You read it correctly. Representative John Yarmuth (KY-3/Louisville) had his button taken away! Just when you thought our weak, incompetent Congress couldn’t get any more retarded? This happens.
Recall that he distributed lapel buttons last month reading “Article 1″ - a reminder to Congress that they’re the head honchos under the Constitution– not the President.
The House parliamentarian has told Yarmuth and his button battalion that they may no longer wear their Article 1 buttons during speeches on the House floor. People will just have to learn some other way that the Founding Fathers intended the elected officials under the dome, not inside the White House, to run the country.
According to the parliamentarian’s office, the pins violate House rules that forbid the “wearing of badges by members to communicate a message.” In other words, the buttons must come off.
And with the buttons, so come the gloves. A ticked-off Yarmuth whipped off a letter this week to House Parliamentarian John Sullivan challenging the ruling and asking close to (but maybe not quite) a million questions as to why his button has been banned.
Yup. It’s the end of the world if our elected officials attempt to educate themselves and the five people who watch C-SPAN in a non-partisan, good-for-everyone kind of way.
We’ll leave you with a question from Yarmie, “If a simple mention of the founding document of the country constitutes a message, how does it differ from the wearing of the American flag?”
8 responses so far ↓
1 Nick // Nov 9, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I hope he continues to wear his Article I button, and I hope he adds another one: Amendment I.
2 Blog Reader // Nov 9, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Don’t his colleagues in the House Democrat caucus set the rules? Yep, they do.
3 Jeff Noble // Nov 10, 2007 at 6:20 pm
I received my Article 1 button as a birthday gift back in September before they were officially released and have worn it proudly since that time. Even now, as I am preparing to attend tonight’s KFA dinner, it is a part of my evening apparel.
So I hope John does his best Harry Truman routine and “gives ‘em Hell” about this miscarriage of justice. The irony is you ask the Congress to step up to the plate and do their duty, and they remind of a rule telling you you can’t wear a button to remind them to step up to the plate and do their duty.
Also, I second Nick’s comment above. What ended up being the First Amendment to the United States Constitution is one of our Republic’s treasures. It would seem the denial by the House Parliamentarian of John’s display of an Article 1 button may itself be an abridgement of the First Amendment.
Who better than a journalist like John to take up the challenge and right this wrong.
4 Mike Bailey // Nov 11, 2007 at 12:02 am
Yarmuth rules. That is all. :-)
5 Jefferson Poole // Nov 11, 2007 at 2:58 pm
What difference does it make? Yarmuth’s job is to go there, cast votes, make speeches, etc., not to wear stupid buttons for attention. What a child. Yarmuth is like a grown-up teenager.
How about you all just stop complaining?
6 jake // Nov 11, 2007 at 3:05 pm
“Jefferson” - The point of the buttons was to remind Congress of their importance– some some “pothead 60’s protester’s” move to protest. And it was supported by both Democrats and Republicans.
Pushing for understanding of the Constitution (tons of electeds had no idea what Article 1 was) is hardly a cry for attention.
What? Quit complaining and allow people to do nothing but foam at the mouth with Rush Limbaugh-esque spin 24/7? Fat chance.
Do differing points of view that focus on facts get you fired up or what? Seems that way.
7 jake // Nov 11, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Further– No Congressman’s job is to stand around as an empty suit.
Would you rather he just toe the line and pack legislation with all kinds of pork?
8 Wake up Uhmerakuh // Nov 11, 2007 at 5:17 pm
I’m with yoo Jeffy. It’s not Yarmuth’s job to be a leader or a teacher or a good example. Heck, it’s not even his job to know what he’s doing. His job like every other KY MOC is to just do what Mitch McConnell sez. He’s the godfather, you know. Yarmuth is acting like his constituents expect him to be a Democrat or intelligent or informed or some kind of Yankee ass stuff like that. Heck no. All he needs to know is what Don Mitch tells him.
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