Amid growing rumors of a possible presidential run in 2024, Mike Pompeo is already earning criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.
The former Trump administration Secretary of State recently took to Twitter to express his concerns about the teaching of critical race theory, the academic movement begun in the 1970s, based on the idea racism is a social construct, not merely individual prejudice or bias.
Pompeo's Tweet read:
"If we teach that the founding of the United States of America was somehow flawed. It was corrupt. It was racist. That's really dangerous. It strikes at the very foundations of our country."
If we teach that the founding of the United States of America was somehow flawed. It was corrupt. It was racist. That's really dangerous. It strikes at the very foundations of our country.https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/mikepompeo-race-criticalracetheory-founding/2021/07/04/id/1027414/\u00a0\u2026— Mike Pompeo (@Mike Pompeo) 1625508099
Not surprisingly, Pompeo's critics and political adversaries were quick to respond.
They reminded him the founding fathers were well aware of the "flaws" in the constitution.
The founders THEMSELVES said it was flawed and imperfect. That\u2019s why they said they were trying to form a \u201cMORE perfect union.\u201d There were compromises and fights on everything, and not one delegate left the Convention entirely satisfied. Which is why they allowed amendments.— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1625661902
If Mike Pompeo had read any history, he\u2019d know that the original founding of the country in 1776 was *so* flawed that the founders needed a do-over in 1789, when they wrote the Constitution. As Lincoln said even 80 years after that, we must always strive for a more perfect Union.— E.J. Kalafarski (@E.J. Kalafarski) 1625660700
The founding was flawed. It was racist and it was sexist. That's our history. What's dangerous is failing to teach our kids the truth. \n\nWe can and should strive to honor and be proud of our best American principles, while still acknowledging the flaws of the past and today.https://twitter.com/mikepompeo/status/1412109433975488513\u00a0\u2026— Amy McGrath (@Amy McGrath) 1625675277
No, Mike, this strikes at the very foundations of our country and you support it. Truth isn\u2019t the enemy. Authoritarianism is.pic.twitter.com/1yTJ3QSq91— Fred Wellman (@Fred Wellman) 1625667862
I think Thomas Jefferson would disagree with you.— Marianne Williamson (@Marianne Williamson) 1625624375
Other users seriously questioned if Pompeo's statement even reflected true conservative or Christian ideals.
Even former colleagues.
I honestly never met a serious conservative who wouldn't admit that there were flaws at our founding. I mean, come on. That doesn't detract from the revolutionary importance of our founding and the ideals it was based upon.https://twitter.com/mikepompeo/status/1412109433975488513?s=20\u00a0\u2026— Jamie Weinstein (@Jamie Weinstein) 1625665525
The holy Bible, the most sacred book, had no problems telling the faults of the founders of the faith. Abraham, isaac, jacob, Jacob's sons, the children of Israel were all flawed. But God wasn't afraid to tell us the truth about them. So why should we be afraid to tell the truth?— Darryl L. Forbes (@Darryl L. Forbes) 1625693853
I don\u2019t know a conservative who believes our founding was perfect, or our founders above scrutiny. This is lazy drivel, and proof winning the culture wars has replaced winning on ideas.https://twitter.com/mikepompeo/status/1412109433975488513\u00a0\u2026— S.E. Cupp (@S.E. Cupp) 1625677708
Dear @mikepompeo: We both served on active duty because we love America. At the founding, women couldn\u2019t vote and a Black slave was counted as 3/5ths of a person. The U.S. is great because we recognize our failings and overcome them, instead of dangerously whitewashing the truth.https://twitter.com/mikepompeo/status/1412109433975488513\u00a0\u2026— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu) 1625680076
As your former colleague, I KNOW you know better than this. Let\u2019s teach the TRUTH about our founding. America\u2019s founding IS one of history\u2019s greatest advances of freedom, but it WAS flawed. It WAS racist. I mean, blacks were counted as 3/5\u2019s of a person. Don\u2019t be so afraid Mike.https://twitter.com/mikepompeo/status/1412109433975488513\u00a0\u2026— Joe Walsh (@Joe Walsh) 1625664085
FFS. Even the strongest, most \u201cpatriotic\u201d historians concede that the existence of slavery at the founding represented an \u201coriginal sin\u201d America has strived to overcome. To suggest that DOESN\u2019T reflect a true \u201cflaw\u201d is the truly dangerous notion.https://twitter.com/mikepompeo/status/1412109433975488513\u00a0\u2026— Robert A George \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf9 (@Robert A George \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf9) 1625679794
Some also felt pointed out the questionable grammar in Pompeo's tweet.
LOL. But also somebody please teach this man how to write a sentence.https://twitter.com/mikepompeo/status/1412109433975488513\u00a0\u2026— Jillian C. York \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Jillian C. York \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1625666339
It was flawed. The entire sentence structure of this tweet is as well. \n\nI\u2019ll never get over uneducated people rising to the highest levels of our government.— Kate Smith (@Kate Smith) 1625666958
What if. We taught. About the use of commas.— A.R. Moxon (@A.R. Moxon) 1625660773
Should Pompeo run for America's highest political office in 2024, he's already created quite the uphill battle.
For many, it begins with properly constructed sentences.
Judd Legum (@juddlegum.bsky.social)
@SenTinaSmith/X; @elonmusk/X
@smith.senate.gov/BlueSky
@elonmusk/X
@mcrs987/X
