In a recent outburst on the Senate floor, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) expressed his frustration with the Democrat Party, accusing them of being "complicit" in advancing President Donald Trump's agenda.
He urged his fellow Democrats to show more resolve, stating, "Its time for Democrats to have a backbone."
This impassioned speech by Booker was triggered by a disagreement with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) over a bill related to law enforcement. According to Andrew Desiderio, a senior congressional reporter with Punchbowl News, the two senators were "sparring on the floor" over this contentious issue.
As reported by CBS News, the dispute centered around a "bipartisan policing package." Booker's impassioned plea on the Senate floor was a reaction to Cortez Masto's motion to expedite the passage of a set of bills related to law enforcement.
Booker, however, wanted to amend the package to ensure equitable distribution of resources among law enforcement agencies, in light of the Justice Department's alterations to grant programs and cancellation of awards.
In his speech, Booker called for a "wake up call" for the Democrat Party. He also criticized universities and law firms for capitulating to President Trump. "I see universities that should be bastions of free speech, bending at the knee to this president. I see businesses taking late night talk show hosts off the air because they dare to insult a president. I see people who want mergers suddenly think that they have to pay tribute to this president," Booker lamented.
Booker further criticized lawmakers, who he said were "elected to defend the Constitution of the United States," for turning a blind eye and allocating resources that would not benefit states like Connecticut, Illinois, or New York, but would favor the states preferred by Trump.
Booker's call to action was clear: "Its time for us to fight. Its time for us to draw lines. And, when it comes to the safety of my state being denied these grants, thats why Im standing here. Dont question my integrity. Dont question my motives. Im standing for Jersey, I am standing for my police officers, Im standing for the Constitution and Im standing for whats right.
While Booker clarified that he did not object to Cortez Mastos two bills, he expressed his opposition to "the bills that are putting resources out, that states from California to New York are not eligible for."
Booker concluded his speech with a stern warning to his fellow Democrats: "Were willing to be complicit to Donald Trump, to let this pass through, when we have all the leverage right now there is, to say, If youre as passionate about police as we are, then pass bills out of this body that will help the police officers in Washington, that will help the police officers in Illinois, that will help the police officers in New Jersey. Dont be complicit to the President of the United States, who we both know doesnt understand that language, Oh, please, oh, please, dont hurt blue states."
This incident underscores the internal conflicts within the Democrat Party, as well as the challenges they face in presenting a united front against the policies of President Trump.
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