OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made the controversial decision to not allow the names of the 13 United States military members from being read aloud in the House for a moment of silence.
The decision was made on Tuesday and Republican representatives pounce on it with fury.
“I have requested to read the names and hold a moment of silence for the 13 fallen service members when Congress convenes tomorrow morning. I hope Speaker Pelosi recognizes my request and that the People’s House will honor these heroes as soon as possible,” House Minority leader and California Rep. Kevin McCarthy said the day before Pelosi made her decision.
I have requested to read the names and hold a moment of silence for the 13 fallen service members when Congress convenes tomorrow morning. I hope Speaker Pelosi recognizes my request and that the People’s House will honor these heroes as soon as possible.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) August 31, 2021
But Pelosi did not honor the request and Republican congress members were furious.
“How badly do Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats want to cover up this Afghanistan debacle? They just blocked Members of Congress from reading the names of the service members who sacrificed their lives in Afghanistan last week. Don’t you think our military deserves better?” Rep. Carlos Gimenez said.
How badly do Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats want to cover up this Afghanistan debacle?
They just blocked Members of Congress from reading the names of the service members who sacrificed their lives in Afghanistan last week.
Don’t you think our military deserves better?
— Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) August 31, 2021
“We gaveled in, had a prayer, said the Pledge of Allegiance, took a moment of silence with pretty much all Republican veterans, then asked to be recognized to read names and bring up Afghanistan legislation. They did not acknowledge us, and just closed the House down,” Rep. Brian Mast, an Afghanistan veteran, said to The Floridian.
Another combat veteran, Rep. Greg Steube, was also incensed with the Speaker for her decision not to allow the names to be read.
“House Democrats just refused to recognize Republican veterans on the House Floor to read the names of our fallen service members in Afghanistan. That’s how far our nation has fallen,” he said.
House Democrats just refused to recognize Republican veterans on the House Floor to read the names of our fallen service members in Afghanistan.
That’s how far our nation has fallen.
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) August 31, 2021
Darvin Hoover, the dad of one of the fallen Marines, Darin T. Hoover, was apoplectic in his response to the behavior of Joe Biden during the dignified transfer.
“It’s the absolute worst feeling in the world,” he said to host Sean Hannity. “Having them be away for so long, and doing the job that they all love, there is no doubt about it. Being a Marine to these guys is everything. And having this happen to these heroes. Every one of them is a hero. Every last one of them. They died with their brothers and their sisters right next to them. Doing exactly what they all wanted to do. And that is defending this country.”
“You chose not to meet with President Biden,” the host said. “I don’t know if you want to comment on that. When I saw Biden look at his watch, I was literally like you’ve got to be kidding me, because all of this to me was preventable. Because we saw them on the march. You know, we had April, May, June, July, to extradite everybody and our equipment. We didn’t do it. Why did you choose not to meet with the president?”
“For exactly the reasons you just gave,” Hoover said. “We said absolutely not. We didn’t want to deal with them, we didn’t want to we didn’t want him anywhere near us. We as a family decided that that was the way it was going to be.”
“In reference to the checking of his watch, that didn’t happen just once,” he said. “It happened on every single one that came out of that airplane. It happened on every single one of them. They would release the salute, and he would look down at his watch on every last one. All 13, he looked down at his watch.”
“As a father, you know, seeing that and the disrespect, and hearing from his former leaders, one of his Master Sergeants said exactly what you just said, that this was avoidable, that they left them over there,’ he said. “They let them down, we can’t have that. It can’t happen ever again.”
