As most people have probably heard by now, on February 7th, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) interrupted Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s reading of the late Coretta Scott King’s 1986 letter denouncing Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who at the time was nominated for federal judgeship. Now, three decades later, Sessions is being nominated for attorney general. Despite the fact that Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Udall (D-NM), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have since been allowed to read the letter, the Senate Republicans enforced an obscure rule which forced Warren to remain silent for the remainder of the debate concerning the nomination of Sessions.
The rule that was enforced states that “No Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator.” Now, King’s letter itself has a respectful tone and states that Sessions abused his power as Attorney General in order to oppress, and cites several occasions that he did this. So, if reading King’s letter was impugning Sessions’ character, why were four other Senators later allowed to do the same thing?
Whether it was because Senator Warren is a woman and the other Senators were men, or because Coretta Scott King was a black woman, or simply because Warren was the first to cite the letter in a debate in recent history, McConnell’s move to silence Warren may still have a silver lining. Like many events that have occurred since 45 lost the popular vote, it has spurred many people to action and put a spotlight on some important issues. Interrupting Warren led many people to read King’s letter themselves, because if it couldn’t (initially) be read during the debate, it must be important.
The vote to silence Warren stays constant with the current regimes’ refusal to hear or allow any negative discussion of the choices that are being made by 45’s advisors. Instead, they spout “alternative facts” and call any news they disagree with “fake news,” despite its clear basis in reality. Anyone who is affected by this regime, especially citizens with the right to vote, has not only the ability but the responsibility to educate themselves on what is true, and what is fabricated.
Since the lies and the acts of the current regime are not only uninformed but also harmful to many (i.e. the- now suspended- Muslim ban and naming DeVos as Secretary of Education, just to barely graze the surface), it is our duty to stand up for what we believe in and what we know is right.
We must persist. Participate in the marches, call your representatives, follow Bernice King’s advice, and remember that we can use our power as voters to stop some of the nonsense. Empower yourself and don’t be afraid to let your voice be heard. Yes, we’ve been warned to stop our criticisms. Yes, we’ve been given explanation after explanation- many of them fabricated- of why the Republicans are carrying out these actions. But we will not stop until we are heard, and until our civil liberty is safe.
