Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton has emerged as a formidable voice among Republicans, standing out for his ability to challenge Democratic narratives with both precision and composure. Over recent months, Cotton has taken on a broad range of issues in the media, but his latest clash with Vice President Kamala Harris over her shifting stance on electric vehicle mandates has put him in the spotlight again.
Harris, who once vocally supported ambitious zero-emission vehicle targets, now appears to be backtracking on her previous commitments. During her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris pushed for stricter mandates to phase out gasoline vehicles, even co-sponsoring the 2019 Zero-Emissions Act, which aimed to ensure that by 2040, all new passenger vehicles in the U.S. would produce zero greenhouse gases. However, as Axios recently reported, her current campaign has been cagey about her stance on such mandates, hinting at a shift without explicitly clarifying her position. Despite her 2019 advocacy, Harris’s team has now suggested that she does not support an electric vehicle mandate—a notable pivot that raises questions about her consistency on this issue.
Kamala Harris is lying.
Here is her bill to ban all gas cars. She made it a top priority in the Senate, being the number one sponsor.
She’ll say anything to get elected. https://t.co/3cqqACf8dv pic.twitter.com/OXHtzMNeUf
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) October 5, 2024
Cotton wasted no time in pointing out the contradictions in Harris’s statements, calling her out for the double standard. He took to social media to highlight the gap between Harris’s past endorsements and her current reluctance to discuss the specifics of her climate and energy policies. The Arkansas senator’s straightforward approach contrasts sharply with what many see as Harris’s increasingly vague and contradictory answers on key topics.
Kamala: “I will never tell you what kind of car you have to drive.”
Her administration is currently imposing rules that require half of all new cars to be electric by 2032. pic.twitter.com/epcU8G2wAX
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 4, 2024
During an appearance on “Meet the Press,” Cotton also tackled the broader issue of FEMA funding and the Biden-Harris administration’s priorities, setting the record straight on claims that taxpayer money had been directed away from disaster relief to support migrant accommodation. He pointed out that federal funds are fungible, meaning money allocated to one purpose inevitably affects the availability of funds for other needs, such as natural disaster emergency relief. Cotton’s argument was clear: if FEMA resources are being used to handle the migrant crisis, then that diminishes the funds available for hurricane recovery efforts, which should be the primary focus.
This sentiment is bolstered by the recent behavior of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who, despite earlier boasting that FEMA was “tremendously prepared” for hurricane season, now claims that the agency lacks sufficient funds to cover the remaining storm threats. The juxtaposition of his confident rhetoric with the reality of depleted resources has not gone unnoticed, especially as FEMA struggles to keep up with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene while facing another potential storm.
Welker: “Do you think this is a time to falsehoods aside like FEMA funds being redirected to migrant?”
Sen. @TomCottonAR: “It is true that FEMA and DHS have been spending billions of dollars on migrants… This administration seems to have no problem finding money when they want… pic.twitter.com/SGgxZ7BcHZ
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 6, 2024
The administration’s handling of this situation has drawn widespread criticism not just from Republicans but also from affected communities and relief workers on the ground. The uneven response and delays in delivering aid have left many residents disillusioned, with some accusing federal officials of failing to prioritize those in desperate need. While the federal response has improved incrementally, the damage to public perception has been significant, leading many to question the competency and focus of the Biden-Harris team.
Cotton’s critique wasn’t just about FEMA funding; it also touched on a deeper issue regarding how Democrats might leverage the chaos for political gain. There are whispers that some top Democrats believe the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene could give them an electoral edge—not because of how well the crisis was handled, but due to the potential impact on voter turnout in heavily Republican areas. Rural communities that strongly support former President Trump may struggle to vote if their lives have been upended by the storm, and Cotton’s comments suggest a keen awareness of the need to ensure these voters are not disenfranchised by disaster.
KJP busted lying about FEMA money for migrants. pic.twitter.com/kSLkp5OBn3
— APOCTOZ (@Apoctoz) October 5, 2024
