Congressman Al Green Calls for Incivility–For a Noble Cause
The President gave a speech before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. I normally watch such speeches out of civic interest, but I skipped, because I am exhausted from all the news, I expected no good news, and because he looks to television ratings for validation.
I did catch the beginning on NPR. I wasn’t paying attention. But I heard Al Green’s disruption. I tuned out shortly after, but hoped that Al Green was going to be only the first of many Democrats ready to fight with proper vigor against the dismantling of the Federal Government and our Constitution.
Well, not so much. Representative Green was censured for his actions. He gave a speech acknowledging his censure and proceeded to explain why he did what he did. I appreciated what he had to say to such a degree that I transcribed a portion to share.
Why, Al Green, would you come to the well, before your colleagues and 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 can not allow the President’s incivility to take advantage of our civility. And that’s what’s happening in our country. His incivility is overwhelming our civility. We can not allow this. [My] act of incivility was in direct response to the President’s incivility.
Mister President: you sir, you were wrong, when you pointed to the members of Congress, and called them “lunatics”–Democrats, I might add–called 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 not as it relates to all things, but not as it relates 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?
Mister 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 used in the 60s. But we did it for a worthy and noble cause. Calling the members of Congress “lunatics” was not noble, Mr. President. It was an ignoble–ignoble act of incivility.
But I remember how we marched and how we protested. And I’m prepared to do it again. If you treat me like you treated me in the 60s, I’m going to respond the way I responded in the 60s. It is time for us to use the same level of incivility that was used in the 60s for a noble cause: to save Medicaid, to protect Medicare, to prevent the demise of Social Security. It is time for us to take that stand!
Incivility emanating from the highest office in the land can not be tolerated and has to be negated.
–Rep. Al Green, 2025-03-06
