Well, we knew this was going to happen: some Democrats are boycotting the State of the Union speech tonight; the benefits of representing deep blue districts and showing the progressive lackeys that they’re down with resisting Donald J. Trump. There are at least twelve Democratic members of Congress who will be boycotting the speech.
1.Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Or)
2.Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL)
3.Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY)
4.Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
5.Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL)
6.Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
7.Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
8.Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
9.Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
10. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA
11.Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ)
12. Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA)
The list has grown since mid-January, but the reasons remain the same. Trump is offensive. He’s divisive. He’s a racist. They didn’t like his comments about black unemployment, and his rhetoric is bad. Here are some of the remarks from the boycott crew (via USA Today):
Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon
Blumenauer, the first to announce he will not attend, said he will be in Oregon listening to constituents rather than “listening to yet another destructive and divisive speech by Trump.” He later announced on Facebook that he’ll send an Oregon “DREAMer” — undocumented immigrants brought here as children — in his place, “to remind Trump that these are real people with families and jobs, who are vital to our communities. They deserve certainty and protection.”
Rep. John Lewis of Georgia
The civil rights icon, who marched with The Rev. Martin Luther King, announced he wouldn’t attend the speech on MSNBC after reports of Trump’s "s---hole" comments. Lewis called the statements “unreal” and later said, “I cannot, in all the conscience, be in a room with what he has said about so many Americans. I just cannot do it. I wouldn't be honest with myself.”
Last year, Lewis said he wouldn’t attend Trump’s inauguration because he didn’t consider Trump a “legitimate president.” Trump responded by tweeting that the congressman was “all talk, talk, talk – no action or results.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington
The first-term congresswoman said she refuses “to dignify a president who has used the platform of the Oval Office to fan the flames of racism, sexism and hatred — most recently with his vulgar condemnation of Haiti and other African countries.”
At the same time, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) warned other members of the Democratic caucus not to cause a scene. They’re looking to not have a Joe Wilson moment, a throwback to the South Carolina Republican congressman that shouted “you lie” during President Obama’s address to Congress in 2009. Pelosi told members to just not attend if they couldn’t refrain from walking out. Keep in mind the speech has yet to be given. President Trump will address Congress and the nation at 9:00 P.M. tonight.
Congressional Black Caucus asking its mbrs to block out large swath of seats in Hse chamber & remain there all afternoon ahead of State of the Union. CBC memo says it wants to present “a large and unified force visually” in the chamber.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 30, 2018
At Dem Caucus, Pelosi advised Dems not to attend State of the Union speech if they plan to walk out. Sources in the room say Pelosi told Dems to let Trump be “his slobbering self.”
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 30, 2018
Pelosi delivers Stern warning to Hse Dems attending the State of the Union speech: play nice. Doesn't want Dems to disrupt speech ala GOP SC Rep Joe Wilson hectoring Obama at a Sept '09 Jt Session of Congress, shouting "you lie!" Wilson did NOT do this at State of the Union
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 30, 2018
Schumer: Here are two words we won’t hear President Trump say tonight about the economy: Thanks, Obama.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 30, 2018