‘Vile, Racist Troll’: Trump-Backed Republican’s Flamethrowing Past Goes Viral After Losing Primary
(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images)
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) went viral on Thursday night, but for all the wrong reasons, as critics brought back some of his most bombastic and bigoted posts to celebrate his GOP primary loss.
Ogles, who ran with the coveted endorsement of President Donald Trump, lost to former Tennessee agriculture commissioner Charlie Hatcher in a district that had recently been redrawn to include more rural areas in the state.
Progressive podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen offered the popular take from critics, which was to bring up two of Ogles’s most infamous past statements in celebrating the defeat. “GOP Congressman Andy Ogles, who has said gay people have ‘no place in America’ and ‘Muslims don’t belong in American society,’ just lost his primary in Tennessee,” Tyler Cohen wrote.
“He will no longer serve in Congress,” added the podcaster.
Politico reporter Meredith Lee Hill weighed in by noting that GOP congressional leaders also didn’t seem to bothered by the loss. She wrote, “No love lost for Andy Ogles tonight from senior GOP senators and leadership aides — who listened to him (and a host of House Rs) call (again and again) for Thune to resign if he didn’t get the stalled SAVE America Act through the Senate.”
“Andy Ogles is a vile, racist troll .. this is a very good outcome,” added MS NOW columnist Michael Cohen.
NBC News’s Sahil Kapur also argued Ogle’s defeat was actually a boost for House Republicans looking to retain their majority.
“A defeat for Trump, but could be a lucky break for the NRCC. Ogles is a flamethrower with ethics issues and no distinguished legislative record. Democrats have a talented candidate in Chaz Molder and saw a fighting chance against a weak opponent like Ogles in this R+10 district,” wrote Kapur.
On the MAGA right, others lamented Ogles’s loss. Laura Loomer wrote, “Last night, @RepOgles Rep. Andy Ogles, one of the only members of Congress who was willing to speak out about the Islamic takeover of America, lost his primary. Everyday, the GOP looks more like the Democrat Party.”
Below are some additional reactions:
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