This past week is one for the books – a week Democrats proudly asserted themselves by focusing attention on the travesty of our lax (virtually non-existent?) gun regulations (Thanks, NRA) with their sit-in in the House Chamber.
For some of us of a certain age, it brings back bittersweet memories of our protesting days of youth. So before we let this moment fade, just a few photos. And since there’s no doubt that many of you have seen many of them, I’ll try to find a few outliers. But let’s begin with the iconic one, led by a true American icon.
The above will be familiar to almost everyone. It’s Reps. John Lewis, Katherine Clark and Donna Edwards beginning the sit-in. While Rep. John Lewis, whose Civil Rights bona fides make him a superb leader for the sit-in, it was actually Rep. Clark (D-MA-5) who had the idea to start the #NoBillNoBreak sit-in.
As the saying goes
, an army travels on its stomach …
And it was Sen. Elizabeth Warren who brought Dunkin’ Donuts for dessert …
And joined in the sit-it …
And I love the note that Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN-5) got from his Mom …
Well, how could he refuse that?
But it’s the words of Rep. Lewis addressed to Rep. Paul Ryan (R) demanding a debate and vote on gun control measures that sends chills down my spine:
“We have turned deaf ears to the blood of the innocent and the concern of our nation. We are blind to a crisis.
“Mr. Speaker, where is the heart of this body? Where is the soul? Where is our moral leadership? Where is our courage?”
(To which the republicans replied: "Where are our NRA checks? Where are the tax cuts for gun manufacturers? Where are OUR photo-ops? Where are our talking points?")
And yet Rep. Ryan had the unmitigated gall to call this sit-in just a “publicity stunt”.
No, Mr. Ryan – THIS photo-op of yours while running with Mitt Romney was a publicity stunt …
To help you out, this sit-in, led by Civil Rights icon Rep. Lewis who was beaten in Selma on Bloody Sunday, is a protest …
And Paul, back when you forced yours and your family’s way into a soup kitchen in Youngstown, OH while campaigning for VP – JUST so you could have a photo-op of you washing pots and pans THAT WERE ALREADY SPOTLESS (sort of your ode to your idol, Ayn Rand, as “Atlas Scrubbed”) – now THAT is a publicity stunt …
But THIS was a protest, led by someone who knows protests …
See the difference, Paul? You're a political hukster – Rep. John Lewis is an American hero …
6 Responses to “Friday Fun – A Week to Be Proud for Being a Democrat”
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Excellent post Nameless!!! Lewis is indeed an American hero!
Cross posted to Care2 at http://www.care2.com/news/member/775377582/3994768
Yes, John Lewis is, indeed, an American hero. A civil rights activist from the '60's to modern times. Here he asks many of his colleagues to demand a vote on gun issues. The 26 hour sit-in was the first time in Congress' history! History has been made!
Once again, Lyin' Ryan, speaker (snarf), did everything he could to draw attention away from the gun issue including shutting down the CNN cameras & mics off. Yup, Lyin' Ryan is a bought and paid-for politician (henchman) supported by the NRA.
We need to get the congresscritters who support the NRA out of office including those bought & paid-for henchmen of the NRA out of Congress, out into the bread-line. Out into the streets would be much better where they might need to learn first-hand knowledge of gun violence.
We must also have the NRA declared and labeled as an american terrorist organization.
Thanks to Nameless for the pictorial essay.
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Kudos!! AND Kudos to Nameless for this fantastic post!
Thanks, Lynn for cross posting!
He is a hero and your comparisons were apt. I was disappointed though when I began getting fundraising emails about half way through the sit-in using the sit-in because those emails could become fodder to support Ryan's claim…sigh
Thanks Nameless. I read 170 participated to some extent…and quite a few senators also sat in solidarity, including Sanders and Boxer were early arrivals like Warren.
Of course we can't list here all who were there – but I do remember Jeff Merkley was one. Oregon leads the way. I got two emails about Keith Ellison – one from the NIAC staffer he was meeting with when he got the note (and who understood perfectly, indeed with pride, why that ended the meeting LOL) and one from Keith's mother who is tremendously proud of him. Great article. Thanks! (And thanks Lynn for posting to Care2.)
When Republicans act childish we get Green Eggs, Ham, and a $27 Billion tab. When Democrats act shildish they do it like grownups! Yes, I am proud too.
Thank you so much for this great post, Nameless!
Paul Ryan knows no shame and called it a publicity stunt and turned the cameras off, because he was afraid people would see what it really was: a true and honest protest. Then Ted Cruz had to grab the media's attention too, and called it a publicity stunt too because he couldn't think of anything new to say. Pathetic.