Constitutional scholar and law professor Jonathan Turley admonished House Democrats for their reactions to and behavior during President Trump’s State of the Union address.
As the president delivered his annual address Tuesday night, many Democratic lawmakers remained seated and scowled as he touted a strong economy and vowed to win reelection in 2020.
“From the instant I took office, I moved rapidly to revive the U.S. economy — slashing a record number of job-killing regulations, enacting historic and record-setting tax cuts, and fighting for fair and reciprocal trade agreements,” Trump said. “If we hadn’t reversed the failed economic policies of the previous administration, the world would not now be witnessing this great economic success.”
Cameras in the room caught Democrats looking apathetic. At another point, Democrats began chanting “HR3” as Trump called for a bill to lower prescription drug prices.
“The facial expressions and head shaking is a new low for the House,” Turley said. “Moreover, the protests of members was incredibly inappropriate. A president speaks at the SOTU as a guest of both houses.”
The facial expressions and head shaking is a new low for the House. Moreover, the protests of members was incredibly inappropriate. A president speaks at the SOTU as a guest of both houses. . . .
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) February 5, 2020
“You do not have applaud or to stand, but to heckle, mock, and interrupt destroys both the decorum and traditions of the House. I can understand why the address was objectionable to the opposition but that is no excuse for this sad departure of history,” he added.
You do not have applaud or to stand, but to heckle, mock, and interrupt destroys both the decorum and traditions of the House. I can understand why the address was objectionable to the opposition but that is no excuse for this sad departure of history.
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) February 5, 2020
Trump made no mention of the articles of impeachment he is facing at the hands of House Democrats during the 75-minute-long speech.
Turley, who testified as a GOP witness before the House committee that conducted the impeachment investigation, published a new op-ed on Wednesday, hours before Trump is expected to be acquitted by the Senate, slamming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for ripping up her copy of the address.
“It was the tradition of the House that a speaker must remain in stone-faced neutrality no matter what comes off that podium,” he said. “The tradition ended last night with one of the more shameful and inglorious moments of the House in its history.”
