Don't feel like reading? Then just go here and watch the video:
http://rawstory.com/...
Good stuff starts at about 4:20.
During a debate on a housing assistance bill for Katrina victims, Rep. Tom Price (Asshole-GA) put forth a typically odious amendment that would limit the way localities can come up with matching funds to qualify for the housing aid. In response, Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS), whose house was destroyed by Katrina and who now lives with his brother while he rebuilds, said that Price wanted to punish the victims of Katrina for the crimes of the Bush admin.
But what Taylor said next apparently crossed the bounds of protocol in the house and stirred a bit of delightful political theater.
Taylor: "Mr. Price, I wish you'd have the decency, if you're going to do that to the people of south Mississippi, that maybe you ought to come visit south Mississippi, and see what has happened, before you hold them to a standard you would never hold your own people to, and that you fail to hold the Bush administration to."
Now, being accused of covering for the Bush crime family is one thing, but apparently someone questioning your decency simply cannot be tolerated! Price immediately asked the house speaker to strike Taylor's words, which astonishingly, THE SPEAKER AGREED TO DO!!! (I don't know who the speaker was, but I'd certainly like to know.) And as a result, Taylor lost his speaking privileges for the remainder of the day.
Luckily, out of nowhere, a reliable hero stepped to the plate to save the day. Rep. Barney Frank (Good Guy-MA) asked for a vote to restore Taylor's speaking privileges which then passed on a voice vote. Some pug dork protested but in the end Taylor was allowed to speak. He offered only the slightest apology but then slammed Price again, ending with a round of applause from the Dem side of the house. A nice moment to end our political drama on.
Now, let's be honest here. Taylor is no progressive but the incident is an example of how Dems need to stand up for themselves. Frankly, this should have ended with the Speaker refusing to acquiesce to Price's original tantrum. Thank God we have people like Barbara Boxer and Barney Frank who refuse to be bullied. More than a few Dems should take a lesson from them.