Democratic Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine called out Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia during a congressional debate on Thursday. The exchange occurred after Greene defended an amendment that prohibits the use of certain funds to remove national monuments by bringing up the removal of a statue of General Robert E. Lee.
Greene made references to George Orwell’s “1984” and accused “communist Democrats” of erasing history by removing Confederate symbols. She also mentioned the recent melting of a Lee statue in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Pingree responded by stating that the Democrats and the Biden administration were not trying to erase history, as Greene suggested. She clarified that Robert E. Lee was not one of the Founding Fathers, but a general of the Confederacy. Pingree also pointed out that the Lee statue in Charlottesville was not a national monument when it was removed.
Pingree further criticized the Republican party for its support of book banning, rewriting curriculum, and avoiding discussions about history. She argued that keeping painful monuments in place can hinder people’s ability to enjoy certain areas.
The debate began when Republican Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana stated that the amendment only applied to monuments honoring the Founding Fathers. Pingree, however, pointed out that the provision in question stated that no funds could be used to remove any monument on land under the jurisdiction of the Interior Department.
Greene disagreed, insisting that no funds should be allocated to remove any monument. Pingree then responded with her history lesson, clarifying the facts about Robert E. Lee and highlighting the irony of the Republican party’s stance on historical preservation.
The exchange between Pingree and Greene exemplifies the ongoing debates within Congress regarding the preservation and removal of controversial monuments.
