Ladies and gentleman, the Democrats.
Al Green, the 77-year-old congressman from Texas, was ejected from the House chamber Tuesday evening for obnoxiously disrupting President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress. As soon as Trump bragged about having won the popular vote, which he did, Green stood up (gingerly) and waged his one-man resistance campaign by shouting nonsense and waving his cane.
Crucial context: Green has a ponytail.
It wasn't entirely clear how this was supposed to help Democrats win back young and working-class voters. According to a CNN poll, 80 percent of Americans who watched Trump's speech found Green's behavior to be inappropriate. A CBS News poll found that 76 percent approved of Green's removal from the chamber. Binyamin Appelbaum, an Ivy League graduate and member of the New York Times editorial board, disagreed with the majority. The professional journalist argued Green's act of "civil disobedience" was the best moment of Trump's entire speech. "Why did he stand alone?" Appelbaum wondered.
BEASTMODE: Mike Johnson Kicks Out Al Green for Disrupting Trump Address
Green's tantrum was overshadowed by what was actually the best moment of the night, long after the Democrat was ejected, when Trump made special guest DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old who is battling brain cancer and dreams of being a police officer, an honorary member of the U.S. Secret Service. Daniel personified joy in a way Kamala Harris never could. He hugged the Secret Service agent who delivered his new badge, proudly hoisting it over his head while his beaming father lifted him out of his seat. Republicans stood and cheered while Democrats sulked in silence. Minutes later, Daniel gave an adorable high five to Jason Hartley, a high school senior whose dream was to attend West Point, after Trump revealed that his application had been accepted.
It was later reported that Green represents the congressional district in southwest Houston where Daniel resides. Green apparently decided that performative petulance was more important than sticking around to honor his constituent and celebrate joy. "It was worth it," Green told reporters after his unpopular stunt. Even some Democrats, including former speaker Nancy Pelosi, seemed annoyed by the congressman's outburst. Republicans on Wednesday introduced a resolution censuring Green for his "breach of proper conduct," but the Democrat was unfazed. "My response is, 'Guilty,'" he said.
Green's refusal to cheer on his constituent was arguably not even the most shocking display of left-wing disrespect toward Daniel. MSNBC host Rachel Maddow said it was "disgusting" of Trump to make a "spectacle out of praising a young man who has thus far survived pediatric cancer, as if the president had something to do with that." Maddow's colleague Nicolle Wallace reacted even more hysterically, saying she hoped Daniel would grow up to be a cop who doesn't kill himself after having to "defend the United States Capitol against Donald Trump's supporters."
Trump lamented during his speech that Green and his fellow Democrats were unwilling to join him in "celebrating" the greatness of America. "There is absolutely nothing I can do to make them happy," he said. "It's just very sad, and it shouldn't be this way."
Green has served in Congress since 2005. He is best known for proposing a new cabinet-level position called the "secretary of reconciliation" whose job would be to "eliminate racism and discrimination in all of its forms." He was also the first Democrat to file articles of impeachment against Trump just two weeks after the inauguration.
Further reading: Cry More, Losers: Angsty Dems Jeer as Trump Makes Childhood Dreams Come True