Tom Cotton

[[File:Tom Cotton official Senate photo.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Official Senate portrait.]]
{{uspolitics}}
'''Thomas Bryant Cotton''' {{lived|1977}} is an American lawyer, veteran, and [[Tea Party]] activist serving as the junior U.S. Senator of [[Fun:Arkansas|Arkansas]]. He served in the military, touring in the [[Afghanistan War|Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq War|Iraq]] campaigns.{{fact}} Shortly after his Afghanistan deployment ended, he was groomed by the [[Club for Growth]] as a potential congressional candidate, making good on this promise when he succeeded the retiring Mike Ross in the House of Representatives and topping that by moving up to the Senate just two years later.{{fact}}

Among many other things, Cotton is a [[gun nut]], earning an A in the [[National Rifle Association]] ranking, and a [[global warming denialism|climate change denier]].{{fact}} He has stated that the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]] should have its tax exempt status revoked, calling it "a racist and sexist slush fund devoted to defamation".<ref>[https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cotton-urges-irs-investigation-of-the-southern-poverty-law-center Senator Cotton urges IRS investigation of the Southern Poverty Law Center], Tom Cotton Senate Page, April 2, 2019</ref> He is [[anti-abortion]] and thought [[Roe v. Wade]] was "wrongly decided" by the United States Supreme Court.{{fact}} Cotton is also an ardent supporter of former U.S. President [[Donald Trump]], siding with him on immigration issues.{{fact}} On foreign policy he is a well known hawk, speaking favorably about a war with Iran and escalating tensions with China <ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/president-biden-pander-china-lifelong-record-sen-tom-cotton Sen. Tom Cotton: As president, Biden would pander to China – just look at his lifelong record]</ref> (in fact, one of his few breaking points with Trump was over the White House decision to withdraw troops from Syria). Along with [[Mitt Romney]], he came out in favor of raising the minimum wage during the [[Biden]] administration...so long as you tie it to xenophobia, of course.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/26/republicans-minimum-wage-bills-senate Republicans unveil two minimum wage bills in response to Democrats' push]</ref> Indeed, he loves the usual "wave of criminal immigrants" rhetoric, even if it is based on lies.<ref>[https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/feb/26/tom-cotton/tom-cotton-falsely-claims-joe-biden-halted-deporta/ Tom Cotton falsely claims Joe Biden halted the deportation of criminals]</ref> In fact, speaking of crime Tom Cotton actually had the nerve to say the USA, which bear in mind has one of the largest incarcerations rates ''on the planet,'' '''does not imprison enough people.'''<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tom-cotton-twitter-incarceration-us-b1827822.html Senator provokes outrage by saying US has an ‘under-incarceration problem’ with 2.1 million imprisoned]</ref>

Unsurprisingly,  Cotton is also a “[[religious liberty]]” advocate who opposes [[same-sex marriage]] and protections for LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, and once insinuated that queer and transgender people "should be grateful they live in a country where they have any rights at all."<ref>[https://www.them.us/story/trumps-worst-anti-lgbtq-scotus-picks LGBTQ+ Groups Criticize Trump’s ‘Dangerous’ Supreme Court Shortlist: ‘We Must Not Let This Happen’]</ref>

On June 3, 2020 in the context of protests against police brutality, Cotton wrote an Op-Ed for the New York Times which he stands by to this day, arguing "One thing above all else will restore order to our streets: an overwhelming show of force to disperse, detain and ultimately deter lawbreakers" rather than listening to the demands of protestors and reforming the broken policing system. <ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/opinion/tom-cotton-protests-military.html Tom Cotton: Send In the Troops]</ref>   The article caused an uproar at the New York Times and thourghout the news ecosystem for a media cycle which culminated in the resignation of the opinions editor, James Bennet.<ref>[https://www.vox.com/2020/6/5/21280425/new-york-times-tom-cotton-send-troops-staff-revolt The New York Times staff revolt over Tom Cotton’s op-ed, explained]</ref>

On July 26, 2020, Cotton made controversial remarks about [[slavery]], stating that it was a "necessary evil".<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/509110-cotton-called-out-for-remarks-on-slavery-in-criticism-of-1619-project Cotton called out for remarks on slavery in criticism of 1619 Project]</ref> He of course says that he was "taken out of context". The reality is that slavery was "necessary" for his ancestors to build a family fortune, which makes them - and him - evil.<ref>[https://historicly.substack.com/p/tom-cottons-slave-owning-ancestors?s=r Tom Cotton's Slave-Owning Ancestors] by Esha Krishnaswamy (7/27/2020) ''Historic.ly''.</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:Anti-abortion activists]]
[[Category:Christians]]
[[Category:Global warming denialists]]
[[Category:Gun nuts]]
[[Category:Homophobes]]
[[Category:Immigration]]
[[Category:Lawyers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Military]]
[[Category:Plagiarists]]
[[Category:Racists]]
[[Category:Slavery apologists]]
[[Category:Tea Party]]
[[Category:Transphobes]]
[[Category:United States Senators]]
[[Category:Xenophobes]]

Categories: Anti-abortion activists, Christians, Global warming denialists, Gun nuts, Homophobes, Immigration, Lawyers, Living people, Military, Plagiarists, Racists, Slavery apologists, Tea Party, Transphobes, United States Senators, Xenophobes