Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was forced to cancel a lavish dinner for new Democrats who had just been elected to Congress after a photo went viral online showing tables being set up for the extravagant event.
The photo immediately caused Pelosi and Democrats to be hit with backlash from social media users who accused them of hypocrisy for throwing such a party while simultaneously banning Americans from having large gatherings amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
House Dem and GOP leaders are holding respective dinners for new members.
.@SpeakerPelosi [1] told me it’s safe. “It’s very spaced,” she said and there is enhanced ventilation and the Capitol physician signed off. pic.twitter.com/ZXjf72lnrP [2]
— Leigh Ann Caldwell (@LACaldwellDC) November 13, 2020 [3]
Drew Hamill, Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, initially stood by how “safe” the event was, writing on Twitter, “Our office strictly follows the guidance of the Office of Attending Physician, including for this dinner. To be a further model for the nation, this event has been modified to allow Members-elect to pick up their meals to go in a socially-distanced manner.”
However, he eventually backed down to the backlash, writing, “Members-elect are now picking up their boxed meals and departing the Capitol. There is no group dinner. Members-elect are in DC already for orientation.”
Members-elect are now picking up their boxed meals and departing the Capitol. There is no group dinner. Members-elect are in DC already for orientation. https://t.co/g5XNnA3ky0 [4]
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) November 14, 2020 [5]
Social media users on all sides of the political spectrum were appalled that Democrats would even consider having a gathering such as this one right now, according to Fox News [6].
“Imagine telling families not to hold Thanksgiving (we shouldn’t) and then doing this. Come. On,” tweeted New York magazine reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones [7], with leftwing comedian Billy Eichner [8] adding, “Terrible and embarrassing for all involved,”
“This should be canceled and frankly I’m shocked anybody thought having an indoor social meal right now was a good idea to begin with,” wrote Vox journalist Aaron Rupar [9] wrote. Radio host Buck Sexton [10] tweeted, “Covid rules are for the little people.”
This is happening while Americans are told it will be against the law for them to have Thanksgiving with their families,” tweeted Washington Examiner journalist Jerry Dunleavy [11]. “Yet again, the political class is openly & publicly showing it doesn’t think the rules apply to them, thus helping destroy the trust needed to beat this virus.
Even Chelsea Clinton herself weighed in, and she couldn’t defend Democrats on this one either.
“Please cancel these in-person dinners, @SpeakerPelosi & @kevinomccarthy to keep everyone safe from #covid19 – yourselves, your new members, servers, the Capitol police and all of their families and contacts. And, to show public health leadership,” she wrote.
Please cancel these in-person dinners, @SpeakerPelosi [1] & @kevinomccarthy [12] to keep everyone safe from #covid19 [13] – yourselves, your new members, servers, the Capitol police and all of their families and contacts. And, to show public health leadership. https://t.co/HC1AOYYBgp [14]
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) November 13, 2020 [15]
This isn’t the first time that Pelosi has been caught trying to break her own COVID rules. Earlier this year, she was caught on camera maskless at a hair salon in San Francisco, breaking her own state and city ordinances. Despite the fact that she was caught red-handed, Pelosi stayed defiant and nonsensically claimed she was “set up” by the salon owner.
This piece was written by James Samson on November 15, 2020. It originally appeared in LifeZette [16] and is used by permission.
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Pelosi Goes Off On Republicans As Trump Refuses To Concede – ‘Stop The Circus And Get To Work’ [18]
Chicago’s Liberal Mayor Lori Lightfoot Hit With Backlash For Video Celebrating Return Of ‘Science’ Thanks To Biden [19]