric Swalwell, who’s probably the most physically unclean member of Congress, now imagines himself a public health official with the power to make these decisions.”
I don't think he as any idea as to what he's talking about.\n\nTucker Carlson accuses \u201cunclean\u201d Rep. Eric Swalwell of \u201cmultiple chlamydia infections\u201dhttps://flip.it/56txLc— Richard Cohen (@Richard Cohen) 1640106739
Accusing him of having a STI? Based on what?\n\nTucker Carlson accuses \u201cunclean\u201d Rep. Eric Swalwell of \u201cmultiple chlamydia infections\u201d / LGBTQ Nationhttps://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/12/tucker-carlson-accuses-unclean-republican-rep-eric-swalwell-multiple-chlamydia-infections/\u00a0\u2026— Servelan (fighting fascism is job#1) \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Servelan (fighting fascism is job#1) \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1640107803
always a Normal news programhttps://www.mediaite.com/tv/tucker-carlson-roasts-eric-swalwell-as-physically-unclean/\u00a0\u2026— Rick Carp (@Rick Carp) 1640053056
In other words @TuckerCarlson is projecting his own life. #Tuesday #FoxNews btw how does tucker know this is the teal question or is just another lie from fauxnews.\n Tucker Carlson says Eric Swalwell has 'multiple chlamydia infections' https://mol.im/a/10331531\u00a0 via @MailOnline— C.DiBenedetto (@C.DiBenedetto) 1640108610
Fox News\u2019s intellectual giant accuses Eric Swalwell of having cooties.https://mediaite.com/a/qegkl— Pitt Griffin (@Pitt Griffin) 1640057141
LOL. Tucker is projecting as always. We know who really has the multiple STD's.\n\nTucker Carlson accuses \u201cunclean\u201d Rep. Eric Swalwell of \u201cmultiple chlamydia infections\u201d / LGBTQ Nationhttps://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/12/tucker-carlson-accuses-unclean-republican-rep-eric-swalwell-multiple-chlamydia-infections/\u00a0\u2026— Steve undercover brother Rogers (@Steve undercover brother Rogers) 1640102497
Carlson continued, insinuating that Swalwell had multiple chlamydia infections and should release his medical records before passing any healthcare legislation.
The irony being that this had nothing to do with the law. Swalwell made a frustrated tweet, especially since the United States has a fairly low vaccination rate compared to other high-income countries.
But despite being a lawmaker, he has not proposed a bill to do what he suggests, probably because he knows it’s a bad idea to codify something like that in law.
On top of all of that, Carlson’s claims about Swalwell’s health stem from seemingly no evidence. Carlson just makes the insinuation about the congressman on his program providing nothing to back it up.
Some people online felt this was a bad idea for Carlson to do.
THAT\u2026 is the sound of a slander lawsuit, kids! \n\nTucker Carlson Roasts Eric Swalwell as the 'Most Physically Unclean Member of Congress,' Who Has Had 'Multiple Chlamydia Infections' https://mediaite.com/a/qegkl\u00a0 via @mediaite— Jenn \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 I\u2019m still here! Womp Womp! (@Jenn \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 I\u2019m still here! Womp Womp!) 1640056847
Tucker must have round the clock security. I'm shocked one of the ppl he be talking shit about hasn't run up on him yet. Swalwell gonna meet him outside the studio one day \u00a0https://twitter.com/NYDailyNews/status/1473434767441944576\u00a0\u2026— T. Scott (@T. Scott) 1640131869
I hope Eric Swalwell sues Tucker Carlson for libel, slander and for being an A**hole. This is beyond the pale.\n\nTucker Carlson Roasts Eric Swalwell as the \u2018Most Physically Unclean Member of Congress,\u2019 Who Has Had \u2018Multiple Chlamydia Infections\u2019 https://www.mediaite.com/tv/tucker-carlson-roasts-eric-swalwell-as-physically-unclean/\u00a0\u2026 #SmartNews— Cheryl Madison (@Cheryl Madison) 1640056276
Want to know unclean - just look at _ucker Carlson— TheFirstProof (@TheFirstProof) 1640133465
@ericswalwell @RepSwalwell slap this idiot from @foxnews ie @TuckerCarlson with a defamation lawsuithttps://twitter.com/mikesington/status/1473260620845699074\u00a0\u2026— Aloha\ud83c\udfdd Paradise \ud83c\udfdd (@Aloha\ud83c\udfdd Paradise \ud83c\udfdd) 1640118095
Says the walking STI.https://polinews.org/tucker-carlson-just-called-rep-eric-swalwell-physically-unclean-bizarrely-claims-swalwell-has-had-multiple-chlamydia-infections-and-we-couldnt-make-this-up-if-we-tried/?fbclid=IwAR3BPy_NcjVaRK3LknX_gjNjyK5U2LKERH1xWxMKJIKlBs6lI8BN93-hoIs\u00a0\u2026— ryan \u2642\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@ryan \u2642\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1640113345
Tucker Carlson has repeatedly targeted Rep. Swalwell, leading to a back and forth between the two men. This culminated in a fan of Carlson calling and leaving a threatening voicemail for the congressman.
@nulllnvoidd/TikTok
@warrent711/TikTok
@terrance.n1/TikTok
@slghtr9/TikTok
@itsmittymoon/TikTok
@kokoanddaisy/TikTok
@jdr1959/TikTok
@mandy24787/TikTok
@crilan2015/TikTok
@orutisu88/TikTok
@PreetBharara/X
@RepBrendanBoyle/X
@twesq/Bluesky
@christopherharris/Bluesky
@evangelinewarren/X