On August 1st, the American people witnessed something they see all the time in Congress followed by something they rarely see in Congress.
During a debate on the border-funding bill, Representative Tom Marino (R-Williamsport) aimed an incendiary attack at the Democratic leadership’s failure to enact comprehensive border reform while in control of Congress. Though attacks across the aisle occur all too often now, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s response was a tad unusual.
“We don’t have law and order,” Marino began as he concluded his comments on the border supplemental. “My colleagues on the other side don’t want to do anything about it.”
“You know something that I find quite interesting about the other side? Under the leadership of the former Speaker [Pelosi], and under the leadership of their former leader [Rep. Steny Hoyer], when in 2009 and 2010, they had the House, the Senate and the White House, and they knew this problem existed,” Marino said. “They didn’t have the strength to go after it back then. But now are trying to make a political issue out of it now.”
It was this assertion that sent Leader Pelosi across the aisle, in plain view of cameras, to directly challenge Marino’s claim.
Although Pelosi’s comments were off-mic, Marino replied with “Yes it is true. I did the research on it. You might want to try it. You might want to try it, Madam Leader. Do the research on it. Do the research. I did it. That’s one thing that you don’t do.”
Marino ended his time by urging lawmakers to support the border supplemental “because apparently I hit the right nerve.”
Marino then returned to his seat as his Republican colleagues applauded him while Pelosi charged him again, this time pointing and sticking her finger at him.
She continued to argue with Marino up the aisle, gesturing and arguing with him as Republican Lawmakers attempted to end the fighting by telling the chair that the House was not in order. Pelosi eventually returned to her seat and the House then promptly voted to approve the $694 million border supplemental, 223-189.
Shortly thereafter, Pelosi spokeswoman Evangeline George responded to the incident saying “Leader Pelosi just wanted to remind the Congressman that House Democrats had the courage to pass the DREAM Act – and have the courage to stand up for what the American people want: bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform.”
George also stated that “Pelosi accepted the Congressman’s apology.”
However, Bill Tighe, Marino’s chief of staff, emphasized that Marino did not apologize to Pelosi and has no plan of doing so.
“[Rep. Marino] did not apologize to Leader Pelosi and does not intend to do so as he has nothing to apologize for. She was entirely out of line in approaching him while he was recognized and delivering remarks on the Floor,” Tighe wrote in an email. “Her staff’s comment in your story about her accepting his apology in simply not true.”
Later that night, Marino took to Twitter to explain his side of the story.
“Rep. Pelosi called me an ‘insignificant person’ on the Floor of the House. I’ll ponder that for a while driving to Williamsport tonight…of course I’ll be driving myself, with no staff or security. And I’m just a country lawyer who worked in a bakery until he was 30.”
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14 Responses
For all you Lefties, can you imagine how ballistic you would be if the situation was reversed and a Republican went after a Democrat like that. All I can say is she broke protocol and should be sat down. That was not one of her finest moments.
Pardon me, but the borders are secure. If they weren’t, all those children wouldn’t be getting picked up. I’m sicking of hearing from the right that ‘the borders aren’t secure…blah,blah,blah’. The crisis is the result of what laws were passed during the Bush years. I’m hoping someone will be civilized enough to talk about it. Nimbus does make a noble effort somewhat in that respect. This mess is a result of soo much that has gone on in the past and to untangle it would take a lifetime of blogging on here.
Again, the trash-talking does not solve national problems. What exactly makes someone a “wing-nut” for supporting the security of our borders? And why is the bill “cruel and unworkable?”
And, congratulations, Kathleen3 and Bleed Green, for joining the wing-nut brigade. I hope you choke on it.
Tom Marino is a mediocre piece of you-know-what, who’s been gerrymandered into a Congressional seat…lucky him. The House passed a cruel and unworkable bill at the 11th hour, and then called on Marino to abandon his dignity and carry water for the wing-nut R’s. What a disgrace.
It is astounding how easily these message boards lose focus of the real story. And perhaps that is intentional since dealing with the crisis at our borders is too much for some to stomach, but the juvenile debate tactic of misdirection through trash-talking is so much easier. No sovereign nation should be forced to ignore its own laws and open its boarders. That would be chaos. And that is exactly what we are seeing right now.
Congressman Marino conducted himself with dignity and in the manner we expect of all elected representatives.
Nancy Pelosi’s conduct explains reasons why women are still subjected to the glass ceiling. She is an embarrassment to her office and to all women.
She is a real piece of trash. The stuff going on in our borders is a travesty. Secure our borders!
Pelosi, Marino, who cares.
What I want to know is how many questionable gambling approvals were given to Casino Marino’s interests as a rider to the House Bill to get him to vote for such a POS Bill?
It is Representative Pelosi, or Leader Pelosi, not “Pelosi.” She should be afforded the same level of respect you have given to Representative Marino!
Wow! !!! , is it really thAt hard , how would you like if your daughter was pulled off the street, going to School , BEAT ,GANG RAPED ,and DUmped back on the same corner To JUST CONTINUE HER DAY , come on people get off your a——- and help these KIDS !! ! GOD BLESS AMERICA
I don’t know if hysterical is the best word given the focus of the above story
He might very well be Congressman for life due to gerrymandering, but what he said is stunningly hysterical just a couple of weeks after one of his aides was arrested trying to sneak a gun into the Capitol: “We don’t have law and order.” Ain’t that the truth?
Oh, and if the US AG’s office had done its job chasing down his connections with known figures involved in organized crime, we might have a little more law and order around here.
This episode by Congresswoman Botox will only ensure that Marino is Congressman for life. 60% majorities to boot.