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“Reading is fundamental”: Mace mocked for seemingly not understanding her “Scarlett Letter” stunt

"Pro tip: Read the book you're referencing before you reference it"

Staff Reporter

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U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) talks to the media following a meeting of House Republicans hearing from members running for House speaker in the Longworth House Office Building on October 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) talks to the media following a meeting of House Republicans hearing from members running for House speaker in the Longworth House Office Building on October 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wore a red "A" on her shirt Tuesday in response to feeling "demonized" over her vote to boot Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from the House's speakership. "I’m wearing the scarlet letter after the week that I just had, last week, being a woman up here and being demonized for my vote and for my voice,” Mace told reporters per The Hill, referencing the 19th century novel where the protagonist was forced to wear a scarlet "A" after becoming pregnant outside of marriage. Mace, who met harsh criticism following her vote and was the only female Republican to oust McCarthy, then asserted that she's for the people, not the establishment. "And I’m going to do the right thing every single time, no matter the consequences, because I don’t answer to anybody in D.C.; I don’t answer to anyone in Washington. I only answer to the people,” she said.

"Pro tip: Read the book you're referencing before you reference it," politics writer Thor Benson said on X, formerly Twitter. "Nancy Mace openly wore the scarlet letter on her chest & I thought she was embracing the video that’s been circulating of her, but nope, seems like she may not have known that the A stands for Adulterer… (Reading is fundamental)," Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, tweeted. "It’s important to remember. @NancyMace will play like she is being brave with her vote. I know for a fact she almost voted to impeach trump," former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger posted. "She didn’t have the courage to, now she is desperately trying to be liked. It’s not courage it’s creepy." MSNBC anchor Katie Phang added, "Innocent women, children, and men are being brutally murdered and terrorized, but Nancy Mace thinks this performative nonsense is the highest and best use of her time."

By Tatyana Tandanpolie

Tatyana Tandanpolie is a staff reporter at Salon. Born and raised in central Ohio, she moved to New York City in 2018 to pursue degrees in Journalism and Africana Studies at New York University. She is currently based in her home state and has previously written for local Columbus publications, including Columbus Monthly, CityScene Magazine and The Columbus Dispatch.


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