From Americablog: The House Republicans just shut down the Patriot Act hearings while the Democrats were still talking. It was absolutely amazing. Then they shut the mics off on the Dems. Even more amazing is that the House Republicans have the nerve to do this during a hearing on, what?, the Patriot Act! A hearing about our concerns about shutting down free speech and civil rights and the Constitution. So what do they do, they simply shut down open debate in the US Congress. Horrifying.
If you haven’t seen the video yet, you can find it here… And, remember, don’t stop watching when Rep. Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin), the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, abruptly shuts down the hearing, gets up, and walks out. If you stop watching there, you’ll miss the gasps from the audience as people wonder outloud, “Can he do that?” And, you’ll miss the part where Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-New York), having decided to comment on the situation, despite the fact that his words are no longer being recorded as part of the official record, has his microphone shut off. It makes me proud to see democracy in action. (I wonder where all those Republicans with purple fingers are now.)
If you’d like to reach Rep. Sensenbrenner and thank him for his valiant efforts to protect free-speech in America, you can reach him at: sensenbrenner@mail.house.gov… And, let me know if he writes back.
One Comment
The Democrats are just stupid. If they want to talk about freedom of speech, all they need to do is find a designated “free speech zone.” It’s really not that hard.