SAO PAULO, SP (Folhapress)-A Democratic Senator began on Monday night (31) an inflamed speech against the “unconstitutional actions” of US President Donald Trump. More than 24 hours later, on the night of Tuesday (1st), he has not finished his speech and took the top of the list of the longest lines in the house.
Upon informed that he had beaten the record, Booker fell silent for a few moments while applauded by the Senate members. Visibly thrilled, he wiped his face sweat and kept talking.
To keep your chance of speaking, Cory Booker, 55, could not even go to the bathroom throughout this period. His speech does not prevent the Senate, the majority of the Senate republican party, but may serve as an example for the Democrats, whose opposition to the Trump administration has been warm on most fronts.
As your speech does not occur during the vote on a bill, it is technically not a boycott or obstruction. But it is the first time during Trump’s term that Democrats somehow block the Senate.
Booker’s speech became the longest in the history of the US Senate made by a single parliamentary -there is longer cases in which senators took turns to block some vote. The most extensive individual speeches before were from Strom Thurmond, 24 hours and 18 minutes, in 1957, against the Civil Rights Law, and Alfonse D’Amato, just over 23 hours, in 1986. Booker also surpassed Wayne Morse, who made a 22 hours and 26 minutes obstruction in 1953, and Ted Cruz, who spoke for 21 hours and 19 minutes in 2013, in 2013, in 2013 Known as Obamacare, which instituted changes in the national health system.
“I get up tonight because I honestly believe our country is in crisis,” said Booker, legislator by New Jersey at the beginning of the speech. “These are not normal times in the United States,” he said, his voice embargoed.
Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party in 2020, Booker took the word shortly after 7 pm local (20h in Brasilia) on Monday. Crossing the dawn, he attacked the radical policies of Trump spending cuts, which led Elon Musk, the richest man in the world and one of the president’s leading counselors, to eliminate government programs without the consent of Congress.
The senator said Trump endanger the American democracy itself by increasingly accumulating power. “Americans of all origins go through unnecessary difficulties,” he complained. And some institutions “which are unique in our country” are attacked “in a reckless way, and I would say unconstitutional.”
“In just 71 days, the president of the United States has caused much damage to the safety of Americans, financial stability and the foundations of our democracy,” Booker argued.
Democratic congressmen, in minority in both Senate and House, seek a way to combat Trump’s efforts to reduce government size, increase migrant deportations, and dismantle much of the country’s political norms.
“This is not a party moment, it’s a moral moment. It’s not a left or right moment, it’s a moment of right or wrong,” said Boooker. “How can you agree to cut $ 800 billion of Medicaid only for tax cuts that will disproportionately to the richest?” Republicans asked health insurance offered to millions of low -income Americans. “We all have to get up and say no.”
“I just want to thank you for keeping the vigil for this country all night,” Senator Raphael Warnock told Booker in the plenary. Throughout the speech, he also recited poetry, spoke of sports and answered questions from his colleagues.
Shortly before Booker begins speech, according to Newsweek magazine, an employee of his team was arrested for allegedly carrying a pistol inside the capitol. Kevin Batts has been barred in security as it would not have the necessary license for the size of the building, according to Capitol police, firearms are not allowed for people who are not official agents during their duties.
