I think that Rep. Rush’s demonstration was out of place in the Capitol.
Having said that, I think that if Harriet Beecher Stowe were alive today, she’d have a perfect model for the Uncle Tom character in Rep. Allen West.
The Hill
Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) on Thursday condemned what he called Rep. Bobby Rush’s (D-Ill.) “immature gimmickry” in wearing a hooded sweatshirt on the House floor earlier this week.
The Tea Party favorite said in wearing the hoodie, Rush could have been someone who “walked off of the street.”
West said the incident might be funny now, but he speculated that at the time, Capitol Police were likely concerned.
“Initially, they did not know who it was and they were concerned that someone had just walked off of the street or kind of had broken away from a tour group,” West said on conservative Laura Ingraham’s radio show.
“Look, this is the type of immature gimmickry we see coming from the other side that you know, does not have any place, especially on the House floor and really in the United States,” he continued.
“Look, this is the type of immature gimmickry we see coming from the other side that you know, does not have any place, especially on the House floor and really in the United States,” he continued.
Rush, while delivering a speech defending Trayvon Martin on Wednesday, took off his suit jacket to reveal the sweatshirt and then pulled up the hood. His attire broke a House rule against hats, but he continued to speak after the presiding officer declared him out of order.
Related articles
- Hoodie-Clad Rep. Bobby Rush: Trayvon Martin Family ‘Lost A Son But They Have Gained A Whole Generation’ (mediaite.com)
- Rep. Allen West Calls Bobby Rush Hoodie Incident ‘Immature Gimmickry,’ Cites Security Concerns (mediaite.com)
- Dem Rep. Rush kicked off House floor for ‘hoodie’ in Trayvon Martin protest – The Hill (gloucestercitynews.net)
- Rep. Bobby Rush escorted from House floor for donning Trayvon-inspired hoodie (kansascity.com)
- Rep. Bobby Rush gets escorted from House floor for donning Trayvon-inspired hoodie (miamiherald.typepad.com)
You know, maybe the Capitol Police were concerned.
But I can’t help but notice that they didn’t feel the need to shoot the Congressman over it.
Gimmick? Yes. But there was still a point, and it was made. Anyone could be wearing a hoodie. Then again, it was a Republican who said that you could identify illegal aliens by their shoes, wasn’t it?
Points well taken WK…