Marjorie Taylor Greene is at it again, causing a stir in Congress over During a House Oversight Committee meeting after making racially-charged comments about another member of the committee.
The verbal altercation began over comments made by Rep. Greene regarding Rep. Crockett’s appearance and escalated into a series of personal insults.
The Players
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA): Known for her controversial statements and conservative views.
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX): A Democratic member who was the target of Greene’s comments.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY): A high-profile progressive who engaged in the exchange with Greene.
The Setting
The incident took place during a House Oversight Committee meeting, which was convened to discuss holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt.
The Quote
- Greene to Crockett: “I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading.”
- Ocasio-Cortez’s response: “That is absolutely unacceptable. How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person.”
- Crockett’s retort: “If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleach blonde, bad-built, butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?”
The Response
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez immediately sought to have Greene’s words stricken from the record, leading to a suspension of the hearing while the matter was considered. Despite the motion, Greene refused to apologize.
The Aftermath
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In the aftermath of the exchange, Crockett has called Green a racist, and said that she and other Trump supporters who criticize her appearance are often criticizing fashion choices that are popular in the black community.
Ocasio-Cortez has pointed out that she believes Greene’s remarks were fueled by alcohol, noting that several republicans were drinking from red Solo cups in the committee room.
Who Stands to Gain?
Sadly, all three of the Congresswomen involved in this exchange are likely to gain from this. Fiery exchanges like this tend to rally the base of each person involved and bolster each politician’s popularity.
Who Loses?
The loser in this situation is the American people — on the left and the right. Verbal altercations of this nature will only increase the partisan divide in this country.
About The Georgia 14th: According to the U.S. Census, District 14 is 85.3% white and has a median household income of $42,700. The district has a high school graduation rate of 79.1% and a college graduation rate of 16.6%. The district includes Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Walker and Whitfield Counties as well as part of Pickens County and Cobb County.
About The Public Record: This article is part of an ongoing series highlighting statements by public officials called The Public Record, where we present recent quotes and actions of public officials or candidates. You may not be able to attend every public meeting or see every occasion where your representatives speak, but you still have a right to know what your representatives and those who hope to represent you have been saying.
“Because public men and women are amenable ‘at all times’ to the people, they must conduct the public’s business out in the open.” -Charles L. Weltner Sr., former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court
