While speaking to reporters Friday morning at the U.S. Capitol, liberal Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings (Md.) gave his fellow lefties a pep talk and marching orders, telling them that “this is your moment” and “we cannot afford to lose” this fight for America (against President Trump and his supporters).
Cummings spoke following a briefing from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on the firing of FBI Director James Comey and, prior to his mini-speech, complained about the firing having “turned into a mess” and applauded Robert Mueller’s appointment as special counsel on the Russia investigation.
He thanked reporters and began walking away, but turned back to the media stakeout to inform his fans that “if there is any moment that the press in our country's history has a major role, it is this moment.”
“This is your moment. You have got to put it out there so people can understand what is going on. I have said it before and I'll say it again, this is about the fight for the soul of our democracy. We cannot afford to lose this one. Thank you very much,” Cummings concluded.
After this motivational speech to continue their role as the opposition party, the reporters gathered around him as if they thought, “aye, aye, captain!”
Here’s the relevant portion of the transcript from Cummings’s remarks to the media on May 19:
U.S. Capitol Building
May 19, 2017
11:14 a.m. EasternDEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN ELIJAH CUMMINGS (Md.): This morning I said on CNN, I said, this thing has turned into a mess. I mean, we've got to straighten this out and I think — I think we need to pour politics out of this as much as possible and by the way, for those same reasons is why I like Mueller, okay? The same reasons. Thank you all. I really appreciate you all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Thank you, sir.
CUMMINGS: By the way, if there is any moment that the press in our country's history has a major role, it is this moment. This is your moment. You have got to put it out there so people can understand what is going on. I have said it before and I'll say it again, this is about the fight for the soul of our democracy. We cannot afford to lose this one. Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Thank you.
