Pelosi Slammed for Allowing Recently COVID-19 Positive Rep to Vote in House Chamber for Speaker
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Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and her Democrat House colleagues were slammed over the in-person voting for Speaker of the House in the wake of COVID-19, including allowing a Representative who recently tested positive with the coronavirus and others who cut their quarantine short.
Pelosi also came under fire for the last-minute construction of a plexiglass barrier in the House Chamber for three lawmakers that left quarantine to vote in-person.
Last month, Wisconsin Democrat Representative Gwen Moore said she tested positive for COVID-19 but expressed her eagerness to travel to Washington, D.C. because she was “medically cleared to travel and work.”
Thank you all for the well wishes. I am feeling good! My quarantine is over and I am medically cleared to travel and work on behalf of Wisconsin’s Fourth Congressional District.
— Rep. Gwen Moore (@RepGwenMoore) January 3, 2021
Moore states her doctor cleared her, however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes quarantining is most effective seven to 14 days to reduce the risk of spreading the virus depending on whether the person has symptoms or not.
Critics commented on social media.
The coronavirus won’t stop Nancy Pelosi’s quest for power.
Democrat Rep. Gwen Moore announced a positive coronavirus test 6 days ago.
She hasn’t been in DC since May & has been voting by proxy.
But because Pelosi wants power, despite being COVID +, Moore is headed back to DC. https://t.co/iHUpfWVnba
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) January 3, 2021
6 days after testing positive for Covid is not quarantined, it’s 14 days. You Dems will do anything for power. Sad.
— Jane 💋 (@VampyKiss) January 4, 2021
More rules for thee but not for me! Seems to be the Democratic motto!
— CEHuben (@HubenCarol) January 4, 2021
Earlier in 2020 during the 116th Congress, House Members were allowed to remote vote due to quarantining, if they were at risk, and for the health and safety of others.
However, House rules are not carried over from one year to the next and must be voted on with the new 117th Congress, which was sworn in on Sunday.
Pelosi was reelected and commented on social media.
As we are sworn in today, we accept a responsibility as daunting and demanding as any that previous generations of leadership have faced.
Our most urgent priority will continue to be defeating the coronavirus – and defeat it, we will! #117thCongress pic.twitter.com/HD5w1OUfx3
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 4, 2021
This is Pelosi’s fourth time serving as Speaker which she narrowly won since all of the House Republicans voted for California House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
427 votes cast for Speaker:
216 – Pelosi
209 – McCarthy
1 – Duckworth
1 – Jeffries
3 – "present"Nancy Pelosi elected Speaker.
— House Press Gallery (@HouseDailyPress) January 3, 2021
Pelosi and her Democrat House colleagues were called out for last-minute construction of a plexiglass barrier.
Fox News reports:
“This is completely against everything we’re told throughout this entire pandemic for house operations,” Davis told reporters Sunday. “To build a structure like that in the dark of night, to only protect the votes that Speaker Pelosi needs to get elected speaker, is shameful.”
Critics also commented on social media.
House members not setting a great example of social distancing during this floor vote right now… pic.twitter.com/Vwk47X0abf
— Cristina Marcos (@cimarcos) January 3, 2021
In December, Democrat New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was highly critical of the Democrat party leaders, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, bluntly saying in an interview, “we need new leadership.”
However, Ocasio-Cortez and the newer Democrat House members voted for Pelosi.
Politico reports:
“We are just an extremely slim amount of votes away from risking the speakership to the Republican Party,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who in the past has been vocal about the need for transition to new leadership but voted for Pelosi on Sunday. “It’s bigger than any one of us.”
Let’s go! 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 https://t.co/24ZLM8Expv
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 3, 2021
Pelosi is all about Pelosi and was more concerned about maintaining her position as House Speaker by having House Members vote in-person, regardless of the consequences of the pandemic’s impact upon their health and the health of others.
