Today John Kelly finished his news conference with a pointed character assassination of Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, calling her an “empty barrel.”
I’ll end with this: In October — April, rather, of 2015, I was still on active duty, and I went to the dedication of the new FBI field office in Miami. And it was dedicated to two men who were killed in a firefight in Miami against drug traffickers in 1986 — a guy by the name of Grogan and Duke. Grogan almost retired, 53 years old; Duke, I think less than a year on the job. (Editor’s note: The F.B.I. agent for which the building is named was named Jerry L. Dove, not Duke.)
Anyways, they got in a gunfight and they were killed. Three other FBI agents were there, were wounded, and now retired. So we go down — Jim Comey gave an absolutely brilliant memorial speech to those fallen men and to all of the men and women of the FBI who serve our country so well, and law enforcement so well.
There were family members there. Some of the children that were there were three or four years old when their dads were killed on that street in Miami-Dade. Three of the men that survived the fight were there, and gave a rendition of how brave those men were and how they gave their lives.
And a congresswoman stood up, and in the long tradition of empty barrels making the most noise, stood up there and all of that and talked about how she was instrumental in getting the funding for that building, and how she took care of her constituents because she got the money, and she just called up President Obama, and on that phone call he gave the money — the $20 million — to build the building. And she sat down, and we were stunned. Stunned that she had done it. Even for someone that is that empty a barrel, we were stunned.
But, you know, none of us went to the press and criticized. None of us stood up and were appalled. We just said, O.K., fine.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/us/politics/statement-kelly-gold-star.html
It seems the derogatory term “empty barrel” means, “the stupid person who talks the most.” It may have derived for the quotation: “An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.” attributed to Plato.
What Kelly would have us believe is that he went down to this solemn dedication of the new FBI building, Jim Comey gave a stirring speech and this loud stupid black congresswoman stood up and took credit for everything. Everyone was aghast, and of course, she invoked the black president to further infuriate everyone.
Well, that’s not the way it happened. Kelly’s version of events simply does not square with reality. It may be that he was personally disgusted by the participation at the event of a black congresswoman who was instrumental in getting the building dedicated, but that says a lot more about John Kelly than it does about Frederica Wilson. Plus, he gets several salient facts just plain wrong.
The building was being dedicated to two FBI agents Grogan and Dove, not Grogan and Duke, who were killed in a fierce gunfight with bank robbers in 1986. For all his sanctimony, Kelly didn’t even know the fallen agent’s name (sound familiar?). Also, Dove had been an agent for four years when he was killed, not less than one.
Agents Killed or Harmed on April 11, 1986
- Benjamin P. Grogan, 53, a 25-year veteran; deceased
- Jerry Dove, 30, an agent since 1982; deceased
- Gordon G. McNeill, 43, a 19-year veteran; seriously wounded
- Edmundo Mireles, Jr., 33, an agent since 1979; seriously wounded
- John F. Hanlon, Jr., 48, entered on duty in August 1963; seriously wounded
- Richard A. Manauzzi, 43, 15 years of service; injured, treated, and released
https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/fatal-firefight-in-miami
But more troubling than Kelly’s disrespect for an FBI agent killed in the line of duty in 1986 is his willingness to distort the facts of that solemn day to bash Congresswoman Wilson for political purposes. The numbers he cites do not jive with the actual cost of the buildings, and the timing of the authorization for the buildings was actually before Wilson was elected, so it makes no sense that she would have taken credit for “getting the money.” Most disturbing is Kelly’s attempt to smear and discredit Congresswoman Wilson for her very successful and laudable effort’s regarding the building’s dedication.
What Congresswoman Wilson did do was to work a bill through Congress, soliciting Obama’s help, to have the building named after the two fallen heroes, Grogan and Dove, and she was highly praised and respected at the time for her efforts.
This evening Wilson pushed back against Kelly’s account:
The Miami Herald could not obtain video of the April 10, 2015, event, or a transcript of the remarks. Wilson denied saying what Kelly described, and said the timing made no sense.
The General Services Administration had already bid out a $144 million construction contract for the project in September 2010, just a few months before Wilson won her congressional seat. The bidding for federal projects takes place after Congress has secured the funding.
“That is crazy that I got [the money] and Mr. Obama just gave it to me,” Wilson said. “That building was funded long before I got to Congress. I didn’t say that. I have staff, people who write the speeches. You can’t say that.”
The 380,000-square-foot pair of glass towers cost $194 million to build, much higher than the $20 million Kelly cited in his White House remarks.
Months before the ceremony, Republican members of Congress from the Miami area praised Wilson’s effort to honor the FBI agents with a building in their names.
“I especially commend my friend, the gentlelady from Miami, Dr. Wilson, for spearheading this effort to commemorate and thank our law enforcement officers and especially to highlight the sacrifice these two agents made,” Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said on the House floor.
...
In 2015, Wilson won praise from Miami Republicans for sponsoring the bill to name the long anticipated federal building after two agents who became legends in local law enforcement.
At the dedication ceremony, James Comey, then director of the FBI, lauded Wilson’s legislation, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama three days before the April 2015 ceremony.
“Rep. Wilson truly did the impossible, and we are eternally grateful,” Comey said in his remarks.
On Thursday evening, an administration spokesman issued a statement that said: “The White House stands by Gen. Kelly’s account of the event.”
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article179869321.html
Note that, on that day, far from being disgusted by Wilson, as Kelly would have us believe, Comey was effusive in his praise for her. “Rep. Wilson truly did the impossible, and we are eternally grateful.”
Now contrast Comey’s words with Kelly’s description of events. “And she sat down, and we were stunned. Stunned that she had done it. Even for someone that is that empty a barrel, we were stunned.” ‘Stunned’ — Big tough marine John Kelly was ‘stunned.’
What was he stunned about? Is he implying that Congresswoman Wilson was disrespecting Grogan and Dove? Because, that is certainly the implication. By invoking the false narrative of Congresswoman Wilson disrespecting the deceased FBI agents, it is Kelly who makes them pawns in his political game of smear and character assassination, and that is what is truly disrespectful.
And let’s be very clear. This was a premeditated action by John Kelly. He had this story all prepared. “I’ll end with this...” His recitation is full of sketchy details to enhance the perception of authenticity. He weaves in his name calling and racist tropes —loud black woman, “gave me the money.” He carefully lays out his characterization of her as rude and disrespectful. And, makes it clear it wasn’t just him. “We were stunned.” Everyone it seems. “We just said, O.K., fine.” Not just John Kelly. Everyone.
It is instructive to listen to ‘empty barrel’ Congresswoman Wilson’s entire speech commemorating Grogan and Dove given on the floor of the House pertaining to legislation for naming the building after them. It’s a longish video, but well worth watching. You will not see any disrespect. Quite the contrary.
Below is a short clip from the end where she makes the case for the dedication and is commended for her efforts by GOP representative Carlos Curbelo.
These are not the words of an “empty barrel” Mr. Kelly. These are the words of a patriotic American. She was doing her job. She was honoring agents who lost their lives. She was representing her constituents.
As she continues to do today.
Your crass attempt to dishonor her only dishonors yourself.
********
Update: The Sun Sentinel has unearthed a full version of Congresswoman Wilson’s speech on the day of the dedication in 2015.
Full video of Frederica Wilson's 2015 FBI speech shows John Kelly got it wrong
Empty barrel? You be the judge.