FIERY DEBATE Between Gaetz and Nadler Over Pledge Of Allegiance Amendment

Newsweek

Disclaimer:  This article may contain the personal views and opinions of the author.

On a day when a Gallup Poll reports that the country’s biggest problem is “the government/poor leadership,” our so-called leaders act like spoiled unpatriotic children. 

Republican Florida Representative Matt Gaetz introduced an Amendment to start each House Judiciary Committee meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.  

What could go wrong with that? 

Believe it or not, some of OUR representatives in Congress had an objection to saying the Pledge of Allegiance! 

A representative from New York, Democrat Jerry Nadler, was quite vocal in his opposition. 

He said, “I would oppose it simply on the grounds that, as members know, we pledge allegiance every day on the floor and I don’t know why we should pledge allegiance twice in the same day, to show how patriotic we are.”

Another Democrat chimed in to introduce an amendment to the Amendment. David Cicilline from Rhode Island’s proposed Amendment would exclude anyone who supported the January 6 incident at the Capitol from leading the Pledge. 

“This pledge is a validation of your defense of democracy and the constitution,” he said. “It’s hard to take that claim seriously when, in fact, a person in some way supported an anti-government insurgency.”

He continued, “I’m talking about elected officials who swear an oath to the United States Constitution, who in some way participated in, supported, facilitated, and encouraged the insurgency against the United States. That’s not too hard a standard.”

Representative Wesley Hunt from Texas, a West Point graduate, reminded the group, “that flag is the one thing that unites us. Let’s just take 30 seconds to put all of our differences aside and say we can agree that this country is wonderful. This country has done outstanding things. And that brave men and women were willing to die for it and that’s what sets us apart from every other country in the entire world.”

New Jersey Representative Jeff Van Drew added his opinion to the conversation. He said, “We can [go] that little extra mile, stand up, put our hand on our chest, say what we believe, and affirm this America we love. Come on. This can not be true. I can’t believe we’re having this debate.”

Representative Matt Gaetz spoke to The Daily Caller about what transpired over his seemingly contentious proposal. He said, 

“Standing for the American flag isn’t controversial. Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance isn’t a waste of time. 

“Democrats are so outraged at the idea of a daily dose of patriotism that they spent 30 minutes ranting and raving in opposition. 

“Congress cannot expect the American people to believe they are fighting for their values when they don’t even care to recite the Pledge of Allegiance,” he said.

Gaetz thought it would be a nice gesture in “the spirit of national unity and national pride” to begin each meeting with someone leading the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Nadler, on the other hand, doesn’t see the point in saying “the 

Pledge of Allegiance twice during the same day.”

Cicilline’s proposed Amendment ultimately did not pass. 

And after all of the drama, Gaetz’s Amendment calling for the Pledge to be said before each meeting was approved without opposition. The vote was 39-0.