Quotes
This is not normal.”
In one confrontation, the Republican Lance Gooden grabbed and threw in the air the representative Melanie Stansbury’s sign reading
I heard the speaker when he said that I should cease,
Green said
We demonstrated a very strong opposition. The fact that you saw Democrats from every spectrum, every type of district, sit and listen to the president silently and disregard the lies that he was telling shows a very strong condemnation, of course, we chose to react in slightly different ways.”
Yassamin Ansari added
During the 10:00 hour ET, Congressman Al Green will be censured this morning for standing up to President Trump.”
Just after 7 a.m. on Thursday morning, Green’s account statedWhat I did was from my heart. People are suffering. And I was talking about Medicaid. I didn’t just say you don’t have a mandate. I said you don’t have a mandate to cut Medicaid,
he addedSo I’m not angry with the speaker. I’m not angry with the officers. I’m not upset with the members who are going to bring the motions or resolution to sanction. I will suffer the consequences,
Green said
Na-nah, na-na-nah-na ... goodbye!"
He did not resist and walked out of the room as Republicans chanted in unisonI did it from my heart and I will suffer whatever the consequences are,
he addedThe president said he had a mandate, and I was making it clear to the president that he no mandate to cut Medicaid,
Green told press in the hallway outside of Trump’s address
I think [Green's protest is] unprecedented. Certainly in the modern era. It wasn't an excited utterance. It was a, you know, planned, prolonged protest,
Speaker Johnson told reporters on WednesdayThis resolution is offered in all seriousness, something that I believe we must do in order to get us to the next level of conduct in this hallowed chamber,
Newhouse said
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I think my Democratic colleagues really embarrassed themselves tonight, and their leadership should be even more ashamed of themselves. They sat there and allowed it to happen and didn’t say a word,
said LawlerWhere were my Republican friends? Nobody apologized for interrupting Joe Biden time and again,
McGovern saidOn some issues that are matters of conscience, it is better to stand alone than not stand at all.”
He concluded his remarks by sayingEverybody has to make their expression of how they see things. I think we should keep our focus on the president’s speech,
Pelosi saidThis is a matter of principle. This is a matter of conscience,
Green saidFriends, I would do it again,
Green saidThis isn’t a political stunt. It truly is about standing for the integrity of the institution. I would hope there is bipartisan support for that. We’ve got to turn things down.”
He told NBC News of his decision to file the resolutionIf you get in the way, if you’re arrested, then you’ve got to be willing to suffer the consequences,
Green told reporters at the Capitol on WednesdayI'm willing to suffer whatever punishment is available to me. I didn't say to anyone, don't punish me. I've said I'll accept the punishment,
Green said, according to the White House press pool report