Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) has emerged as one of the few Republicans willing to publicly decry former President Donald Trump's lie that the 2020 election was "stolen" by Democrats through widespread election fraud.
The imminent ousting of Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY) from her House Republican leadership position has recently demonstrated that a refusal to capitulate to Trump's election conspiracy theories will result in political vulnerabilities and retaliation.
Kinzinger, in comments on Face the Nation, railed against the party's unwillingness to condemn Trump's election lies, which culminated in a deadly failed siege of the Capitol this past January. He warned that the party would be sealing its own fate with continued fealty to its leader, and he used a colorful analogy to do so.
Watch below.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) likens GOP to “Titanic”: “We’re in the middle of this slow sink. We have a band playing… https://t.co/agr5SW1RiF— Face The Nation (@Face The Nation) 1620575064.0
Kinzinger said:
"Right now, it's basically the Titanic. We're in the middle of this slow sink. We have a band playing on the deck, telling everybody it's fine, and meanwhile Donald Trump's running around, trying to find women's clothing and get on the first lifeboat."
One of the most striking images in accounts of the RMS Titanic's sinking in 1912 was the string quartet, who was ordered to play joyful, upbeat music amid the chaos in hopes of keeping passengers calm. There were also rumors of male passengers dressing in women's clothes to cheat their way to safety despite the ship's "women and children first" evacuation policy.
People found Kinzinger's analogy to be apt.
This is a great analogy. https://t.co/JPfD8QkLUh— 😷—((( Freddy Atton )))—😷 (@😷—((( Freddy Atton )))—😷) 1620600464.0
Perfect. Couldn’t have said it better! https://t.co/zDdsl2QuRf— Kim Halliburton (@Kim Halliburton) 1620585711.0
Whelp, I am never watching Titanic the same way ever again. https://t.co/mtnMIeahhs— Aaron Hawn (@Aaron Hawn) 1620652198.0
Can’t stop laughing. Well said! https://t.co/AmrMZ2BU0c— REDDOG (@REDDOG) 1620579121.0
Republican truth of the day: https://t.co/9xuEclyaGW— Rob Davies (@Rob Davies) 1620602266.0
Some thanked Kinzinger for being one of the few Republicans willing to acknowledge basic truths about the 2020 election.
I love it when people can just be honest. Thank you Adam Kinzinger for your honesty. https://t.co/7ayhIdcG9e— K in Connecticut (@K in Connecticut) 1620599129.0
Thank you Rep @AdamKinzinger for saying it like it is. I agree we need a full accounting of January 6th! https://t.co/VfYjagdHos— Amy Tidd (@Amy Tidd) 1620580713.0
In a tweet the following day, Kinzinger told followers he warned House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) of violence on January 6, only for those warnings to be dismissed.