Tom McClintock is a Spineless Hypocrite

Leaders are usually distinguished by what they SAY or DO.

But not Tom McClintock.  He is better known for what he DOESN’T do than for what he does.  

He is one of the least effective Representatives in Congress.  In nearly 18 years, he has only shepherded ONE bill completely through the legislative process and into law, and that was for renaming a Post Office in Modesto, CA.

McClintock talks a good line about standing up for Constitutional principles, such as the rule of law and the separation of powers.  However, he has not “walked his talk” during the second Trump administration, where he has become known for being one of the most loyal Trump sycophants in Congress. McClintock has voted with Trump 98% of the time, even when it meant violating his own oft-stated lofty principles. 

For example:

• Tom McClintock has stated that he hates tariffs and believes it is Congress’ job, not the President’s, to impose them – yet has voted repeatedly to uphold Trump’s use of illegal tariffs.  
• He has stated that the power to declare war resides in Congress, yet has repeatedly defended Trump’s unilateral declaration of war on Iran and voted against several War Powers Resolutions that would have returned that authority to Congress; and
• He prides himself on being a “Constitutional Conservative” but willfully ignores Constitutional principles such as due process and equal protection of the law. When it comes to ICE’s powers such as warrantless searches, holding people in unlimited ICE detention without access to lawyers or court hearings, offshore rendition (including of US citizens) without due process, etc. he appears to be all for that.  

In other words, Tom McClintock is a SPINELESS HYPOCRITE.

Never was this more apparent than this past week, which started on Easter Sunday (April 5) with the President threatening Iran on Truth Social with the now infamous “Open the F&*in’ Straight you crazy bastards!”   While that was a very strong opening, it quickly devolved from there to threatening complete annihilation of a country of 90 million people (“A whole civilization will die tonight!), with an 8pm deadline set for Armageddon.  (In case you didn’t know – said (Persian/Iranian) civilization is over 2,500 years old, dating back to the founding of the Achaemenid Empire by Cyrus the Great in approximately 550 BC.)  

After a deadline reprieve at the 11th hour to negotiate a cease fire that wasn’t actually a cease fire, the ultimate attention getter (one the whole world saw) was when the President of the United States attacked the Pope on Truth Social and then posted a meme of himself as Jesus Christ to seal the deal (and no, that was NOT an image of himself as a “doctor.”)

And while Trump was threatening a sovereign nation with war crimes and the world hovered on the brink of a potential escalation of the Iran conflict into WWIII, what was McClintock doing?  

• Was he in D.C. huddling with Congressional leaders about how to reign in this lawless, unhinged and clearly mentally ill President?  
• Were he and his Party holding emergency meetings to reclaim their War Powers guaranteed under the Constitution? 
• Was he denouncing Trump’s crazy, dangerous talk on social media or TV?

No. He was at home in California, meeting with carefully curated small, friendly groups and organizations (but no public townhalls!) while remaining RADIO SILENT on the crisis unfolding in Washington and by extension on the World Stage.

Here was Tom’s demanding schedule during the week following Trump’s initial Easter Sunday threat against Iran (as documented on his Congressional FB page): 

• April 7, 2026:  Give  speech to the Turlock Rotary Club 
• April 8, 2026:  Meet  with four officials from the city of Plymouth, CA (pop 1166)
• April 9th:  Meet with Tribal leaders of the Ione Band
• April 10th Visit the Amador Water Agency
• April 13th:  Speak at the Tuolumne Business Council.

He returned to Washington DC this week, and he immediately got right back to work – posting on social media a photo of himself meeting with some high school students on the Capitol steps.

Our “representative” is MIA during one of the most dangerous and volatile times in US history.  CD5 deserves better.  Vote Michael Masuda for Congress!