The morning after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell invoked an obscure Senate rule to bar fellow Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., from reading a 1986 letter written by civil rights icon Coretta Scott King against the federal judiciary nomination of Jeff Sessions on the floor, pundits are busy debating whether the Kentucky Republican pulled off a brilliant political play meant to marginalize a rising progressive star or if he inadvertently elevated her profile and King’s scathing testimony against Sessions. While some pointed to Warren’s deep unpopularity amongst the right-wing base as evidence that McConnell was strategic in his decision to silence her, Warren’s Democratic colleagues took action to demonstrate that McConnell’s move was, if nothing else, undoubtedly political, by continuing to read King’s 10-page letter on the Senate floor Wednesday.
Neither Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, New Mexico’s Tom Udall nor Oregon’s Jeff Merkely were censured by Republican leadership when they took to the floor Wednesday morning to continue reading the words of King.
“The idea that a letter, a statement made by Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr., a letter that she wrote, could not be presented and spoken about here on the floor of the Senate, is to me incomprehensible,” Sanders said before reading the letter. “I want the American people to make a decision whether or not we should be able to look at Senator Sessions’ record and hear from one of the heroines of the Civil Rights Movement.”
Republican senators silencing @SenWarren because she quoted a letter from Coretta Scott King in opposition to Jeff Sessions is outrageous.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 8, 2017
King’s 1986 letter against Sessions’ failed nomination was never entered into the congressional record by then-Judiciary Committee Chair Strom Thurmond. The Washington Post published the full, 10-page letter from King to the committee Tuesday evening.
“I do not believe Jefferson Sessions possesses the requisite judgment, competence and sensitivity to the rights guaranteed by the federal civil rights laws to qualify for appointment to the federal district court,” Sen. Merkely read from Scott’s letter after the GOP gagged Warren for the remaining 30 hours of debate on Sen. Sessions’ nomination for U.S. Attorney General:
My mom's words were finally read at #Sessionshearing by @SenJeffMerkley but why was @SenWarren silenced? #letlizspeak & defeat patriarchism https://t.co/qcwlBCL1hq
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) February 8, 2017
For her part, Warren took to Facebook to continue reading King’s letter in a video that has already been viewed 4.5 million times.
The liberal group MoveOn announced Wednesday that its members have donated more than $250,000 to Warren’s re-election campaign since McConnell silenced her. Social media users were quick to use McConnell’s words against Warren as a rallying cry.
“Sen. Warren was giving a lengthy speech,” he said. “She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”
He continued: “The Senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama.”
To be clear, @tedcruz can read Green Eggs and Ham on the senate floor, but @SenWarren can't read #CorettaScottKing #LetLizSpeak
— Jason Freeman (@603Freeman) February 8, 2017
She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, #ShePersisted. Ida B. Wells pic.twitter.com/WEGKlzFnRL
— Gwenda Bond 🖼️The Frame-Up🖼️ out now (@Gwenda) February 8, 2017
Twitter trended #LetLizSpeak, “Silencing Elizabeth Warren,” and “Sen. Warren.”
Republicans have no shame. Even during #BlackHistoryMonth they dishonor the words of Coretta Scott King. #LetLizSpeak
— Rep. Barbara Lee (Archived) (@RepBarbaraLee) February 8, 2017
It is demeaning to the memory of Coretta Scott King and harmful to the process for the Republicans to silence @SenWarren. #LetLizSpeak
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 8, 2017
"She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless she persisted." #letlizspeak #Sessionshearing pic.twitter.com/FdSlIyxsrI
— T. Fisher King (@T_FisherKing) February 8, 2017
"She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, #shepersisted."
Marsha P. Johnson & Sylvia Rivera pic.twitter.com/AY5bPtXBUi
— Renee Bracey Sherman (@RBraceySherman) February 8, 2017
She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. pic.twitter.com/ebXJRX23Re
— marc (@msnetik) February 8, 2017
"Nevertheless, she persisted." pic.twitter.com/75Owib52Mb
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) February 8, 2017
Despite the online backlash to McConnell’s move, several Senate Republicans are boasting of their role in silencing Warren and King. Here’s Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines:
“The Senator Will Take Her Seat” https://t.co/UEum8WKESM
— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) February 8, 2017
.@JohnCornyn on shutting down @elizabethforma: "I would hope that maybe we all have been chastened a little bit"
— Cameron Joseph (@cam_joseph) February 8, 2017
Hysterical liberals are claiming Senator Warren was silenced for "quoting MLK's widow."
That's simply not what happened. https://t.co/EjqauWCPT3
— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) February 8, 2017
“We have rules of decorum in the Senate, just like in the House of Representatives — Rule 19. It’s been in effect for more than a hundred years,” Arizona Republican Jeff Flake said on “Fox & Friends.”
“So you don’t impugn another member’s character, and I think it’s a good rule.”
