This morning, there was Senate hearing that has the nation’s news cycle buzzing. Democratic Senator Cory Booker sounded off on a loud, angry tirade about Trump’s alleged comments about Haiti and African countries to the secretary of Department of Homeland Security, Kristjen Nielsen. Senator Booker was raising his voice, waving his hands, and had a very angry face while staring at Secretary Nielsen. To see the video, click here.
Secretary Nielsen testified in front of Congress today saying that she did not hear President Trump use the word “sh*thole.” She did admit the following: “I don’t dispute that the president was using tough language,” followed by, “Others in the room were also using tough language.” So what we see now is that Senator Booker is yelling at Secretary Nielsen for her recollection of events. Booker stated “Your silence and your amnesia is complicity” even though Secretary Nielsen literally recalled the events. She had honestly said that tough language had been used from both sides.
Now, don’t get me wrong, if the President did say these things, I can see why someone may be upset or want to raise your voice out of anger. As this is being typed, news outlets and social media are parading Senator Booker as a hero. Why is nobody talking about how he said them? Tone is important. Raising your voice to a woman is absolutely unacceptable, especially in such a public setting. There is a right and a wrong way to talk to other adults and screaming at them is not the right way.
Let’s spin this situation around: Imagine if it were a Republican man yelling at a woman who was the Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security under a Democratic president’s administration. The outrage from the mainstream media would be unbearable. It’s not what Senator Booker said that has me upset. I understand why he would have those things to say, but I am upset at how he screamed at a woman in a Congressional hearing. The boom of his voice and the hateful look in his eyes was meant to be intimidating.