GOP Lawmakers Slam Pelosi's Golden Pens, But Ted Cruz Had the Best Response

GOP Lawmakers Slam Pelosi's Golden Pens, But Ted Cruz Had the Best Response

Leah Barkoukis
Posted: Jan 16, 2020 9:30 AM

https://media.townhall.com/townhall/...55e6ac079d.png
Source: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik


Despite House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s insistence that impeachment was a “somber” and "sad" event, her signing of the articles of impeachment Wednesday showed how serious she was about her past claims.

As Beth reported, even CNN commentators called her out over the optics of her smiling, taking photographs, and handing out pens delivered on silver platters.

Nancy Pelosi’s souvenir pens served up on silver platters to sign the sham articles of impeachment...She was so somber as she gave them away to people like prizes. https://t.co/RMOiNeoMu0
— Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) January 15, 2020

"I thought that was a little jarring and certainly, I think, off message," said CNN’s senior political reporter Nia-Malika.
Republican lawmakers agreed.

Rep. Jody Hice said the speaker's "'engrossment ceremony' proves that she cares more about politics than truth."

-Glee
-Laughter
-Pictures
-Souvenir pens
-A Ceremony

This is how “serious, sad, and somber” Democrats are when sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

Pelosi’s 'engrossment ceremony' proves that she cares more about politics than truth.@POTUS will be acquitted. https://t.co/P5lVxFTyjq
— Rep. Jody Hice (@CongressmanHice) January 16, 2020

Rep. Steve Scalise commented that Democrats' behavior on Wednesday was "unbelievable."

So much for “somber” and “solemn.”

House Dems are so excited about impeachment that they’re passing out commemorative pens and grinning for photos at a celebration ceremony.

Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/GQUfG8VZQi
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) January 15, 2020

Rep. Mark Meadows said "you can't make up" what happened Wednesday during the signing.

They claim it's a somber, serious occasion they're heartbroken over... and then they pass out impeachment-signing pens with special cases. Folks. You can't make it up. https://t.co/jl9VKD8cUc
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) January 15, 2020

And Rep. Paul Gosar characterized it as another "made for TV moment at the expense of our Country."

This is neither a “somber” nor is it a “serious” process for House Democrats it’s just another made for TV moment at the expense of our Country.
pic.twitter.com/K3O3LWv0AB
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) January 15, 2020

But Sen. Ted Cruz had the best response, joking that crayons would've been more appropriate for Pelosi to use.

Given the circus in the House, I’m surprised she didn’t use crayons. ?? ?? ?? https://t.co/hGTIGvb2Ey
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 16, 2020

Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Cruz said the silver lining is that "Pelosi's circus is done" and now impeachment is in the Senate's hands.

"The good news is the partisan circus in the House is over. Nancy Pelosi’s circus is done. And we’re not going to see the one-sided show trial that the House has engaged in for months and months and months," he said. "That farce is over. In the Senate, here’s what I hope happens; I hope the Senate — I’m confident the Senate will conduct a fair trial. That means we’ll give the House managers an opportunity to present their case.

"We’ll listen to what they have to say; but then we’re going to do something that the House didn’t do: which is we’re going to give President Trump a full opportunity to defend himself, to present his case, to lay out the facts and evidence in law that the House ignored."

Cruz said he believes President Trump will be acquitted.

"And so we’ve moved out of Nancy Pelosi’s world," he continued. "It’s why she delayed this for so long, because she knew that once the House no longer had it, that they wouldn’t be able to put on a kangaroo court like they have, and instead we’re going to move in the Senate, where I hope and believe we’re going to follow the law, and that means we’re going to acquit the president."

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahba...ponse-n2559621

I think it's a stupid waste of time and money no matter who does it. Are the congress-critters as universal in their disdain? Unlikely.

(Yay 43!)

Why Presidents Use So Many Pens to Sign Bills Into Law

Presidents often use several pens to sign a bill into law, a tradition dates back nearly a century and continues to this day. President Donald Trump, for example, used several bill-signing pens on his first day in office when he put his signature on his first executive order, instructing federal agencies to uphold the Affordable Care Act while also working to "minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens" on American citizens and companies.

Trump used so many pens and handed them out as souvenirs on Jan. 20, 2017, the day he was sworn into office, that he joked to staff: “I think we’re going to need some more pens, by the way ... The government is getting stingy, right?” Oddly enough, before Trump, President Barack Obama used nearly two dozen pens to sign that same legislation into law in 2010.

That's a lot of pens.

Unlike his predecessor, Trump uses gold-plated pens from A.T. Cross Co. based in Rhode Island. The company's suggested retail price for the pens is $115 apiece.

The practice of using several pens isn't universal, however. Obama's predecessor, President George W. Bush, never used more than one pen to sign a bill into law.

More @ https://www.thoughtco.com/why-presid...y-pens-3368115