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.
Yesterday was incredible. I was honored to be joined at my thirst strike by workers in Texas and across the nation—and by lots of colleagues pushing for federal heat safety protections.
9 hours without water or food, but I’m more energized than ever to get this done. pic.twitter.com/92XIU0pYEA
— Greg Casar (@GregCasar) July 26, 2023
So grateful for leaders like @GregCasar who believe in fighting with all they've got for the rights of the people they represent. https://t.co/phSEEf3l0f
— Wendy Davis (@wendydavis) July 26, 2023
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.”
The human body is truly amazing when pushed to the limits https://t.co/3lQolfQeL3
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) July 26, 2023
Hold on…did you say 9 hours? 😳You’ve never fasted in your church? Even teenagers do dry fast for at least 12 hours and the whole time joyful, praying, praising God and doing good.
— Obianuju Ekeocha (@obianuju) July 27, 2023
This is a real picture that he posted of himself being attended to by three people as he attempted to go nine hours without eating, or roughly the time from an early lunch to a late dinner pic.twitter.com/HZ2Dauo1xI
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) July 27, 2023
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.
Whoa, dude, heroic stuff. Unprecedented.*
*All observant Jews are abstaining from both food and water for 25 hours today on Tisha B'Av https://t.co/IN620K6jTJ
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) July 27, 2023
Tweeting this on the eve of Tisha b'Av is hilarious. We Jews have already begun a fast–including water–that doesn't end until 9pm *tomorrow night*. https://t.co/RnemIJPnJE
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) July 27, 2023
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.