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LINK Matt Gaetz’s Pledge of Allegiance stunt took an unfortunate turn

Matt Gaetz’s Pledge of Allegiance stunt took an unfortunate turn

In hindsight, Matt Gaetz probably shouldn't have invited a murder suspect to lead the House Judiciary Committee in the Pledge of Allegiance.

March 2, 2023

By Steve Benen

Rep. Matt Gaetz caused a bit of a stir this week when he accidentally promoted Chinese propaganda during a committee hearing, but as it turns out, it was not his only problem on Capitol Hill. Rolling Stone reported:

Rep. Eric Swalwell called him out for inviting Corey Beekman, a combat veteran, to lead the Pledge of Allegiance ahead of the year’s first Judiciary Committee hearing. “It is my pleasure and distinct honor to introduce to the committee Staff Sergeant Corey Ryan Beekman, an American hero and a constituent of mine residing in Pensacola, Florida,” Gaetz said. As Swalwell pointed out on Tuesday, Beekman is an accused murderer who wound up in a standoff with police.

Some context is probably in order.

As MSNBC’s Alex Wagner explained last night, GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee started the new Congress with an odd fight over how many times members should participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. The idea, evidently, was to challenge Democrats’ patriotism, which seemed ironic given the larger circumstances.

The Democratic members of the panel didn’t fall for it, and they said they’d be happy to say the Pledge at the start of hearings. They did, however, suggest a minor tweak: Insurrectionists shouldn’t be invited to lead the committee in the recitation of the Pledge.

Republicans were not impressed, insisting that no member would invite criminals to participate in the patriotic exercise. Rep. Tom McClintock of California was especially incredulous, insisting during the debate that “nobody who committed murder” would be welcomed to recite the Pledge with the House Judiciary Committee.

We now know that was probably the wrong thing to say. As Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell explained this week, Gaetz invited a murder suspect to lead the panel in the Pledge of Allegiance.

“That’s why there’s a trust deficit here,” Swalwell told his GOP colleagues. “You pull off a public stunt to try to ‘own the libs,’ and what you did is you brought in a guy who allegedly shot two people and killed one of them. That’s where the trust deficit is.”

It’s worth noting for context that Gaetz ultimately apologized to the slain man’s family members, one of whom recently said seeing the suspect on Capitol Hill as an honored guest “was like getting a dagger stuck in our heart again.”

HippieChick58 9 Mar 2
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4

Funny as hell BUT indeed a stab in the heart to the victims. WTF!?!? is wrong with gaetz and the rest of the GQP that support trump, desatan and the crazy? 🤬🤬🤬

To date it's been working to loyalize their voter base but that's changed. Even CPAC is falling apart. I'm thrilled with the MAGA kids because I think they spell the end of Con majorities if Dems can prevent red states from anti-voting systems. If they can then Dems should win elections provided they refrain from pissing off voters with prissy crap to protect feelings. People instinctively understand that feelings are the responsibility of the offended to deal with. We must ask questions of ourselves (why is that bothersome for me?) and gain ego control but as generations become kinder (due to growing tolerance from such ego controls) such offenses to ego will largely fall away. We don't make Polish jokes (much), anymore. This would become even more self-fulfilling if more realistic ideas for mental health began to get practiced in general. I'd bet religious belief would also naturally halve, at least, if meditation and self-examination for ego became commonly practiced instead of preaching to each other about who's more right. Americans tend to simply chuckle about our egos and go on without such examinations but it no longer seems to be working well.

The real question is what the fuck is Right with Gaetz etal..

@Charlene Their song and dance acts have been making them money. Speaking engagements, interviews, and all at higher prices. That's pretty, pretty, pretty good incentive for someone who can't keep a car washing job to make a fool of themselves. They've been laughing literally on their way to the bank. Every time we pay attention to them they make more. The way to diffuse them is to ignore them.

@rainmanjr indeed they do laugh all the way to the bank..but to ignore their backroom intrigues is dangerous. 15 votes for Speakers hip proves they're not fools. They got Exactly what they wanted..Power.

@Charlene Everything has a dangerous side but this kind of thing can only survive when it gets attention. That's because it's a song and dance. Yes, it's news worthy but that doesn't mean it's share worthy. Every share of their antics ups their fees. Ignoring them makes them dry up like skunk weed in the desert but it must be done in total or that doesn't work. If it's not done then their end comes from excess (as drugs always do).

@rainmanjr only by shining a bright spotlight on their nefarious plans and deeds will destroy them. Fascism thrives in the dark..

@Charlene Okay. This is not going to stop them, either, because her District loves her (from what I read) but you kids go.

@Charlene Here's an idea, media focuses on their crazy in a way that shows how crazy and in so many ways they are NOT interested in democracy. The people who vote/voted for trump or desatan or sarah suckabee sanders have no interest in making sure ALL citizens in ALL states who can legally vote get to vote in a timely convient manner. Demonizing the "other" is what needs to be exposed, it's the real money maker for the GQP.

7

He is such a slimy shit. This earns a 😁😡

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