Farewell Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Conscience Of The U.S. Congress
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Welcome to The Politocrat. I'm Omar Moore. It is Thursday, January the 2nd, 2025. On this edition of The Politocrat, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, in her final day in office, I'll be playing you her final House floor speech. She gave it last month, and I'll also be playing you another of her speeches as well. All of that, coming up

Dear listener, welcome to this brand new edition of the Politocrat Daily Podcast. Yours truly, Omar Moore, here on this second day of January, the second day of the year 2025. How are you on this second day of the year? I do hope you're well. I do really do hope you're well. Thank you very much for your precious time. You are a valued and highly respected listener, and I am very much appreciative of you taking the time out to listen to this episode.

Well, there is a lot of bad news, which I won't go through. I'll give you a break from that. Not that you can really break from it when it's on nonstop. Some really unpleasant events going on across the world and here in the United States included. I might get to that in tomorrow's episode, talk a bit about some of the stories of significance. And also, I should say.

One other thing before we get to the main event of this episode. Tomorrow, January the 3rd, will be the swearing in of Congress. That's right. Every two years this happens. And so you're going to get to see that tomorrow, January the 3rd, a Friday. That's right. And we will see the Speaker of the House, who might be fighting for his life in politics, that is, the

It certainly will be up for a long fight, I think. That's part of this equation, too. They'll swear in the new members of Congress, the new Congress, all, you know, whatever, 500 plus of them. You know, we'll see how that all works out, how all that shakes out. I don't think the swearing-ins will be the problem. It will be that speaker fight.

Because there will be a vote to see who will be the speaker for this next Congress, which I think is what, the 119th Congress, 120th, whatever it is.

All I can tell you is that is shaping up to be one heck of a battle along the lines of the one we had, of course, last time around back in 2023, when it took forever for Kevin McCarthy to be elected speaker. I think it was, what, 15 rounds of voting before he finally got in, one of the longest ever elections.

in the history of speakers to be voted on in speaker votes. It was an absolute circus. Remember two years ago, Matt Gaetz, who no longer now is no longer a congressman, was on the floor basically fisticuffing, all but fisticuffing, if you will, with Kevin McCarthy. Those two never liked each other. They absolutely abhor each other. Gaetz really hates Kevin McCarthy to the point in which, remember, he famously or infamously interrupted him

an interview that McCarthy was giving live on air during the Republican Klan convention last year, if you remember that during the summer of last year. And the 119th Congress convenes with the swearing in of the 119th Congress tomorrow.

That's the 3rd of January. And the vote for Speaker as well. Now, that is going to be really interesting, that vote. I think it will be a prolonged vote as well. Believe me, I think that's going to be one that goes on for quite some time as the Republicans watch and participate in the continuing dysfunction of their party.

and the fascism of their party as well. They've already been Republicans this week and last coming out against Speaker Mike Johnson, who they only put into power in 2023, October of that year. I mean, so Speaker Johnson has been Speaker for just over a year, and now you've already got some of these maggots running around saying, oh, no, we can't have Speaker Johnson in there. He's weak. So why did you put him in in the first place?

Back in 2023. Anyway, that's a whole other story. But that's what's going on. The other news, which is the really bad, grisly news. I've got a

a load of that, but I will not go into that on this episode because this episode is more or less a special episode. I say it's a special episode because already two days into the year, second day of the year, I want to focus on the distinguished speaker, distinguished politician of the house. That would be Representative Barbara Lee, who I've had the pleasure of meeting on two separate occasions, most recently in 2008.

and 23 here in San Francisco. She is from Texas originally. She lived in San Francisco at one point, and she spent a lot of her life in Oakland. In fact, she became the Democratic Congresswoman out of Oakland back in what, 1988 or 1998, I forget which.

She will tell you in a few minutes, because I'll be playing you her farewell speech from the House floor, her final House floor speech, her final speech on the floor of the House, which she actually gave last month. But today was her final day in Congress. So...

As a tribute to her time in Congress and as acknowledgement of the great work that she has done over the last 30 odd years or so, I wanted to devote this episode to Representative Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who, of course, if you remember, ran for the United States Senate for California unsuccessfully. She is always going to have a very difficult climb against such people.

As Adam Schiff, who will be sworn into the Senate tomorrow as the junior senator for California after the senior member, newly senior member will be Padilla. Of course, forget his first name for some strange reason, but Padilla will be the...

will be the senior senator out of California. For the first time in a long time, you'll have two male senators here in this state, which is something that you have not seen very often over the last goodness knows how many years. But you're going to see that for the first time in a long time, starting tomorrow once Padilla, I forget, is his name Jose Padilla? I don't even remember what his first name is, which is really crazy, I don't know. But

But you're going to hear Alex Padilla. Jeez, just remembered his name. Alex Padilla. You're going to see him. He'll be the senior senator out of California. And then Adam Schiff will be the junior senator out of California. That will be tomorrow.

But I do want to pay tribute to the distinguished and illustrious career of Representative Barbara Lee, who, by the way, made a really big stand back in 2001, when literally just three days after the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil on September 11th, 2001,

got on the floor of the House and gave a speech where she announced that she would be voting against the use of military force in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. And for that, Representative Lee paid a real price. She was alienated from her colleagues on both the Democratic and Republican sides of the aisle. And she was called everything but a child of God.

and was really ostracized from a number of committees for a long time because of her stand. She famously was the only person in the United States Congress, whether in the House or the Senate, to vote no on the use of military force in response to the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001. And from there, I gained a real respect for her.

I had not known very much about Representative Barbara Lee of Oakland, but once she took the stand that she did on September the 14th, 2001, I definitely heard of her and I respect her immensely. And I respected her from that day. And this, on that day, September 14th, 2001, is the short speech that she gave on the House floor.

three days after September 11th, 2001. - The gentleman from California is recognized for a minute and a half. - Thank you, and I want to thank our ranking member and my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, members, I rise today really with a very heavy heart, one that is filled with sorrow for the families and the loved ones who were killed and injured this week.

Only the most foolish and the most callous would not understand the grief that has really gripped our people and millions across the world. This unspeakable act on the United States has really forced me, however, to rely on my moral compass, my conscience, and my God for direction. September 11th changed the world. Our deepest fears now haunt us. Yet I am convinced that

That military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States. This is a very complex and complicated matter. Now this resolution will pass, although we all know that the president can wage a war even without it. However difficult this vote may be, some of us must urge the use of restraint. Our country is in a state of mourning.

Some of us must say, let's step back for a moment, let's just pause just for a minute and think through the implications of our actions today so that this does not spiral out of control. Now, I have agonized over this vote, but I came to grips with it today, and I came to grips with opposing this resolution during the very painful, yet very beautiful memorial service.

As a member of the clergy so eloquently said, as we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore. Thank you and I yield the balance of my time. As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore. Wise words there, repeated by Representative Barbara Lee.

on September 14th, 2001, just three days after the terrorist attacks of September 11th of that year. And again, I want to remind you that Representative Lee was the only person in the House or the Senate who voted against an authorization of military force in response to the terror attacks of September 11th, 2001.

That took a lot of courage. It took a lot of bravery. It took a lot of leadership for Representative Lee to do exactly what she did that day and to give that speech as well. That is the definition of a true leader, a true stateswoman. That's who Barbara Lee is. And the congresswoman today had her final day in Congress today.

Of course, she now has her own options to do what she chooses to do after leaving Congress for the very last time today. And when I come back, I'm going to play you, dear listener, a speech that you may not have heard from Representative Lee. That would be her farewell speech, which she actually gave less than a month ago. That's next. Representative Barbara Lee said,

said goodbye to Congress today for the final time. She had her last day in office in Washington, D.C. today after many years of service. It's just remarkable.

Representative Barbara Lee is a stateswoman. She is progressive. She has worked with all members across the aisle of the two different parties. Of course, she ran for Senate, as I said, last year unsuccessfully. But what she has done is create a legacy of public service, exemplary public service, and also someone who was one of the consciences of Congress. People talk about

John Lewis being the conscience of the Congress. But I really do also think that Barbara Lee is certainly a conscience of the Congress. Listen, I just played you a two-minute example of that with that speech that she gave back in 2001, three days after September 11th, when she voted against using military force. I think that that

is conscience. And I think she mentioned that in the speech that I just played you earlier there. So that is the personification of courage and conscience and moral conscience. She was someone while in the Senate and is someone while, excuse me, while in the House, who is the moral conscience of the House. I

And, you know, I really wish she had won the California Senate, but it was going to be very, very difficult with the money that was running against her because she just didn't have the kind of funds that some of the other candidates did, particularly the winner. So Representative Barbara Lee comes in the mold of Shirley Chisholm. She was very much...

Someone of that mold and is very much someone of that mold. She worked with Shirley Chisholm. She worked for her campaign. She is very familiar with Shirley Chisholm back in the day in 1972. Barbara Lee's story is tremendous. She also had gotten abortion when she was in that age of pre-Roe. It was just incredible. Her story is just remarkable. It really, really is. And I urge you to get to know Representative Barbara Lee and get to know her story and

As I said, I've had occasion to meet her twice. She's a really genuine person. I had a picture taken with her last year, actually right in 2023, and she couldn't have been nicer and more pleasant.

And yeah, I'm going to miss her in Congress. You know, she really did fight the good fight. She cared about people of all walks of life. And her voice is going to be missed in the Congress, in the House of Representatives. Her voice will really be missed. She's somebody who carries a lot of authority, a lot of weight and a lot of respect with her. And it won't be the same about Representative Barbara Lee in the House of

And I do think that the House should really take a look at her example of courage and learn from it. I really do think that. I mean, the Republicans, although they're not going to learn from anything, but Representative Lee was a shining example of what conscience and courage are when they are pressed into service and into action and into leadership on behalf of the people. And I can't say enough about how grateful I am to have met Representative

Representative Barbara Lee. Now, look, again, she leaves today. As far as that goes, we'll talk a bit later after the speech about her possible political career after this. But, you know, she'll take some time, I'm sure, to reflect and to rest after a long, long, long, you know, career of service and public service. So this is what I want to do now, dear listener.

I want to now play for you the six-minute and change speech that Representative Barbara Lee, the Congresswoman out of Oakland, gave last month. It was just over two weeks ago, actually, that she gave this speech on the House floor for the very last time in her political career.

I rise this evening to deliver my final floor speech as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. For 26 years now, it has been the privilege of my lifetime to serve my incredible constituents of California's 12th congressional district. I was sworn in on April 21st, 1998. The late, great Ronald V. Dellums retired early. I was his former intern, his former staffer,

And he was my former colleague, my mentor and good friend. Ron was actually the first African-American chair of the House Armed Services Committee. And I remember that day so well. He sat right here and encouraged me to give that first speech and to actually...

turn around and to sign a petition then calling for campaign finance reform. And I was the 218th vote to sign the discharge petition on my swearing-in day, which I was very proud of.

And let me just first and foremost thank my staff and all of the members of TuneLy that have worked tirelessly to serve our district 24-7 and to help us achieve so much. These are truly dedicated public servants, and their commitment has undoubtedly left an indelible mark not only on myself, but on our district and our country. And as we say...

I say constantly, once a member of Team Lee, always a member of Team Lee. Also, let me take a minute to thank my family who have stood beside me through all of the triumphs and challenges of the last 26 years. I could not have done it without them. Now, in 1998, my late mother, Mildred Parrish Massey, my late father, Garvin A. Tutte, my stepmother, Raquel Tutte,

My auntie Juanita, who passed away at 100, and my auntie Lois, who just passed away at 103, they all were with me. They're not here today, but they have been my guardian angels over the years to guide me and to keep me moving forward. Also, my sisters Beverly and Mildred were with me. Their husbands Martin and Calvin, and my two sons Craig and Tony,

Well, Carl, a.k.a. Tony, Carl Anthony Lee, they both were with me. Now they have their families and I have five beautiful grandchildren. Now, actually, I just have to say on that day that I was sworn in, I was talking to my dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Sidney Kamlager Dove, and who was the founder of

co-founder of the Slow Fashion Caucus. And I just want to say to you, my sister, thank you so much because I am wearing the same thing that I wore on April 21st, 1998, when I was sworn in.

Now this caucus is a caucus that is very important because it's creating climate smart policies to reduce repair and wear and to recycle textiles. But the only thing I've done with this outfit is to just shorten it a bit. But it's the exact same outfit I wore April 21st, 1998. So Sydney, thank you very much for your leadership. Yeah, I'm the kind of OG of that caucus.

So as I look back on my time, though, I feel a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to not only serve my community, but to advance justice, equity, and peace throughout our country and the entire world. I am a woman of faith. I attended St. Joseph's Catholic School in El Paso, Texas. I was taught by the Sisters of Loretta, whose motto is, going where the need is the greatest, and whose work

And they acknowledge this forever since they have been founded. Their work for peace and justice, that has informed me since my childhood. And so I must tonight, as I give my last speech on this floor, after over 25 years of service, I'm reminded of a scripture, Galatians 6 verse 9, which says, and let us not grow weary of doing good.

For in due season, we will reap if we do not give up. And so I just want to thank all of my colleagues who are with me tonight to really say to them that I love them, I appreciate their support, and that I could not do anything without the support of Democrats and Republicans, friends and colleagues. And now I would like to yield to the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus,

from Nevada, someone who is my sister's congressional member, someone who has done a phenomenal job as our chair in leading us to new heights, Chairman Stephen Horsford. Let me once again thank everyone, all of my colleagues, but especially my constituents, who I consider the most enlightened and most diverse and most progressive, yes, congressional district in

For giving me the faith and trust to fight alongside you for a better tomorrow. Also, I just want to say I've started with the scripture and I want to close with one. As I leave this August body, this is Proverbs 16, verse 3. It reminds us of this. It says, commit your actions to the Lord and your plans succeed.

Even now, this comes from the Bible. Even in retirement, we are called to commit our actions to God. And so, you know, I believe in the separation of church and state.

I also believe in those values that those sisters of Loretta taught me, and that was to go where the need is the greatest, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with that God. Thank you again, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to all my colleagues for being here tonight. And thank you to the House of Representatives, both Democrats and Republicans, for, yes, being part of Team Lee.

And thank you, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, for your outstanding leadership and for walking tall, speaking truth to power, and fighting every day for the people. You really are the people's advocate. And your 26 years of service makes that plainly and clearly self-evident. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, her final day in office,

as a member of the United States House of Representatives is today. She will say farewell to the office, to the constituents of Oakland, although she won't be going far or too far away. But certainly we will miss her in Congress, in the House. We thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee for all the work she has done in these last 26 years.

serving the public, caring about their needs, and being the voice of the forgotten and despised. Barbara Lee speaks for me. Barbara Lee speaks for us. And she did that. And she advocated for us fervently. Now, as for her career after this, there's been a lot of stories in the news that she's been asked to run for president.

Mayor of Oakland, the town in which she represents her constituents in the House of Representatives. We will see what Representative Barbara Lee does next, but that would make a lot of sense if she did decide to run for mayor of Oakland. I think she'd win that pretty easily. Ron Dellums, who you may have heard her speak about earlier,

was one of her real big role models, whom she really looked up to and respected, along with Shirley Chisholm. Ron Delams, of course, ran for Oakland mayor after he had to retire from his congressional seat. And, you know, he's no longer with us, but definitely...

He was someone who mentored her and was a role model and inspiration to her as well. And so I do think that Congresswoman Lee will end up running for mayor of Oakland, just like there's a lot of speculation about Vice President Harris and what she'll be doing once she leaves the White House in the next, what, 18 days or less.

There's obviously been a lot of speculation about Barbara Lee, the congresswoman. And I do think she'll end up running for mayor in Oakland. You know, once you get politics into you, it's really not far away from you. And so I'd be stunned if Congresswoman Lee decides to just hang up her seat.

congressional pin, if you will, and decide not to partake in any kind of politics whatsoever. I find that really hard to believe. She's a public servant through and through, and she's been doing this for many a year, even before she was in Congress. As I said, she was a staffer and advisor to a staffer to Shirley Chisholm, the legendary Congresswoman out of Brooklyn, New York. And so

I can't wait to find out what the decision will be for Barbara Lee when she makes that decision now that she will not be part of Congress anymore. It's really strange to say that, but it's true. As of tomorrow, January 3rd, Barbara Lee will be a former Congresswoman, although I'll always be calling her Congresswoman. That's what we do here in the United States, whether you're in office currently or not. So...

Thank you very much, Representative Lee. Thank you, Congresswoman Lee, for your service, for your service of people, and for your continuing resolute candor, honesty, decency, grace, and leadership, and for your advocating for the people who don't have a voice to do that in the way they perhaps would like to.

And you have definitely filled the void for millions of people and certainly have set an example of decency, courage, and forthrightness along with leadership. Thank you, thank you, and thank you, Congresswoman Barbara Lee out of Oakland, California. May your pastures be even greener in whatever you choose to do next.

You can find me on social media, on a number of social media platforms, including Spoutable, including Fanbase, fanbase.app, including sez.us, and of course, Blue Sky, among others. Blue Sky, of course, that would be popcorn.reel.bsky.social.

This podcast is available on numerous podcasting platforms, including Spotify and Apple, among others. Thank you very much for listening to this edition of The Politocrat. I'm Omar Moore.