Veteran And State Rep. Tom Barrett BLASTS House Dems For Shocking Prayer+Pledge Of Allegiance Protest

State Rep. Tom Barrett with wife Ashley and family

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

As National Anthem hysteria continues to spread across America, the Michigan House Dems have decided to join in on the action with their own version of "taking a knee."

Earlier today, many members of the House Dems caucus protested during the opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, refusing to participate in a decades long tradition of the Michigan Legislature.

State Rep. Tom Barrett, who has served in the Army for many years (and continues to serve while in the House) absolutely shredded his peers in a Facebook statement.

Barrett called the move "pandering," adding "of course I believe in the right of free speech. I also believe in my right to express my disappointment in their decision."

 Barrett is the leading State Senate candidate to replace Sen. Rick Jones in 2018.

Read Barrett's statement below:

"Today, in a clear attempt to pander to some constituency, members of the House Democratic Caucus protested the Pledge of Allegiance on the floor of the House of Representatives. Each day as we gavel into session we open with prayer and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. It is a completely non-controversial and unifying reminder of the gravity of the decisions we make on behalf of our constituents. 

Today, however, members of the House Democratic Caucus decided to protest that. 
Here is the reality-we are not entertainers, celebrities, or athletes. We don't make ESPN highlight reels, we make laws that affect the lives of our neighbors, our kids, and our communities. 

Unlike NFL football players, each and every legislator took an oath of office pledging to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Michigan. The Pledge of Allegiance serves as a reminder of that oath that we all took on our first day in office. It brings to the front of my mind each day the gravity of the decisions we make in our State Capitol. None of us are forced to come here and represent our districts. This is a voluntary position. Any member who protests the unifying message of our Pledge of Allegiance-and to the republic for which it stands-should examine their priorities and decide if they are fit to serve. Do we not have any shared values anymore in our society? Is there nothing we can find as common ground with one another, not even our Pledge of Allegiance to our flag? 

Some of you are familiar with the story of my great-grandfather, Louis Rabaut. He was a congressman from Michigan who is best known for adding the words "under God" to our Pledge of Allegiance in the early 1950s. Amazingly he was a Democrat. I never met him because he died 20 years before I was born. I'm sure he is rolling over in his grave today from the embarrassment of what has become of this sad display.

And before anyone asks-yes, of course I believe in the right of free speech. I also believe in my right to express my disappointment in their decision."

According to MIRS:

"Ten members of the House Democratic caucus linked arms on the House floor today as opposed to putting their hand over their heart for the Pledge of Allegiance as a way to draw attention to racial injustices..." 

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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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