Madam Tusssaud’s Lefty Wax Museum invaded the Democrats’ side of the House Tuesday night to hear President Trump’s first address to Congress. Only marginally life-like, these waxworks couldn’t bring themselves to stand and cheer for anything almost every American wants: more good-paying jobs, safe streets, real not fake government-dictated healthcare plans that are too expensive to use, prosecution and deportation of criminal aliens, school choices that give disadvantaged kids a good education, destroying murderous radical Islamic terrorism, meaningful vetting of those from seven nations that could export terrorists disguised as refugees, and a strong, rebuilt military.
It was a brilliant speech and much of its brilliance was in exposing who these Democrats really are.
As the president described his vision of dying industries coming back to life, new infrastructure replacing the old, the drug epidemic dwindling, and our cities seeing rebirth, the leading House Democrat Nancy Pelosi sat granite-faced, licking her teeth. Or was she chewing her cud?
The waxworks did come to life once or twice, when President Trump mentioned paid family leave, a favorite Democrat gimmee they’ve been pushing for years. And there was some applause when he mentioned law enforcement, the military and NATO. But they had to do that because they want us to know that, unlike the president, they’re not Russians.
Disturbingly, at least two prominent Democrats refused to join the moving tribute to fallen hero Ryan Owens. According to Independent Journal Review’s Benny Johnson, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) who was just elected second in command of the Democrat Party, and disgraced Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) kicked out of leadership for corruption, were debating whether to stand and join the overwhelming applause for the Navy SEAL who gave his life for his country. Johnson tweeted that the two were whispering, “Should we stand?” They decided such a display of unbridled national pride just would not do.
Then the president directly addressed them and their fellow stuffed donkeys, saying, “To any in Congress who do not believe we should enforce our laws, what would you say to American families who lose jobs or loved ones because America refuses to uphold its laws or defend its borders? Our job is preserve, protect and defend the citizens of the United States. We are also taking strong measures to protect our nation from radical Islamic terrorism.” No Democrats stood as the Republicans got to their feet and applauded the first president to put the true name to the most murderous threat on the globe.
The assembled statuary was able to find voice at least once, though. When the president announced a new initiative to support the victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants, crimes often ignored by the media, a collective groan of dismay could be heard from the minority while Republicans again cheered.
Another unforgettable moment came toward the end of the speech when the president delivered a soaring message of American unity: “We are one people with one destiny, we all bleed with one blood, we all salute the same great American flag, and we are all made by the same great God.” What American could not agree with these majestic sentiments? And yet there sat most Democrats like marble figures trucked in from nearby Statuary Hall. Senators Franken and Booker looked especially lemon-sucking sullen.
What we learned about Democrats on Tuesday night is what the voters figured out about them in the weeks before the November election. They don’t want more Americans to have jobs, a revived economy, cheaper and better healthcare, more educational choice, a halt to illegal immigration, national and neighborhood security, and a stronger military. The Democrats don’t want anything that will make America great, because a greater America means the citizens they want to make helpless dependents on government are dependent no more. And without a dependent, victim class the donkeys will never again be voted into office. Which is just how it should be.
Joy Overbeck is a Colorado journalist and author who writes for Townhall.com, The Daily Caller, The Washington Times, American Thinker, BarbWire and elsewhere.
More columns: https://www.facebook.com/