Transcription
I just have to say that I object strenuously to your use of the word hilarious. To me, this feels a lot like your reaction to being named in one of these manifestos. Now, you're of course not responsible for the words of somebody writing that document, but I do think that laughing at it is a real problem because these are real families that are impacted by this violence. And I think our efforts towards talking about this have to start from a place of mutual respect, which is what I've heard from from this side of the table.
Now, the reason we don't have those numbers, I want those numbers as much as you do. But the number to say the numbers don't show something is simply not supported by the data, okay? And I have 38 seconds left, Miss Mulligan. If you can, if you want to respond within that time. The only thing I would add is that it's in the name, terrorism, domestic terrorism. It terrorizes us. It terrorizes us in our homes. It terrorizes us in our schools. And and to the points made by the other panelists, it is disproportionate to its impact on any individual life. And it's not, you reject the idea it's something that doesn't matter or it doesn't really matter, okay?
All right, so here's where we are. Every, every member now has had five minutes. In, okay? And Mr. Clay. So we have two members who are not. So I'm gonna go to the G members who have not yet and will give an opportunity for a closing thought to any member who wants before we get my next two responders. Mr. Matt, Mr. Meadows. Mr. Meadows, okay. Mr. Meadows. And excellent. Mr. Clay, then to you. Mr. Drummond. Miss Owens, obviously, this is a gang up on you. You know, we're giving these witnesses the ability to do a rebuttal on you. And so, you know, I, I find it unfair. Miss Ballou, I mean, you know, candidly, for you to show mutual respect and then you to go after Miss Owens, it's not appropriate. So Miss Owens, you can have four minutes and 34 seconds to respond. However, I'll yield.
Thank you. I believe Miss Owens, when you use the word hilarious, it was in, it was referencing the fact that no one had asked you a question. It wasn't to the subject matter of hearing. Is that right? That is correct. And for happened to have another witness insinuate something that is not accurate is just not appropriate, Mr. Chairman, for how witnesses are supposed to behave in front of this committee. I also think you didn't say it doesn't matter about the subject matter of today's hearing. You said there are other subjects that matter as well and maybe we should spend some time on those. Is that accurate? That is correct. And they matter much, much, much, much more. And I have said that. I said that in my opening and I will say it again. You know, that white supremacy and white nationalism is nowhere near ranks, nowhere near the top of the issues that are facing black America. And the reason that you are bringing them up in this room is because it is attempt to make the election all about race. As the Democrat, in my case, not carries arise, my mode. Mr. Chairman, it's my time. It's my time. You've got your time. Mr. Moore, second. Every four years you bring up race. And you knew exactly what I meant when I said hilarious. And you just tried to do live what the media does all the time to Republicans, to our president, and to conservatives. But you tried to manipulate what I said to fit your narrative, okay? I was not referring to the subject matter that is hilarious. I said it's hilarious that we are sitting in this room today and I've got two doctors and a missus and nobody can give us real numbers that we can respond to so we can assess how big of a threat this is because you know that it is not as big of a threat as you were trying to make it out to be. So you can manipulate. And the audacity of you to bring up the Christchurch shooting manifesto and make it seem as if I laughed at people that were slaughtered by a homicidal maniac, maniac is in my opinion, absolutely despicable. And I think that we should be above that to try to assign reality or any meaning to a homicide, homicidal maniac writing a manifesto, which by the way, let the record show, also stated Spyro the Dragon, the child's cartoon, as a source of inspiration. He also cited Nelson Mandela as a source of information. I don't think, I don't think that Nelson Mandela has inspired mosque shootings. You can correct me if you think I'm wrong. You won't. You would rather assign meaning to a homicidal maniac than to actually address that I said to the things that I said today that are actually harming black America. Number one, father absence. Number two, the education system and the illiteracy rate. Illegal immigration ranks high. Abroad ranks high. White supremacy and white nationalism. If I had to make a list again of 100 things, would not be on it. This hearing, in my opinion, is a farce. And it is ironic that you're sitting here and you're having three Caucasian people testify and tell you what their expertise are. Do I know my expertise are black in America? I've been black in America my whole life, all 30 years. And I can tell you that you guys have done the exact same thing every four years ahead of an election cycle. And it needs to stop. Oh, I'll yield back. Thank you, Mr. Meadows. And now.