Liberal journalists and Democratic politicians spread an unverified rumor Thursday that House Republicans were celebrating the passage of the American Health Care Act with a massive beer party.
Vice News' Alexandra Jaffe reported shortly before the vote that she witnessed a large quantity of beer being carted into the Capitol Building.
Cases upon cases of beer just rolled into the Capitol on a cart covered in a sheet. Spotted Bud Light peeking out from the sheet
— Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe) May 4, 2017
Jaffe made it clear she did not know who ordered the beer or why. But the tweet went viral as people assumed it was House Republicans. Liberal journalists and activists on Twitter ripped House Republicans for the "beer party."
They had time to plan a beer bash but not to read the bill or get a CBO score.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) May 4, 2017
Time for a cold, refreshing bud light https://t.co/EchFC9Kc54
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) May 4, 2017
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
THESE FRAT BOYS ARE GONNA FUCKING PARTY AFTER STRIPPING 24 MILLION OF INSURANCE?!?!
WILL THERE BE KEGS FOR PAUL?!?! https://t.co/hxJUcmJYoy
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) May 4, 2017
Democrats chant "Nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye" on House floor. Republicans carting beer into the Capitol. Where we've come.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 4, 2017
Coming to a Democratic ad near you https://t.co/R5KEc0ACKE
— Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) May 4, 2017
Actually surprised that Ryan didn't have the good sense to tell House GOP to cut out the beer and celebration. Looks pretty dumb/tacky
— Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) May 4, 2017
While the GOP House caucus cheers and sings and celebrates with freshly delivered beer. Dancing on our future graves.
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) May 4, 2017
Republicans passed a bill that, if it becomes law, will kill Americans, and then had a beer bash.
Never mention bipartisanship again.
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) May 4, 2017
Republicans "already have case of beer standing by here at the Capitol to celebrate," @nancycordes says after vote https://t.co/Okz2bwUl4f pic.twitter.com/4xNHcxun6c
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 4, 2017
Several Democratic members of Congress also attacked the GOP based on the unverified rumor.
Millions of Americans are about to lose health care coverage and the Republicans are drinking beer. Outrageous. #VoteNoAHCA https://t.co/H37cCCTXGW
— Rosa DeLauro (@rosadelauro) May 4, 2017
I hope TVs in hospitals across the country are tuned in to the @GOP celebration for taking away health care from millions of Americans. https://t.co/vg4aFuC9Kj
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) May 4, 2017
.@HouseGOP & @SpeakerRyan celebrating 24M losing their coverage & 14M getting kicked off Medicaid w/ 🍻? Seriously, have they no shame? #SMH https://t.co/DZpROZesQa
— Gwen Moore (@RepGwenMoore) May 4, 2017
No less than House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) herself spread the rumor.
"Right now, the Republicans are having a beer party to celebrate one of the biggest transfers of wealth from working families to the richest people in our country," she said in a press conference following the vote.
But two hours later, Jaffe tracked down the man carting the beer, who told her the beverages were not going to a Republican meeting.
Here are the beers. Asked if they were going to a GOP conference meeting & he said "no, different meeting," no further details pic.twitter.com/ugS8oW4kGj
— Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe) May 4, 2017
Not long afterward, a spokesman for Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) put a kibosh on the rumors, calling the allegation "completely and utterly false" on Twitter.
This is completely and utterly false. Totally irresponsible to report this with zero evidence. https://t.co/lW6hvHRwiR
— Michael Shapiro (@mis2127) May 4, 2017
CBS, ShareBlue, Raw Story, Mic, Jezebel, Think Progress, and Newsweek also all pinned the beer on House Republicans or reported on the "beer party," with zero evidence.