Congressman announces for the first time in 29 years, instead of getting attention one way, he will get it another way.
— Jim Antle (@jimantle) February 28, 2017
In case you hadn’t already heard, Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel has announced that he’s bucking his own tradition and will not be shaking the president’s hand tonight:
A senior House Democrat well known for securing a prime center aisle seat to shake the president’s hand at joint sessions of Congress announced Tuesday he won’t follow the tradition for President Trump.
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) said in a House floor speech early Tuesday afternoon that he won’t be making the bipartisan gesture when Trump walks down the center aisle toward the dais to deliver his speech.
It’ll be the first time in Engel’s 29 years serving in the House that he won’t stake out a coveted center aisle seat.
Now, you may be asking yourself, “Why does this matter? Do I really care?”
Why is this a thing? Why are you wasting words on this? Why am I???
— PhDeepthoughts (@PhDeepthoughts) February 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/Unite_and_Win/status/836645084594651136
Not so fast … according to NBC News Capitol Hill producer Alex Moe, this is “BIG”:
BIG: @RepEliotEngel announces for first time in his 29 years here he will NOT stand on the aisle to shake @POTUS hand during joint session
— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) February 28, 2017
So very BIG, you guys.
.@AlexNBCNews MIND.BLOWN
— Nino (@baldingschemer) February 28, 2017
BIG.
THIS.
WOW.
WHOA.
OMG.https://t.co/j9pFCpa8MW— David Rutz (@DavidRutz) February 28, 2017
OMG, cancel the speech cuz this is BIG
— Teresa smith (@curlygirl990) February 28, 2017
Is Engel being petty and childish? Yes. Is this really a major scoop? Hardly.
https://twitter.com/EF517_V2/status/836633292975837185
what has he done in his nearly 3 decades? anything?
— Ryan (@chasinghumility) February 28, 2017
Does any human care about this?
— MerCel Capital (@darylmox) February 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/chrisrlloyd/status/836631823958560768
Who gives a crap ?
— B'sC'sSoxPats-Yup! (@RedDFredDFla) February 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/BGCNRS/status/836647139912658945
https://twitter.com/Jimbean87055631/status/836638324584513536
https://twitter.com/JackHeretik/status/836644003038769153
https://twitter.com/LizWFB/status/836644120592539649
https://twitter.com/CommandoGman/status/836646753210265600
My gosh, you reporters have lost all sense of reality. BIG, indeed. @RepEliotEngel @POTUS
— Wit'sEnd (@Nayrue) February 28, 2017
One day the media will learn that shit like this is why they and Congress are despised.
Today is not that day. https://t.co/WAEj94mnTR
— RBe (@RBPundit) February 28, 2017