Politics is often where memes go to die, and it may be time to stick a fork in simp after two North Carolina congressional candidates accused the other of being a "simp," with both of them completely butchering the definition of the word (at least how it's used in modern meme lingo).

It started when Republican Madison Cawthorn, a 25-year-old republican running in North Carolina's 11th district, called his opponent, Moe Davis, "the biggest simp in politics." A "simp," he wrote, "is slang for someone who lets a person order them around."

A simp is slang for someone who lets a person order them around. Moe Davis is the biggest simp in politics.

He doesn’t just do what Nancy Pelosi asks, he grovels at her feet. It’s time to elect a true patriot who will stand up to the mob.

Let's win thishttps://t.co/OVxdQ9p7ZZ pic.twitter.com/rdtUUsNe76

— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) October 30, 2020

The tweet accompanied a bewildering video ad that opened with calling Davis a "simp," based on the grounds Davis often agrees with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. The video goes through fairly typical Republican talking points before Cawthorn concludes with "I'm not a socialist. I'm not a simp."

Davis, who is 62, responded to the bizarre attack by also attempting to define "simp," saying, "'Simp' is short for 'simpleton,' meaning someone gullible."

“Simp” is short for “simpleton,” meaning someone gullible; you know, a dolt who thinks the winner gets sworn in next week because he doesn’t know the difference between a special and a general election, or who thinks there could be over 500 House members after the Census.

— Moe Davis (@ColMorrisDavis) October 30, 2020

The entire debacle is particularly ridiculous because neither candidate seemed to understand what "simp" means. A "simp," as most internet denizens know, is a guy who has a fanatic parasocial relationship with a woman online, often giving her money in exchange for the mere chance of recognition. Cawthorn may have been implying that Davis was this kind of simp for Pelosi, but it's difficult to imagine this messaging reaching older voters in North Carolina without Cawthorn also having to explain Tier-3 Twitch subs and Pokimane.

Davis was also technically correct in his definition, going by Webster's, but as is obvious, that wasn't the definition Cawthorn was using.

Meme carefully, politicians, lest ye embarrass yourself and everyone around you.