It was an even odder and more disappointing weekend from Congress than normal, not only because of the terrible appropriations deal former Speaker McCarthy struck with the Democrats, but because Rep. Jamaal Bowman brazenly pulled a fire alarm and then tried to make excuses for it.
Now, despite Rep. Bowman being caught on tape obstructing an official proceeding, the same crime many of the January 6th protesters are rotting in prison for, Democrats are jumping in to defend him. AOC did so, as did ABC’s “The View,” the hosts of which engaged in extreme mental contortions to defend Jamaal’s behavior.
As background, Rep. Bowman insists that he thought pulling the fire alarm would open the closed door. “I want to personally clear up confusion surrounding today’s events. Today, as I was rushing to make a vote, I came to a door that is usually open for votes but today would not open. I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door. I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused,” Rep. Bowman said.
He continued, “But I want to be very clear, this was not me, in any way, trying to delay any vote. It was the exact opposite — I was trying urgently to get to a vote, which I ultimately did and joined my colleagues in a bipartisan effort to keep our government open. I also met after the vote with the Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol Police, at their request, and explained what had happened. My hope is that no one will make more of this than it was. I am working hard every day, including today, to do my job, to do it well, and deliver for my constituents.”
Well, that’s the claim “The View” tried to defend, with host Sunny Hostin claiming it was not a stunt or means of obstructing Congress, but rather just Rep. Bowman being confused, “I don’t want to call it a stunt,” Hostin insisted.
“I know Jamaal, and so again, I’m a little biased, but the doors that are normally open so that he could get to the chambers to read, were somehow miraculously closed. How did that happen? So yes, sometimes you’re freaking out, and you’re in an elevator, and you’re pressing all the buttons,” she continued.
Similarly, Whoopi Goldberg said, “I haven’t seen the fire alarm button, so I don’t know.” She continued, “I don’t know, it just look–I can’t see the button.” She also said, “I would have pressed whatever I had to press to get the door open because I know you would expect me not to be there to vote.”
AOC engaged in similarly unbelievable mental gymnastics to defend Rep. Bowman, saying, “I mean, listen, I think if you actually do see some of the photos of the signs, I think there’s something to be said about, the government’s about to shut down. There’s a vote clock that’s going down. The exits that are normally open in that building were suddenly closed.” Watch the hosts on “The View” discuss the matter here:
Racist Sunny Hostin doesn't want to call what Bowman did "a stunt yet" because there still needs to be an investigation.
She suggests the doors were closed as some sort of plot to keep him from reading: "The doors…to the chambers to read were somehow miraculously closed." pic.twitter.com/hBP29aKXLe— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) October 2, 2023
CONSPIRACY THEORY TIME: Whoopi says the "point" is that the door was closed to prevent Bowman from reading the CR and stop him from voting:
"I would have pressed whatever I had to press to get the door open because I know you would expect me not to be there to vote." pic.twitter.com/Pv7lfpZ4j8— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) October 2, 2023
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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