Did Steve Daines really promote 'Montana meth makers'? Senator mocked for linking drug abuse to immigration
Montana Senator Steve Daines is the latest victim of the Twitter troll brigade. A 22-second video of the Senator's comments at the southern border has now gone viral, leading many to hilariously troll him for 'missing' Montana meth.
Daines told the maskless crowd around him, "Twenty years ago in Montana, meth was homemade. It was homegrown. And you had purity levels less than 30%. Today, the meth that is getting into Montana is Mexican cartel." It's unclear what he was trying to say, but it is probably something to do with illegal immigration.
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Whatever the original purpose of his statement was – was, however, lost on social media users who ripped into Daines for these comments. Most users saw the funny side, trolling Daines about the death of the local drug manufacturing industry. Here's the clip, as uploaded by NBC's national political reporter Sahil Kapur.
Sen. Steve Daines: “Twenty years ago in Montana, meth was homemade. It was homegrown. And you had purity levels less than 30%. Today the meth that is getting into Montana is Mexican cartel.” pic.twitter.com/Xtu1geaVxJ
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) March 26, 2021
'Meth version of they took our jobs'
It was unclear what exactly Daines was trying to say, as one person pointed out, "Is his point that Mexican drug manufacturers have put local drug manufacturers out of business by providing better quality?" Another person added, "I’m unclear what point he was actually going for but it sounds like if you’re gonna buy drugs, buy Mexican. Better quality than Montanan."
Is his point that Mexican drug manufacturers has put local drug manufacturers out of business by providing better quality?
— Francis Sweeney (@Franrobsweeney) March 26, 2021
I’m unclear what point he was actually going for but it sounds like if you’re gonna buy drugs, buy Mexican. Better quality than Montanan.
— Ginormica (@Ginormica7) March 26, 2021
Some users made an attempt to guess what his comments meant. "Folks, please use meth thats Made in America! Even though the quality sucks - A growna** US Senator" one person tweeted. Palmer Report, a political analysis website said, "Good to know Senator Steve Daines is fighting for the rights of Montana meth makers."
Folks, please use meth thats Made in America! Even though the quality sucks
— Look here, Jack (@realworldrj) March 26, 2021
- A grownass US Senator
Good to know Senator Steve Daines is fighting for the rights of Montana meth makers.
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) March 26, 2021
Others found it a good opportunity to traget Republians' other complaints. One user tweeted, "The meth version of They Took Our Jobs". Iowa Senator Zack Wahls tweeted joked, "Make Montana Meth Again". Historian Kevin Kruse provided another spin on that, tweeting, "Meth America Great Again"
Author Chad Dundas was one of the many that decided to join in the fun. He tweeted, "As a lifelong Montanan, I regret to confirm that the fabric of our communities was torn asunder when the local, corner meth stores were replaced by the big multinational meth outlets on the commercial strip north of town. Thanks for speaking up, Steven Daines."
As a lifelong Montanan, I regret to confirm that the fabric of our communities was torn asunder when the local, corner meth stores were replaced by the big multinational meth outlets on the commercial strip north of town. Thanks for speaking up, Steven Daines.
— Chad Dundas (@chaddundas) March 27, 2021
WWE star John Layfield joked, "We need border security! Montana meth jobs are being lost. And these are the leaders of our country? How dare the cartels make better meth than US meth."
We need border security! Montana meth jobs are being lost. And these are the leaders of our country? How dare the cartels make better meth than US meth. https://t.co/zX6hIIr8eZ
— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) March 26, 2021
One person tweeted, "If there's anything most Americans can get behind it's small batch, artisanal meth from the heartland." Another commented, "I never thought I would see the day when Buy American would be applied to addictive drugs."
If there's anything most Americans can get behind it's small batch, artisanal meth from the heartland.
— LARayRay (@LARayRay) March 26, 2021
I never thought I would see the day when Buy American would be applied to addictive drugs.
— sdselkie (@sdselkie) March 26, 2021
Daines is one of the 19 Senators who are on a visit the Rio Grande valley to see firsthand the situation at the border. Republicans have been attacking President Biden over his handlng of the immigration situation. The Senators spoke with border patrol agents and even visited overrun holding facilities, slamming Biden for the crisis. "This is a humanitarian crisis, this is a public health crisis," Texas Senator Ted Cruz said. "The illegal immigrants who are being released, they are testing positive for COVID-19 at a seven times higher rate than the American population, and it is a national security crisis."
What does have to do with meth? Only Sen. Daines knows!