According to a States Newsroom report:
“The U.S. House voted Tuesday to remove from the Capitol a bust of the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney, a Marylander who wrote the despised Dred Scott decision—as well as evict statues and busts of men who fought for the Confederacy or served in its government.
“The legislation passed on a vote of 285-120, with all the nay votes from Republicans and 67 of them voting with Democrats. It would replace the marble bust of Taney, which is displayed outside the old Supreme Court chamber on the first floor of the Capitol, with one of the late Thurgood Marshall, a fellow Marylander who was the first Black member of the Supreme Court.
“Maryland Rep. Andrew P. Harris (R) voted against the measure; the rest of the state’s delegation supported passage of the bill, which was sponsored by House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, who represents Maryland’s 5th Congressional District.
“Taney wrote the majority opinion in 1857 in Dred Scott, a case initiated in Missouri. The ruling, which provoked intense opposition in the North, said that people of African descent were not citizens and had no right to bring suit in federal court — effectively upholding slavery.
“A similar bill passed the Democratic-controlled House last year on a bipartisan vote of 305-113, with 72 Republicans joining Democrats in support. But it did not advance in the Republican-controlled Senate, where Democrats now hold a slim majority.”
Matt LaMotte says
As a long-time teacher of U.S. Gov’t, Taney’s ‘Dred Scott v. Sandford’ SCOTUS decision (“Slaves are property, not people!”) stands as one of the signature worst SCOTUS decisions ever rendered. And, as a result, he made a major contribution to inciting the American Civil War that resulted soon after! If I thought Harris had even scintilla of knowledge about this, I’d be upset at his ongoing insensitive, racist intransigence. But, then again, I repeat myself…
Paul Gilmore says
But of course he did. We can’t expect more from Andy. It’s just not going to happen. I’m sure we can expect less.
Keith Alan Watts says
Bust
* * * *
Two years or ten,
Makes no difference when
A Congress “Man” occupies high office.
But what has he done for us?
Bust.
Pistol drooping — at his side,
With Constituents so snide,
As he takes them for a ride,
So “Convenient” when he hides . . . .
Bust.
Like Hooterville’s Mr. Haney,
Adores Justice Taney,
Our personalized, “three-fifths compromise” Congress “Man.”
But like Michael’s sister says:
“What have you done for me — lately?”
Bust.
One wonders where,
Or if “The Dr.” cares
About anything but “Himself.”
But what? Has he really? Done?
To instill in Us,
Trust?
Bust.
When all’s said and done
No stone head will honor one,
Who cared so little for those he “represents,”
Save for the malpractice of Hypocrisy.
Bust.
A Hippocratic Oath Keeper
Who fought against jabs.
Against life.
Against right.
Against his fellow Man.
Against decency.
Against our Better Angels.
What’s that Red on your hands . . . .?
Bust.
Ashes to ashes
Bust to Dust . . . . .
History’s dust bin,
Is where. You’ll find. Your . . . . Bust.
* * * *
Stephen Schaare says
So, what you’re saying is, Andy Harris cares about the people of the 1st district, just about as much as Nancy Pelosi cares about the people and once great city of San Francisco. At least we still function here.Not as an open sewer, but as a vibrant, prosperous community. Is that what you are saying?
Bob Parker says
Gee, I thought this piece was about whether a bust of a disgraced, segregationist Justice should be removed from the Capitol. I must have missed the paragraphs noting how Justice Taney was connected to S.F.. Maybe we should ask the residents of that city and Congressional district how they feel about it? Thank you for bringing that up. If the issue is about honoring our state, then I think most Marylanders would choose Justice Marshall.
Michael Davis says
I see no one in this chain of comments comparing Harris with Pelosi except Mr. Schaare. Sadly, this is a symptom of the intellectually dishonest “what-about-ism.” that is now a Republican dogma. Taney’s decision continued to enslave millions of Americans. “So what??” Harris would probably say, “What about Benghazi?” General Robert E. Lee led an army against the United States of Ameican and captured free Blacks to send them into slavery. “So what??” Harris would probably claim. “What about Hillary’s emails?” “What-about-ism” does nothing to make Harris any less of a supporter of institutional racism.