It was for the children or something
(The Hill) Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) on Wednesday night lost his cool on the House floor over the issue of immigration, after the presiding officer warned another Democrat not to refer to people sitting in the House gallery.
Democrats were calling for House passage of a comprehensive immigration bill, and Rep. Joe Garcia (D-Fla.) used his remarks to note supporters of such a bill that were sitting in the gallery.
He was told not to address the people in the gallery, which is Against The Rules. But, Rules only matter if they help Democrats, ya know
“Madame Speaker, the gentle people in the gallery… would not have to be in the gallery… advocating if this House simply took up the bill,” he began. “Do you think they want to be spending their time here, Madame Speaker? Is that what you think?”
“And you’re saying we’re addressing them, and that’s what you’re upset about Madame Speaker?” he continued, moving into a full scream. “I want you, Madame Speaker, to address the reason that they are here! They are here because our government is tearing apart their families, Madame Speaker!”
Getting beyond his meltdown (check out the vid at the link), let’s consider something: was Polis implying that illegal aliens were sitting in the House gallery? Who authorized them to be there? One has to obtain a ticket to sit in the gallery from a House members office. If you are a foreigner, you can get a limited time ticket. A US citizen can get a lifetime pass. I have one from former NC 13th District rep Brad Miller’s office. Interestingly, I had to show ID to obtain it. I also had to show ID to get in to the House gallery. Did sitting members of the House of Representatives give tickets to people who are in this country illegally? Would that not constitute a crime? Yes. Yes it would.
