by Peter Partoll
An organizational meeting of the House Judiciary Committee turned into a bitter debate over a proposed amendment to committee rules that would require the recitation of the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of committee meetings, allowing members to bring in constituents to lead it if they wish.
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida invited Staff Sergeant Corey Beekman, a Purple Heart recipient who lives in Gaetz’s district, to lead the committee in the Pledge of Allegiance to open its first meeting.
Gaetz then followed the Pledge by proposing that a new amendment be added to the committee’s rules requiring that all committee meetings begin with the Pledge, as a way to honor American heroes by inviting them to lead the pledge before meetings.
Astonishingly, this made many of the Democrats on the committee uneasy, and some came out in opposition to this new amendment.
One of which was Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, who introduced an amendment barring those who supported so-called “insurrection” against the government from leading the pledge.
While he probably had in mind Trump supporters who were skeptical of the 2020 election results, Gaetz was quick to reply that by that definition, there were several Democrats who were guilty of that as well, as they have refused to accept election results in the past – against George W. Bush and Donald Trump.
Senior Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York also objected to the amendment:
This is an absolutely lame excuse. All elected officials need to be reminded before they carry out their business that their role is to serve the American people. Saying the pledge before all meetings is a great way to ensure that they never lose sight of that responsibility.
Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas came out in support of Gaetz’s amendment, saying that it was “necessary” to say the Pledge before meetings and expressing disgust at how it became a political issue.
Thank you @RepWesleyHunt for this terrific debate in support of my amendment to start our committee hearings with the Pledge of Allegiance!https://t.co/m8gAZ97dLD pic.twitter.com/ymZzM8qdn6
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) February 1, 2023
Several Republicans were dismayed that the matter was being debated at all.
“I’m almost speechless,” said Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J. The former Democrat who switched parties in 2019 noted that members can take 60 to 90 seconds of their time to stand up and affirm their devotion to the country.
“Come on, this can’t be real. I can’t believe we’re having this debate.”
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, blasted Democrats for their opposition to basic principles, citing not just the pledge but a recent proposal in the House Rules Committee to condemn socialism.
“And that is the state of your Democratic Party today,” Roy said.
This really does beg the question: Why are so many Democrats opposed to this simple act of patriotism?
Gaetz did not introduce this amendment as a political stunt, he introduced it as a way to honor American heroes and to ensure that our elected officials remember their responsibilities to the nation.
Why are the Democrats so averse to patriotism? Perhaps it is because leftist cultural institutions are constantly telling us that America is an evil racist country.
We need to be able to restore national pride, and this amendment is a perfect way to do that. There is really no reason that this has to be a partisan issue.
