Democrat State Sen. Molly Donahue took to Facebook on Friday in defense of the protesters who tried to disrupt a scheduled event inside the Capitol on Wednesday. Donahue, who is a teacher, struggled with basic facts in her post.
First, she claimed that three people were charged after a demonstration outside the Capitol. That isn’t true. Democrat protesters held an event over noon outside the building, but as far as I know, nobody was arrested during that demonstration.
Following that event, about 50 of those individuals decided to go into the Capitol and disrupt the Moms for Liberty legislative day that was scheduled in the rotunda. Eventually, arrests were made as a result of that particular demonstration.
Donahue claimed that the “klanned Karenhood” complained about LGBTQ supporters and folks utilizing the people’s House to chant and cheer for LGBTQ.
“They weren’t interrupting anything the mommies were doing,” Donahue wrote. “They had their tables up. Standing around – no one was there to see them.”
Well, here is one chant that was performed:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ADHF2loqeMM
Yes, that is a chant of “f *ck Kim Reynolds.”
Now, Donahue said they were chanting and cheering for “LGBTQ.” I’m not sure how chanting and cheering for LGBTQ involves chanting “f*ck Kim Reynolds.”
Secondly, there were plenty of individuals who headed to the rotunda for the Moms for Liberty event. I have numerous photos of people interacting with the group. And odds are more people would have visited but for the demonstration.
But Donahue may not realize that from 2-3 the group was “setting up” for their event which was scheduled from 3-4 p.m. The protesters were sitting in the middle of the rotunda and grabbing the various snacks provided by Moms for Liberty as soon as they were set out.
Donahue said the protesters were “being appropriate.” Again, perhaps she sees nothing wrong with chants of “f*ck Kim Reynolds” ringing out through the Capitol while Iowa families take time out of their day to visit the building and show their children how their government is supposed to function.
Donahue claimed there were no chairs set up for speakers, no microphone and no podium. Again, that’s because the event was being set up from 2-3. Chairs, a microphone and podium were set up for the event, which was scheduled for 3 p.m.
Donahue claimed that Moms for Liberty is “butt hurt over LGBTQ children and adult coming to the Capitol to support their rights.”
Well, that’s fascinating because OneIowa lobbyist Keenan Crow was quick to tell House Republicans he had nothing to do with the demonstration that was happening. OneIowa, if you’re curious, is Iowa’s leading LGBTQ advocacy group.
Donahue then makes the case against the protesters.
“As long as people there aren’t…preventing others from their First Amendment rights…they have the right to be there,” she wrote.
I don’t know what Donahue missed, but similar to last year when the trans-activists were intentionally shouting and disrupting subcommittee meetings and public hearings when supporters of bills spoke, they were certainly attempting to prevent others from exercising their First Amendment rights.
If Donahue disputes any of this, she’s welcome to view any videos I have from those subcommittees or public hearings – or the Moms for Liberty event on Wednesday.
Actually, I can leave them right here…
And here.
Disruption during a subcommittee
And here.
Aaaaand here.
Donahue wrote that Moms for Liberty and their GOP friends’ “religion, bigotry, racism, maybe some feelings they are trying to resist or are hiding about their own sexuality…shows how weak they are as a group.”
Well, that’s a heck of a strong reaction from the other side toward such a “weak group.” When people are weak and ineffective, they are largely ignored. When people are over the target, they’re attacked.
Wednesday was nothing short of an attack. It certainly wasn’t the Left ignoring Moms for Liberty.
Donahue is a Democrat, but more than that, she’s delusional. She is completely delusional.
Ironically, in her post lamenting freedom and the First Amendment, Donahue restricted who can comment.
The irony continues as Donahue, who loves to pretend to care about bullying, bullied Moms for Liberty throughout her post.
“Leave it to the klanned Karenhood…”
“They weren’t interrupting anything the mommies were doing…”
“They weren’t coming to see the klanned Karenhood…”
“Only 8-13 mommies were there…”
Donahue is literally displaying what bullying actually is.
The Iowa Standard reached out to a person called Kyle Torkelson, who is listed as the communications director for Iowa Senate Democrats. We asked Torkelson the following questions:
- Do they support the actions of those who were arrested Wednesday at the Capitol?
- Do they support efforts to disrupt and silence groups who reserve the rotunda for events?
- Do they support shouting “Fuck Kim Reynolds” in the rotunda while children are present?
- Do they believe “name calling” is a form of bullying?
- Do they support bullying — i.e. referring to Moms for Liberty as “klanned Karenhood?”
- Would Iowa Senate Democrats support Iowans to attend the LGBTQ day on the hill and shout, occupy space, use expletives and try to drown out speakers during their event?
We will publish his responses if and when we receive them.
Donahue may believe the “weak” group in this is Moms for Liberty or conservatives or whoever she deems a political opponent, but the reality is the weakest people in politics are the ones who fear the opposition so much they try to keep them from speaking.
Because if they really believe in what they say they believe in, and they really think their opponents have such horribly bad ideas, why wouldn’t they want those expressed in public? Let your political opponents espouse their horribly bad ideas and the public will naturally be deterred from siding with them and feel compelled to side with you.
There’s a reason Democrats can’t do that, though.
In my six or seven years going to the Capitol, I have never seen conservatives try to drown out a Democrat group’s day at the Capitol. Never.
But I have seen Democrats try to disrupt and shut down conservatives.
If Republican ideas are so bad, why not allow them to be freely expressed without disruption? Nobody in the general public would gravitate towards them, right?
Democrats can’t do that because conservative ideas aren’t bad. Rather they are embraced by Iowans. This is why there are more than 100 Republicans in the legislature and less than 50 Democrats. This is why Donald J. Trump beat Kamala Harris by historic margins in Iowa.
If Democrats really believe Republicans are so hateful, let them talk. Let them reveal themselves as the haters Democrats think they are.
I’m critical of Republicans when they deserve to be criticized. But let’s pause for a moment and realize just how damaged our state would be if Democrats were in charge and Donahue had an ounce of influence in Des Moines.
Let’s be glad Donahue’s time in Des Moines is wasted on her efforts to bully people she disagrees with. Thankfully, Donahue’s delusional ideas have been beaten at the ballot box by Iowans time and time again.
As for me, I want the Democrats to be heard. I want them to publicly espouse their ideas. Because I know the majority of Iowans will disagree. This is why conservatives aren’t compelled to try to shut down Democrat events.
That isn’t weakness, that’s strength.
Weakness is being so fragile that you feel compelled to act out like spoiled children who didn’t get their way to silence those you disagree with.
It’s time to be adults. Let both sides have their say and trust that your ideas are so good, they’ll win in the end.
Only one side is resorting to bullying tactics. Only one side is resorting to chants and expletives. Only one side tries to keep the other side from speaking during subcommittee meetings and public hearings. Only one side is being escorted from the Capitol by law enforcement.
Those aren’t the actions of a strong movement. Those actions are simply what’s left of a political movement desperate for influence.
I actually like having competing ideas and dissenting voices. I think when exercised properly and effectively, good debate makes both Republicans and Democrats stronger.
If Democrats were smart, they’d read the room — or in this case, the state.
But Democrats are weak because the only seats they tend to win in Iowa are Democrat strongholds which means the most extreme Democrats are the only ones who get elected.
As much as I disagree with what Donahue says, here I am repeating it and putting it out there for even more to see it. Not because she’s strong or I’m weak, but because I want Iowans to hear her words and remember them come Election Day.
Because if Iowans think Molly Donahue is representative of Iowa Democrats, they’ll be in the minority for many, many more years to come.
