Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) gave a charismatic speech on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding defunding the police.
The New Jersey Senator's remarks followed Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) introduction of a non-binding amendment to Democrats’ 2022 budget resolution which would cut federal funding to local governments that defund police reports Newsweek.
A non-binding amendment, or resolution, is a motion adopted by a deliberative body that cannot be written into law. The statements in a non-binding motion act as a confirmation of the current position of the branch of government on a particular issue.
"Madam President, I am so excited. This is a gift,” Booker said sardonically as he began his speech. “If it wasn’t complete abdication of Senate procedures and esteem I would walk over there and hug my colleague from Alabama.”
"There are some people who've said that there are members of this deliberative body that want to defund the police — to my horror,” he added. “This senator has given the gift that finally once and for all we can put to bed this scurrilous accusation that somebody in this great, esteemed body would want to defund the police.”
VIRAL MOMENT: Cory Booker gives a highly energetic response to Tommy Tuberville's "scurrilous" defund the police accusation in elated Senate floor remarks: "I am so excited!… If it wasn't complete abdication of Senate procedures, I would walk over there and hug my colleague!" pic.twitter.com/FAIdZnkxTu
— Forbes (@Forbes) August 11, 2021
Booker also encouraged senators to “not walk but sashay” down in favor of the amendment and put the “lies” to rest.
“Can we add also that every senator here wants to defund the police, believes in God, country and apple pie?” he said at the conclusion of his monologue.
The clip of Booker’s performance has since gone viral, garnering over 230,000 views and social media weighing in on his speech.
This was a hilarious moment, well done @CoryBooker! https://t.co/gy6y64CyoU
— Erica says get vaccinated! ???????????????? (@eriquita0115) August 11, 2021
Tubby just got dunked on. ????
Actually, more like an alley-oop, with him passing it to Booker for a classic behind-the-back jam. https://t.co/JRGNKt11kk
— ImagineHavingTheAudacity (@HavingAudacity) August 11, 2021
So Tommy Tuberville is trying to stop cities from defunding the police…by passing a bill that defunds the police
— Sir Walter Raleigh (@tosserMP) August 11, 2021
Actual photo of Tommy Tuberville after Booker's response. pic.twitter.com/QX3GzJZylO
— USinPICTURES (@FilmsFoxes) August 11, 2021
Lmfaooo well two problems here: people didn’t pick up on the sarcasm at all and they in-fact have no fucking idea what a non-binding amendment is. It’s funny, but idk if reform is the answer. https://t.co/Yxkcwspppf
— s (@estressso) August 11, 2021
Tuberville’s amendment ultimately passed 99-0, with all Democrats voting in favor of the legislation. Previously, the Alabama senator has referred to the idea of defunding the police as "psychotic calls" spearheaded by the far-left.
“To some local leaders across the country, the far-left rally cry of 'defund the police' is not only D.C. rhetoric, they’re actually acting on it,” Tuberville said during his remarks at the podium prior to the vote. “These men and women are community heroes, we should invest in all of them.”
“But local leaders across the country have decided the woke thing to do is cancel their city’s police force,” he added. “If your city council wants to defund their police, don’t expect the federal government to make up the difference.”
