Floor SpeechNeutral2018-07-25

IMPEACHMENT IS NOT DEAD

ImmigrationInfrastructureCivil RightsEthics

Context

On 2018-07-25, Representative Al Green (D-TX-9) delivered a floor speech titled "IMPEACHMENT IS NOT DEAD" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered infrastructure, civil rights.

Full Text

IMPEACHMENT IS NOT DEAD

Congressional Record, Volume 164 Issue 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018) [Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)] [House] [Pages H7166-H7167] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] IMPEACHMENT IS NOT DEAD The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green) for 5 minutes. Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, and still I rise. I am proud, once again, Mr. Speaker, to stand in the well of the House. I am proud to do so today, Mr. Speaker, in defense of liberty and justice for all. Mr. Speaker, if we know the truth, it can set us free. A truth: A Quinnipiac Poll, Mr. Speaker, as of July 3, this month, this year, a poll indicates that 49 percent of Americans believe that the President of the United States is a racist, 49 percent, nearly 50 percent of the country. Wonder why? Could it be because of Charlottesville? Could it be because of a Muslim ban? Could it be because of the way this President has instituted policies, such as the one that has impacted Latinos at the border, taking babies from their mothers, segregating them such that babies don't have contact with their parents? Forty-nine percent of the people believe that the President is a racist. Mr. Speaker, in the same poll, 55 percent believe that he has emboldened people who hold racist beliefs to express those beliefs publicly. The President of the United States is having an adverse impact on society. He is causing people to do ugly things. Mr. Speaker, the polls also show, this is a Harris Poll, that 42 percent believe [[Page H7167]] that the President of the United States of America should be impeached. That number would be higher, by the way, if, not but for, the effort to suppress impeachment. And I must compliment the people who are engaged in that effort. They have done exceedingly well. Some people dare not say the word ``impeachment.'' I am so glad, however, so thankful, so grateful that Dr. King was not guided by polls, because there are some polls that would cause persons to do what they should not. If you are waiting on the polls to tell you that the President ought to be impeached, you may be waiting a long time. If you are waiting on the polls to get to 60, 70, 80 percent, you may be waiting a long time. I am so glad that Dr. King did not wait for the polls to tell him to protest segregation and discrimination. The bus boycott probably wouldn't have taken place in Montgomery if there had been a wait for the polls. They probably wouldn't have crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge if there had been a wait for the polls. I am so glad that people of goodwill will stand up to bigotry, will take a stand. They don't let political expediency trump the moral imperative to speak out and speak up. I am so glad that there are people who put the moral imperative above political expediency. And finally, this: For those of you who worship at the altar of polls, when President Clinton was impeached, 29 percent of the people thought that he should be impeached, 29 percent. There are some people who are not guided by polls. I am one of them. Bigotry emanating from the Presidency is impeachable because of the harm that it is doing to society. Impeachment is not dead. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President. ____________________

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IMPEACHMENT IS NOT DEAD Congressional Record, Volume 164 Issue 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018) [Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)] [House] [Pages H7166-H7167] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] IMPEACHMENT IS NOT DEAD The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green) for 5 minutes. Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, and still I rise. I am proud, once again, Mr. Speaker, to stand in the well of the House. I am proud to do so today, Mr. Speaker, in defense of liberty and justice for all. Mr. Speaker, if we know the truth, it can set us free. A truth: A Quinnipiac Poll, Mr. Speaker, as of July 3, this month, this year, a poll indicates that 49 percent of Americans believe that the President of the United States is a racist, 49 percent, nearly 50 percent of the country. Wonder why? Could it be because of Charlottesville? Could it be because of a Muslim ban? Could it be because of the way this President has instituted policies, such as the one that has impacted Latinos at the border, taking babies from their mothers, segregating them such that babies don't have contact with their parents? Forty-nine percent of the people believe that the President is a racist. Mr. Speaker, in the same poll, 55 percent believe that he has emboldened people who hold racist beliefs to express those beliefs publicly. The President of the United States is having an adverse impact on society. He is causing people to do ugly things. Mr. Speaker, the polls also show, this is a Harris Poll, that 42 percent believe [[Page H7167]] that the President of the United States of America should be impeached. That number would be higher, by the way, if, not but for, the effort to suppress impeachment. And I must compliment the people who are engaged in that effort. They have done exceedingly well. Some people dare not say the word ``impeachment.'' I am so glad, however, so thankful, so grateful that Dr. King was not guided by polls, because there are some polls that would cause persons to do what they should not. If you are waiting on the polls to tell you that the President ought to be impeached, you may be waiting a long time. If you are waiting on the polls to get to 60, 70, 80 percent, you may be waiting a long time. I am so glad that Dr. King did not wait for the polls to tell him to protest segregation and discrimination. The bus boycott probably wouldn't have taken place in Montgomery if there had been a wait for the polls. They probably wouldn't have crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge if there had been a wait for the polls. I am so glad that people of goodwill will stand up to bigotry, will take a stand. They don't let political expediency trump the moral imperative to speak out and speak up. I am so glad that there are people who put the moral imperative above political expediency. And finally, this: For those of you who worship at the altar of polls, when President Clinton was impeached, 29 percent of the people thought that he should be impeached, 29 percent. There are some people who are not guided by polls. I am one of them. Bigotry emanating from the Presidency is impeachable because of the harm that it is doing to society. Impeachment is not dead. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President. ____________________