During a hearing on Thursday regarding new House rules, House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler dismissed Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz’s request to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of committee hearings as “unnecessary.”
“I want to extend a welcome to the new committee members,” Gaetz began. “I’m grateful to be back on this august committee and I understand and appreciate the significance and importance of the work that we do.”
“I just think it would be nice in the spirit of national unity and national pride, which I know we all aspire to do to a greater extent, that at the beginning of each meeting, the chair — or one of the designees of the chair — would have the opportunity to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance,” Gaetz continued.
“We’re all aware that in these times, it’s important for the country to see members of congress working together on some things, and while I know we can deal with divisive issues in the committee, uh, it would be my hope we could start every committee with a great unifying, patriotic moment,” Gaetz concluded. “I yield back.”
“And the gentleman yields back,” Nadler responded. “I recognize myself to speak in opposition to the amendment. It’s unnecessary.”
Of course the Democrats find a unifying, patriotic moment unnecessary. It’s unnecessary for them because Democrats aren’t interested in unity or patriotism — only in power.