"The president's incivility to take advantage of our civility, and that's what's happening in this country. His incivility. It's overwhelming our civility." Representative Al Green spoke on the House floor after he was censured.
Green: I interrupted. I was said to be in need of sanctions. I came to the floor today. And while the speaker was reading, I recalled What happened in the 60s? I recall when we were faced. With Adverse circumstances. We would sing a song that would inspire and encourage us to move forward with alacrity. The words where we shall overcome. We shall overcome. We shall overcome someday. Deep in my heart, I do believe. That we shall overcome someday. That was an act of incivility. Why, Al Green, would you come to the well before your colleagues in the world and commit an act of incivility? Here is why. Because when the President of the United States right there at that podium. Addressed the members of Congress. Democrats seated on this side. Seated Many of them saying nothing. The president of the United States looked upon them, pointed toward them, and said, I quote, and said, Lunatics. The president of the United States at a joint session of Congress called members of Congress lunatics. That was an act of incivility. Incivility. There comes a time when you cannot allow. The president's incivility to take advantage of our civility, and that's what's happening in this country. His incivility. It's overwhelming our civility. We cannot allow this. That act of incivility was in direct response to the president's incivility. Mr. President, You, sir. You were wrong when you pointed to the members of Congress. And called them lunatics, Democrats, I might add. Call them lunatics. The president hasn't been sanctioned. President hasn't been reprimanded. No censure of the president. The president is above the law. Supreme Court has said as much. He can do things that no other can do. Above the law as it relates to certain things. But as it relate to all things. Not all He is still subject. To the norms of society. The decorum that you expect from me, you have to respect. And expect from the president. Why would we allow him. To use his incivility. And expect me To continue to engage in civility. As it relates to his incivility. Mr. President, there are some of us who are going to stand against your incivility. We have reached a point in our history. Where we have to harken back to that which got us to this point in our history. I remember the 60s. I remember Dr. King. I remember the movement. I remember what it took to get me in this house. I'm not here because I'm so smart. I'm not here because of brilliance or good looks. I'm here because people made great sacrifices and it was incivility. It was disruption. But they were prepared to suffer the consequences. We're going to have to resort. To the same tactics. That we use in the 60s, but we did it for a worthy and noble cause. Calling the people of Congress lunatics was not noble, Mr. President. It was an ignoble. Ignoble Act of incivility.