A House Judiciary hearing stalled out before it even began as Democrats refused to say the pledge of allegiance ahead of its regular business operations. What’s more, the same Democrats labeled their colleagues as “insurrectionists” and suggested they should be barred from leading the patriotic speech because they cannot faithfully say they represent this country.
An exasperated Republican tweeted that time was being frivolously wasted by posturing and grandstanding.
“Would you believe me if I said the first half hour of our @JudiciaryGOP hearing has been wasted because Democrats oppose saying the pledge of allegiance?” Congressman Jeff Van Drew wrote on Twitter.
Would you believe me if I said the first half hour of our @JudiciaryGOP hearing has been wasted because Democrats oppose saying the pledge of allegiance?
— Congressman Jeff Van Drew (@Congressman_JVD) February 1, 2023
NBC quickly picked up the story, writing that what Congressman Jeff Van Drew said was taking half an hour had devolved into a hour-long debate over the basic proceedings of the committee meeting.
A routine House committee meeting erupted into a heated, nearly hourlong debate Wednesday over the Pledge of Allegiance, with one Democratic lawmaker saying that “insurrectionists” who backed former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election should be banned from leading it.
The fiery back-and-forth took place in a House Judiciary Committee meeting where members set rules for the current Congress. It began after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., offered an amendment that would give the committee the opportunity to begin each of its meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance. He said the rule would give members “the ability to invite inspirational constituents” to be able to share and lead in the pledge.
Ultimately, David Cicilline (D-RI) introduced a motion that would strip Republicans of their ability to lead the pledge if they had supported an insurrection. This jejune attempt to silence the majority was both a waste of time and embarrassment to the Democratic caucus.
“I know it’s a real backbreaker,” Van Drew said. “We can [go] that little extra mile, stand up, put our hand on our chest, say what we believe, and reaffirm this America that we love. Come on. This can’t be real. I can’t believe we’re having this debate.”
Twitter comments to Van Drew’s insane tweet drew near-unanimous support for the Republican cause.
Pathetic. Play the Ukraine anthem. I bet they all would whoop and holler
I would believe you. The Democrats hate what America stands for, so of course they won’t stand for her.
I can definitely believe that. The anti-American left must be defeated!
It has become so clear who loves this country and who doesn’t. Why do Democrats represent a country they have no love for or allegiance to?
Well, considering the number of Senators and Congressmen who have failed to uphold their Oath of office to “protect and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic”; I’d have to say no, it doesn’t surprise me.
That’s sickening. It says a lot about their version of “Democracy” and the people who elected
“This pledge is an affirmation of your defense of democracy and the Constitution and that “[i]t’s hard to take that claim seriously if in fact, an individual in any way supported an insurrection against the government,” Cicilline, the representative who introduced the amendment said. His proposal went on to be defeated 24-13.
Freedom Caucus member Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who was one of a handful of representatives who pushed for meaningful change in the House Speaker vote, immediately pushed back. He noted that if this were the new benchmark then many Democrats would also be barred.
Gaetz had originally introduced an amendment that would require all meetings to begin with the pledge.
NBC continued:
Gaetz began sparring with Cicilline, saying that he was concerned the Democrat’s proposal would make many Democrats on the panel ineligible to lead the pledge, too, because of previous elections when some in their party objected to electors.
“I’m concerned that you may be disqualifying too many of your own members,” Gaetz said, as the two of them yelled over each other.
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