In an attempt to dramatize his demands of the federal government, a Texas Democrat performed what was limned as a tremendous feat of human endurance by other Democrats that was roundly mocked by conservatives.
Rep. Greg Casar went on a food and water fast for nine hours in order to demand the federal government implement a heat standard for workers. His spokesperson said nurses would take his vitals throughout the day.
“9 hours without water or food, but I’m more energized than ever to get this done,” Casar boasted.
“So grateful for leaders like [Casar] who believe in fighting with all they’ve got for the rights of the people they represent,” former Texas Democrat gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis tweeted.
While Casar’s Democratic colleagues praised him for the brief fast, many on social media mocked the self-described “progressive Democrat.”
“I did that last night from 10:45 till 7 this morning,” one social media user noted.
“I hear tomorrow you’re going to go nearly 17 hours without sleep. Good luck!” another commented.
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh also weighed in, calling the stunt “legitimately one of the funniest things any American politician has ever done.”
Coincidentally, Wednesday night happened to be the beginning of the 25-hour fast without food and water conducted by religious Jews worldwide to commemorate Tisha B’Av, the annual day of mourning that marks the date of the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem as well as other tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people. Jews also conduct the same 25-hour fast on Yom Kippur.
Some prominent voices, including Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro, highlighted that fact in response to Casar’s brief fast.
In a letter to the Department of Labor, Casar claimed, “As you are aware, Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently signed House Bill 2127 into law. This bill repeals local laws that protect the interests of everyday people in sectors such as labor, agriculture, natural resources, and finance. When this bill takes effect on September 1, 2023, local protections against extreme heat, such as the Austin and Dallas ordinances that require water breaks for construction workers, will be nullified.”
The law bars cities Texas from creating rules that supersede state law. A spokesperson for Abbott’s office told The Daily Wire that the law does not prevent workers form taking water breaks. “Ensuring the safety of Texans is a top priority as our state experiences high summer heat. This law maintains the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) standards to keep workers safe and will not inhibit people from taking water breaks,” Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement.
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