Over the weekend, Rep. Val Demings (D) released a video of her speaking to the House Judiciary Committee about much she loved the Pledge of Allegiance, and how “the words” mean so much to her.
“I love the Pledge of Allegiance,” said Rep. Demings. See, it really means something to me when I listen to the words about my upbringing and all in the South and the obstacles and challenges. When I hear words like “One nation” that means something to me. When I hear words like “justice for all” not just some, not just for the privileged few but justice for all believe me those words mean everything to me. They are beautiful.”
Demings’ love for the Pledge is unmistakable and unquestionable, but the third-term legislator from Orlando did not stand up in its defense when House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D) refused to allow the Pledge recited before each meeting of the committee, a move that signals a further deepening of the existing congressional divide.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) made the request and introduced an amendment to the rules of the committee to have the Pledge said at the outset of every meeting, but has shot down when every single member, including Demings, voted down his measure.
Rep. Nadler said it was “unnecessary” to recite the pledge before every judiciary meeting.
While Demings and other Democratic House Judiciary members did not defend the recitation of the Pledge, some of their colleagues mocked Gaetz for doing so.
In an interview with Fox News, Gaetz listened to an audio clip of House Democrat Steve Cohen ask, like a stubborn child “how many times a day should I do that [pledge]?”
Cohen elaborates saying this was something that he did in, “1st grade.”
Another unidentified Democrat in the audio compared Gaetz’s pledge request to nuclear bomb drills.
