search
Sections List
American Journal News

Republicans mad they can't spend more time saying Pledge of Allegiance

Said a former Republican congressman, ‘Please tell me you have something more important to whine about.’

By Josh Israel - February 05, 2021
Share
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)

Republicans are furious that the House Judiciary Committee will not start work by saying the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of every meeting — in addition to the daily pledge said by the full House of Representatives.

On Thursday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) used the committee’s organizing meeting to suggest its members repeat the pledge. After noting the “significance and importance” of the panel’s work, he said, “I just think it would be nice, if, in the spirit of national unity and national pride, which I know we all aspire to do to a greater extent, that at the beginning of each meeting the chair, or one of the designees of the chair, would have the opportunity to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.”

Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-NY) quickly shot down the idea, calling it “unnecessary.”

“The House begins every day with the Pledge of Allegiance. We’re covered by that,” Nadler noted. “There’s no necessity to say the Pledge of Allegiance twice during the same day.”

Former Rep. Paul Mitchell of Michigan, a Republican until he left the party in December over his colleagues’ attempts to overturn the 2020 election, mocked Gaetz’s effort on Thursday.

“I served on Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Work, and Oversight in my time in Congress. None of those recited the Pledge even under R control,” he tweeted out. “Please tell me you have something more important to whine about.”

Many House Republicans expressed great disappointment that they will not be able to spend more of their working hours pledging allegiance to the American flag.

“Fifteen seconds to show our kids that we are adults,” demanded Rep. Burgess Owens of Utah. “That we can agree to disagree, but we love our country enough to at least stand and represent our flag.”

“House Judiciary Democrats just voted against the Pledge of Allegiance,” claimed Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado. “Yes, you read that right.”

“I’m disappointed but not surprised the Democrat controlled Judiciary Committee rejected the pledge of allegiance,” tweeted Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee. “What’s next taking God out of swearing in witnesses? Oh wait.”

“Democrats just voted against reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before Judiciary Committee hearings,” groused Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. “What’s wrong with standing for the flag?”

Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson questioned Democrats’ “priorities,” noting that they “rejected our Republican proposal to recite the Pledge of Allegiance before conducting committee business, but accepted their own proposal to strike ‘man'” from Nadler’s title.

The Judiciary Committee’s GOP minority staff tweeted Friday morning, “Democrats refused our request to start committee meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance. Why won’t they stand?”

In the last Congress, the House Republican caucus repeatedly criticized Democrats’ impeachment of Donald Trump, calling it a “waste of time.”

But now, as the nation faces an ongoing pandemic, a struggling economy, systemic racism, and threats of domestic terrorism after supporters of Trump violently stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, House Republicans’ focus seems to be on scoring political points however they can, no matter how much time they waste doing it.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


Read More
AJ News
Latest
GOP Rep. Zach Nunn suggests laws against hate crime aren’t needed

GOP Rep. Zach Nunn suggests laws against hate crime aren’t needed

By Jesse Valentine - April 15, 2024
GOP Senate candidate Hung Cao blames racial equity for Baltimore bridge tragedy

GOP Senate candidate Hung Cao blames racial equity for Baltimore bridge tragedy

By Jesse Valentine - March 29, 2024
GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans donates thousands to far-right extremists

GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans donates thousands to far-right extremists

By Jesse Valentine - March 08, 2024
Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno: “Absolute pro-life no exceptions.”

Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno: “Absolute pro-life no exceptions.”

By Jesse Valentine - March 07, 2024
Anti-China Republicans pocket thousands from Chinese owned conglomerate

Anti-China Republicans pocket thousands from Chinese owned conglomerate

By Jesse Valentine - March 04, 2024
Republican Eric Hovde makes inconsistent statements about family history

Republican Eric Hovde makes inconsistent statements about family history

By Jesse Valentine - February 26, 2024
Republican David McCormick invests millions in website that platforms Holocaust denial

Republican David McCormick invests millions in website that platforms Holocaust denial

By Jesse Valentine - February 09, 2024
Lawmakers will again take up bills expanding, tightening gun laws

Lawmakers will again take up bills expanding, tightening gun laws

By Annmarie Timmins, New Hampshire Bulletin - January 31, 2024
UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

By Ashley Murray, States Newsroom - January 24, 2024
Republicans Sam Brown and Jeff Gunter sling mud in Nevada senate primary

Republicans Sam Brown and Jeff Gunter sling mud in Nevada senate primary

By Jesse Valentine - January 17, 2024
A Young Texas Woman Almost Died Due To The Texas Abortion Bans – Now She’s Battling To Save Other Women

A Young Texas Woman Almost Died Due To The Texas Abortion Bans – Now She’s Battling To Save Other Women

By Bonnie Fuller - January 10, 2024
Health care legislation preview: Maryland advocates want to focus on access, patients in 2024 session

Health care legislation preview: Maryland advocates want to focus on access, patients in 2024 session

By Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters - January 08, 2024
How GOP senate hopefuls try to excuse the  January 6 insurrection

How GOP senate hopefuls try to excuse the  January 6 insurrection

By Jesse Valentine - January 05, 2024
NH lawmakers will be taking up major voting bills this year. Here are some to watch for.

NH lawmakers will be taking up major voting bills this year. Here are some to watch for.

By Ethan DeWitt, New Hampshire Bulletin - January 04, 2024
Republican US Senate candidates want to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent 

Republican US Senate candidates want to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent 

By Jesse Valentine - December 22, 2023
Rand Paul went all in on the Kentucky governor’s race. It didn’t work.

Rand Paul went all in on the Kentucky governor’s race. It didn’t work.

By - December 15, 2023
Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

By Jesse Valentine - December 08, 2023
Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

By Jesse Valentine - December 07, 2023
Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

By Anna Liz Nichols, Michigan Advance - December 06, 2023
105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

By Jesse Valentine - December 05, 2023
For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - December 04, 2023
Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - November 30, 2023
Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

By Jesse Valentine - November 06, 2023
Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

By Jesse Valentine - November 03, 2023
Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

By Adam Ganucheau, Mississippi Today - October 24, 2023
 Direct mailers distort California Democrat Will Rollins’ record 

 Direct mailers distort California Democrat Will Rollins’ record 

By Jesse Valentine - April 25, 2024
More than half of Republican Jay Ashcroft’s funding comes from outside Missouri

More than half of Republican Jay Ashcroft’s funding comes from outside Missouri

By Jesse Valentine - April 25, 2024
Assisted living home lawsuit, citations add to controversy over Hovde’s nursing home remarks

Assisted living home lawsuit, citations add to controversy over Hovde’s nursing home remarks

By Erik Gunn, Wisconsin Examiner - April 24, 2024
Ohio doctors fear effects of emergency abortion care case set to go before U.S. Supreme Court

Ohio doctors fear effects of emergency abortion care case set to go before U.S. Supreme Court

By Susan Tebben, Ohio Capital Journal - April 23, 2024
President Biden visits Prince William park to talk solar, youth involvement on Earth Day

President Biden visits Prince William park to talk solar, youth involvement on Earth Day

By Charlie Paullin, Virginia Mercury - April 23, 2024
Biden on abortion rights: President expects to give speech Tuesday on new Florida 6-week ban

Biden on abortion rights: President expects to give speech Tuesday on new Florida 6-week ban

By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix - April 22, 2024