In one very funny Senate hearing moment caught on tape, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) sounded off on Sen. Mazie Hirono (R-HI), obliterating her in such epic fashion that she got up and hustled out of the room rather than responding to his comments about her alleged refusal to denounce violent leftist groups like Antifa and BLM. Though the video is old, coming from 2020 and the riots that occurred during then, it’s important because it shows who Sen. Hirono is, relevant given her outbursts during the confirmation hearings for Trump nominees.
The incident at hand came when Hirono, ranting after being pressed by Cruz, said, “So how many times have I had to say that we all should be denouncing violent extremists of every stripe, by the way, I have the time, by the way, you know the Republicans are constantly using I have to say, you brought it up yourself the deaths of these black police officers, Patrick Underwood and David Dorn for making political points, and the fact that it was right wing extremists who killed officer Underwood that seems to be lost In this argument.”
She continued, refusing to denounce BLM, “And now there are all these attacks about Black Lives Matter and what they’re saying. I mean, how many of us even think that defunding police departments is it should be taken literally? I mean, I certainly don’t. So, you know, we have this pesky thing called freedom of speech, and I’d say that the people who support Black Lives Matter, and if they’re calling for various boycotts and all that, that’s called freedom of speech, and that’s what this hearing title is, protecting speech.”
Then, before the hearing concluded, she got up to leave, snapping that she would be leaving because she didn’t want to listen to Cruz anymore. She said, “So I hope this is the end of this is the end of this hearing, Mr. Chairman, and that we don’t have to listen to any more of your rhetorical speeches. Thank you very much. I’m leaving.”
As she got up and started to leave, Sen. Cruz toasted her with some scorching comments. He began by saying, referring to her venomous snapping, “Well, I appreciate the as always, kind and uplifting words of Senator Hirono.” He then noted, “And I would also note that throughout her remarks, she still did not say a negative word about Antifa, nor has any Democrat here.”
He continued, commenting on what the refusal to denounce Antifa means, “They instead engage in a political game where they depend. You’re welcome to say something negative about Antifa right now, I think that I’ve covered the subject quite well. Okay? She declined to speak. So that is the position of the Democratic Party.”
He added, “I would note also that of the seven Democratic senators who spoke, not a one of them apologized for or denounced multiple Democrats calling law enforcement officers Nazis, Storm Troopers and Gestapo. To be fair, I don’t have not heard the word Nazi, but storm trooper was Nancy Pelosi, and Gestapo was another Democratic leader.
When he, directing a comment toward Hirono as he continued, said, “You’re welcome to say something negative about Antifa right now,” she refused. Leaving the room, Hirono again refused to comment on Antifa, saying, “I think that I’ve covered the subject quite well.” Watch their spat here:
