Republican Rep. Mike Kelly compared President Trump’s likely impeachment in the House of Representatives to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Kelly, 71, made the remark during his speech on the House floor Wednesday in the lead up to the House’s vote on impeachment. The House is expected to vote to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate is not expected to remove him from office.
“December is such a great month, and there are so many great dates in December, and we talk about the wonderful things that have happened in Decembers in the past. There’s also, in addition to Christmas being something we celebrate, the Boston Tea Party took place in December,” Kelly began.
“But also on December 7, 1941, a horrific act happened in the United States, and it’s one that President Roosevelt said, ‘This is a date that will live in infamy.’ Today, December the 18th, 2019, is another date that will live in infamy,” he went on. “When just because you hate the president of the United States and you can find no other reason other than the fact that you’re so blinded by the hate you can’t see straight that you’ve decided the only way to make sure this president doesn’t get elected again is impeach him.”
One of Kelly’s fellow Republicans in the House, Rep. Barry Loudermilk also made a notable comparison, highlighting what he sees as unfairness in the impeachment process. He invoked Jesus, arguing that, “Pontius Pilate afforded more rights to Jesus than the Democrats have afforded this president and this process.”
A number of people shared their thoughts of the comparisons on social media and many disagreed.
Things this impeachment is not like:
The crucifixion of Jesus
The Salem Witch Trials
Pearl HarborThings this impeachment is like:
An impeachment— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 18, 2019
In the last half hour, Trump has been compared to Jesus Christ and impeachment has been compared to Pearl Harbor.
This is such a stupid time to be alive.
— Miranda Yaver (@mirandayaver) December 18, 2019
Shorter GOP: Even the Japanese gave Jesus due process before they cruicified him at Pearl Harbor for being a witch.
— Eric Columbus (@EricColumbus) December 18, 2019
How does one ratchet up the metaphor-wars once you’ve already deployed the Crucifixion and Pearl Harbor to defend the president?
Gotta keep some ammo in reserve.
— Aki Peritz (@AkiPeritz) December 18, 2019
