Congressman Andy “Handgun” Harris just gave First District residents another reason to want him out of office. It is not another claim that Donald Trump won the 2020 election, or voting “present” on a House bill denouncing QAnon, or supporting the repeal of Obamacare. This time it’s about the company he keeps.
Harris likes the company of statues honoring dead Confederate heroes. He joined with 120 other Republicans in voting against legislation to remove these statues from the U.S. Capitol. Among the 120 Republicans are some of the most notorious right-wingers in Congress. More about them later.
The legislation Harris opposed, H.R. 3005, would have replaced a bust of Roger Taney, the Supreme Court Justice who wrote the Dred Scott decision—a decision that claimed that Scott, a Black man, had no right to sue because he was not a citizen. The decision also found that legislation restricting slavery in some states was unconstitutional.
Thurgood Marshall, as most Marylanders know, was born and raised in Baltimore. His service on the Supreme Court is something of which we should all be proud. Andy Harris voted against replacing Taney’s bust with one of Marshall outside the old Supreme Court chamber located in the Capitol.
Other parts of the bill Harris voted against would have removed a statue of Jefferson Davis and his vice president, Alexander Stephens. Statues of several former Confederate generals, most depicted in military uniforms, would also be removed.
Andy Harris appears to be as comfortable with these statues as he is with the statue of the Talbot Boys in Easton. One possible explanation is that Harris wants to preserve history. That history would include Taney’s writing the worst decision in the history of the Supreme Court, and the history of Jefferson Davis’ leadership of the confederacy. During the four years as president of the Confederate States of America, more than 750,000 people died, including at least 360,000 from the North and 250,000 from the South.
Frankly, it is amazing that the statues of Davis and the other Confederate soldiers ever were placed in the Capitol. When the statue of Davis was put in the Capitol in 1938, survivors of people killed under Davis’ Confederacy were still alive, as well as other people who had been enslaved in the Confederate States of America.
The bill Harris opposed will not erase the painful history of the Civil War. Erasing that history is impossible. What the bill would do is make a statement about America today and erase any suggestion that somehow the Civil War was not about preserving slavery or was not an insurrection against the United States.
I am troubled by Harris’ vote, but not surprised. Harris is a proud member of the House Freedom Caucus, a collection of Congressmen and women who many of us would consider dangerous or insane. Harris, although usually less flamboyant than some of his Freedom Caucus colleagues, is right at home with them on the issues.
Here is some of the company Handgun Harris kept in voting no on the Confederate statue bill:
Mo Brooks (R-AL), accused by Eric Swalwell (D-CA) of inciting the January 6 riot (along with Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and others).
Right-wing dentist Paul Gosar (R-AZ), who skipped a vote on the COVID-19 relief bill to attend a fundraiser with a white nationalist.
Alleged sex trafficker Matt Gaetz (R-FL).
Trump-champion Jim Jordan (R-OH), a founding member of the Freedom Caucus and an opponent of legislation addressing climate change.
QAnon follower Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).
Gun-toting GED certificate-holder Lauren Boebert (R-CO), who was accused of giving a “reconnaissance tour” to January 6 Capitol rioters.
Andy Biggs (R-AZ), accused by two of his brothers of being at least partially to blame for the January 6 Trump Insurrection at the Capitol.
Among the company Harris did not keep in voting against the Confederate statue bill was every other member of the House and Senate in the Maryland delegation.
Fortunately for America, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 285–120 to remove the statues. Unfortunately, another friend of Harris, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, has announced his intention to oppose the bill.
I have two questions for Harris: Do your constituents want to continue honoring Confederate traitors to the United States? And what is it that you find so worth remembering about Confederate leaders, soldiers, and their history?
J.E. Dean of Oxford is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, birds, and occasionally goldendoodles.
David Tull says
Congressman Harris is a Patriot who loves the history of America unlike those of a liberal mind set.
Charles D Zvirman says
Define patriot? Loyal to the nation? To the ideals of Democracy? or is patriot now defined as fealty to your fallen idol?
Deirdre LaMotte says
What? No Patriot would ever support the insurrection of Capitol , period. But supporting it, as he did, during
the counting of electoral votes is treasonous.
He supports overturning the will of American voters to keep the loser of the election in office. Harris is a pathetic
embarrassment that will never be known as a “Patriot”.
Stephen Schaare says
Such proud hatred of Andy Harris. What are you actually willing to DO about this Devil?
Show me, show us all.
Michael Davis says
Nice job, Mr. Dean.
I think Andy gave money for the campaigns of a couple of the evil clowns you listed.
The one fellow traveler you did not mention was Donald Trump. Well, actually Trump is much more import to Harris than the people you listed. Trump is the objrect Harris’s devotion and loyalty.
Gerrymandering is not good. But an exception would be if the Democrats cut up District 1. After all, the Democrats created this monster where right-Republicans cannot lose. For those of us who live in District 1 and who are rational, ethical, and patriotic, the Democrats both denied us representation in Congress and gave a dangerous nut radical a platform in Congress.
Stephen Schaare says
My Dear Michael, Good Lord, you criticized Democrats? Let me not the date and time. Has the heat gotten to you?
I am troubled
John Dean says
Thanks for reading the piece. You make a number of very good and important points. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Mr. Dean, By my own admission, I am a dreamer and incurable optimist. I was looking forward to your column today, hoping you might discuss some issues a bit more relevant than Andy Harris and old statues, again. So be it, the “company he keeps”
Let us take a look at the company Joe Biden keeps. Biden is very close to the people promoting the myth of voter suppression in the newest election laws approved in several states. Of course, the claim was that “people of color ” were targeted for suppression, all in line with the Biden support of “racial equity”. The Supreme Court found no basis for such claims and defeated the matter with a 6-3 vote.
Perhaps I was hoping you would mention first lady “Dr.” Jill Biden joining national teacher’s union president Randy Weingarden in a speaking tour at our public schools to promote the teaching of “Critical Race Theory”. You know, the doctrine which teaches the judging of people by their skin color. Quite a departure from Dr. Martin Luther King jr., who insisted on judging people by their character. How did this happen?
In my naivete, sure was hoping there would be some mention of the bloodiest weekend on record in our major cities. You see, President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. Also keeps close company with Attorney General Garland Merrick. Both men steadfastly agree that the greatest domestic threat to our country is white supremacy. Neither of these men had a single word on the 106 people shot, the 19 dead in the city of Chicago. Not a peep from these two on this national disgrace. So concerned with voter suppression and systemic racism, not a thought or concern for all these “people of color” being slaughtered for sport by other “people of color”. I have heard you state(to me), “perhaps if there were more employment opportunities in these areas, the problem would get better”. Nah, when you drive by and shoot six and eight year old girls playing hopscotch on the sidewalk, it is not about finance. These killers kill because they enjoy killing.
Guess I’ll just take my disenchantment and long face to a darkened room and look forward to next Wednesday.
Charles D Zvirman says
Nice. You’ve echoed Fox News talking points like a champ.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Charles, I do not echo any source. I do not happen to watch “Fox News”. My views are my own.Is this the first time you have heard of such matters?
Can you cite anything untruthful in my comment?
Please , show me where I have been misleading or dishonest. I am waiting. Steve.
Bob Parker says
Critical Race Theory is a legal theory discussed, not “taught” in as a general philosophy in Law School and in graduate programs, and not taught in any K thru 12 programs. What IS taught in these schools is an honest history of slavery, race, and of the compromises made by our Founding Father’s in order to get out Constitution passed. You have a problem with that because…?
Linda Baker says
Steve, very well said! I agree with you on everything you spoke of. Especially on CRT. They want to erase history on one hand, and then repeat it on the other. Smh!
Alex Sydness says
“I have two questions for Harris: Do your constituents want to continue honoring Confederate traitors to the United States? And what is it that you find so worth remembering about Confederate leaders, soldiers, and their history?”
If I could answer that question as a disinterested observer who’s great grandfather fought for the North, I would say that the sculpture represents a particular period in American history. Not the actual hostilities but apparently a time of reconciliation between two sides of a violent conflict; and that this gesture was felt to be necessary in order to encourage social unity. Probably the commission of the image was associated with the Christian concept of forgiveness. Anyway, if you actually look at it, the sculpture does not represent a desire to commit treason or maintain slavery or whatever fevered brains conjure. The expression on the face and pose express, to me, a sense of resignation and defeat. But even in defeat it seems to want us to recognize a kind of archetype of the common soldier as a flawed but honorable human being – in an idealized form – regardless of the reason for his willingness to fight.
And because the form is idealized it doesn’t represent a particular individual in time and space (other than the uniform). It’s not like a photograph, something taken in an instant of time in the real world. Rather, the pose and composition of the image is based on carefully thought-out design, like the classical architecture of the building it stands in front of.
Obviously the content reminds certain angry and resentful people of something they don’t want to be reminded of, and more importantly, what other people should not be reminded of. Namely, honor and forgiveness. An example in another medium would be rock or hip-hop drowning out a performance of elegiac music, say, Gustave Mahler’s 5th Symphony, 1st movement.
Alas, we live in an age where these types of distinctions are “problematic,” and public art will become more accessible to the lowest common denominator.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece and for your thoughtful comment.
I agree to a degree with your perspective, but believe the harm caused by the confederate memorials/statues must be addressed. Thus, even memorials that can be viewed as promoting reconciliation and forgiveness should be moved if they send a message that some of us are not equal to others.
Let me also mention that I particularly liked your reference to Mahler’s 5th symphony, first movement–also one of my favorites.
John Fischer says
I regret, Mr. Dean, that The Spy continues to provide you a platform to spew your angry, partisan political views. Your predictable diatribes lower the level of political debate in the community while diminishing The Spy and, most certainly, yourself.
Mavis Libby says
Amen
John Dean says
Thank you for letting me know your thoughts on my writing.
Without responding to all your comments, let me comment that publishing information about Rep. Harris’ votes and activities in Washington does not lower the political debate in the community. My hope is that if more of us knew what Harris is about, fewer of us would vote for him.
Linda Baker says
Mr Dean, you disappoint me. Going back to griping about the Republicans that you don’t agree with. Jordan, Gaetz, Harris, Taylor-Green. Sir, you may not believe this but they are true Patriots, unlike so many in Congress who have sold their souls to the devil. Including Swalwell, whom you evidently think is a patriot. (Definitely Not). Please stop watching the Communist News Network. Try looking for real news on the internet, one not compromised by big social media. I will tell you that things are not what the main stream wants you to see and know. Big surprises coming soon!
John Dean says
Please let me politely disagree that Matt Gaetz, MTG, Jim Jordan, and the others are patriots. More importantly, please know that I do not watch the Communist News Network. Atlantic Broadband doesn’t offer it. And even if they did, I would not watch it. I prefer PBS.
Steve Shimko says
I’m with Mr. Dean here. Ms. Baker, please tell why you think the people you mentioned, Jordan, Gaetz, Green are patriots? By their actions and their rhetoric, they are anything but.