House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) referred to George Floyd as “George Kirby” and “Floyd Taylor” respectively this week as Congress debated police reform.
Pelosi was quoting her conversation with Floyd’s brother when she made her mistake. “I only will do that [name the bill after Floyd] if this legislation is worthy of George Kirby’s name, and he said it is,” the speaker said with a smile.
Speaker Pelosi says the Democrat-led police reform bill has to be “worthy of George Kirby’s name.”
🧐🧐🧐 pic.twitter.com/Gpi1MmBFHp
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 26, 2020
Perhaps Pelosi was thinking of George Kirby, an African-American actor, singer, and comedian who passed away in 1995?
Schumer’s misspeak happened as he shut down the reform bill of Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). “Who do you believe when it comes to civil rights and police accountability? Mitch McConnell, or the lawyer for the families of Floyd Taylor, uh, George Taylor,” Schumer said.
Can't make this up. In the middle of his speech to kill the @TimScottSC police reform bill, Chuck Schumer can't even get George Floyd's name right.
"Floyd Taylor…George Taylor…"
Democrats are blocking this bill for crass political reasons. Won't even allow amendments. pic.twitter.com/Z49p6JkzxX
— Andrew Clark (@AndrewHClark) June 24, 2020
Pelosi has since applauded her colleague’s strategy, calling Scott’s reform bill “trying to get away with murder, actually. The murder of George Floyd.” Scott, who is African American, has criticized the move.
One month ago, George Floyd was murdered. One day ago, @SenateDems walked away from police reform. #JUSTICEAct
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) June 25, 2020
The mistakes happened in the course of both chambers’ ongoing debates over how far police reform should go. Democrats refused to debate the Republican legislation in the Senate, despite suggestions from Republican senators that they were open to compromises by adding amendments.
Democrats then pushed their own bill through the House without allowing any Republican input. Their plan, which fails to rein in police unions or consider other Republican concerns, is now predictably dead.
