Heather Mizeur, Democratic candidate for Congress in Maryland’s First District, today issued the following statement in response to Rep. Andy Harris’ (R-MD) vote on awarding Congressional Gold Medals to the Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Departments:
“Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to award Congressional Gold Medals — one of our country’s highest civilian honors — to the Capitol Police and the DC police, in gratitude for their heroic work on January 6.
“The vote was overwhelmingly bipartisan, with 413 members voting to honor the officers who defended members of Congress and our Capitol building against insurrectionists on that terrible day.
“Andy Harris voted no.
“Maybe this shouldn’t surprise us since he refused to acknowledge the outcome of the presidential election and instead repeated the ‘Big Lie’ that incited the attack on our democracy.
“But by any measure, this is an extremist position that disgraces our district. Many of those Capitol Police officers are Marylanders. All of them are heroes.
“Harris is picking sides here, and he has chosen to stand with a violent mob of insurrectionists over those on the front lines who defended his own life that day.
“Like any true patriot who loves and will defend this country and its values, I watched the events of January 6 in horror. The anger I felt that day propelled me into this race. The anger I feel in this moment tells me it was the right decision.
“We need a change. Anger, when coupled with wise action, can fuel important transformations.
“I’m in this race to shift the culture and language of our political discourse and to give people an opportunity to vote for dignified representation that reflects the best of who we are.”
“I’ve long disagreed with Andy Harris’s priorities, but the last few months have taken that to a new level.
“While families and small businesses struggle to recover from the pandemic, he continues to prioritize this sort of extremist behavior, rather than putting Marylanders first.”
Cathie Liebl says
Vote Andy Harris out. The Republican Party must have someone more suited to the beliefs of the people on the Eastern Shore, and if not, their loss when Ms. Mizeur wins, because she does.
Susan E Kemp says
Brava!!
Bob Kopec says
I agree with Heather 100%.
It is past time for Harris who only represents himself to step aside.
Michael Davis says
Thank you Ms. Mizuer for writing about this.
The Star Democrat routinely publishes editorial opinions by Rep. Harris, but I have never seen a word of criticism or fact-checking about Harris’s columns. It will be interesting to see how the Star Democrat reports Andy’s vote against rewarding the people who protected him. They may ignore it if it makes Harris look bad. The only place to read about it locally may be what you wrote here in the Talbot Spy.
Rep. Harris is part of an American Fascist Movement that thrived prior to WWII and is coming back thanks to former President Trump and his sycophants. A famous film of an American fascist rally in NYC prior to WWII is frightening similar to a Trump rally. Republicans who aren’t direct supporters are terrified of Trump and his violent followers. For example, Mitch McConnell is married to an Asian woman but he’s so afraid of Trump that he won’t criticize the rising violence against Asian Americans. That’s the Republican Party today, American fascists such as Harris and cowards such as McConnell
Carl Widell says
Well said!
Bucky Buchanan says
Time, no way past time, for Harris to go. He does not represent the Eastern shore (where I live) any more.
I will be helping Heather to defeat him any way I can.
Darrell Parsons says
As disgraceful as it is that Representative Harris has said “NO” to honoring these police officers, he has also said “NO” to the Covid Relief Bill, which includes among other things, the following items which will directly benefit the majority of the residents of Talbot County:
– NO to about 85 percent of adults and children who will receive a stimulus payment
– NO to significantly reduce child poverty
– NO to an additional child tax credit reaching around 90 percent of households with children under the age of 17.
– NO to $39 billion in aid for child-care centers.
– NO to $29 billion in help for restaurants.
– NO to $70 billion for vaccine distribution and coronavirus testing.
– NO to extension of unemployment benefits
– NO to raising the child tax credit for most families this year
– NO to $350 billion to state and local governments
– NO to $130 billion to elementary, middle and high schools
– NO to $50 billion in assistance for small businesses
Disgraceful.
Judy Wixted says
His nickname isn’t Dr. No for nothing.
David Lee says
Congressman Harris refuses to honor the Capital police who stood against a violent insurrection then has to be held back from attacking a fellow congressman and then attempts to bring a gun into the house chamber- wake up Eastern Shore! Do you want this nut job to represent us in Congress? Support the police who defended the Capital, support decency and vote this lunatic out of office.
Jeff Morton says
Andy Harris is so party warped that he serves no useful purpose at his job & accomplishes nothing while collecting his pay.
He is an embarrassment to the first district and should be to everyone else.