Wearing a hoodie and shorts to vote in parliament – this is now officially possible in the USA. The Democratic representative Fetterman will be particularly pleased, but the expected excitement from the Republicans leaves him cold.
Rarely has there been so much talk about respect – or lack of respect – in connection with the US Senate. It’s about the question of clothing: suit and tie in the plenary hall, yes or no? No, that doesn’t have to be the case – that’s now the official line, announced by Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Democrat loves it casual
This should please one person in particular: John Fetterman, Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania. He is more than two meters tall and almost always wears a hoodie, sports shorts and sneakers. When voting, he has already voted from a side entrance to the plenary hall so as not to enter the hall in a hoodie. The fact that he can now officially sit in the Senate in sports shorts is causing a storm of indignation – especially among Republicans.
Fetterman doesn’t care. He said on MSNBC that he noticed that some people were upset. The right-wingers were upset like crazy. And he asked, “Aren’t there more important things we should talk about than whether I’m sloppy?” There certainly are, but that doesn’t stop the critics from getting upset.
Fetterman during a press conference with other US senators.
Right-wing Republicans are foaming at the mouth
Republican right-wing MP Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on Platform X, formerly Twitter: The fact that the Senate is no longer enforcing the dress code for senators in order to appease Fetterman is a shame. The dress code is one of the social standards that determine etiquette and respect for institutions. And Taylor Green added: “Stop lowering the bar.”
The fact that Taylor Greene, of all people, is so angry about a lack of etiquette and respect amuses many on social networks. The radical Trump supporter, who once called a party colleague a “little bitch” and showed sex photos of the president’s son Hunter Biden in a committee, is not exactly known for exemplary behavior in Congress.
Respectful behavior is not a strength of the Republicans
But she’s supposedly worried – about a lack of respect. Just like Ron DeSantis, Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate. He didn’t mention Fetterman by name, but spoke at a campaign rally about “that guy from Pennsylvania.” He wears sweatshirts, hoodies and shorts, that’s his thing. And it is his right if he wants to do it that way.
But he felt that showing up in the Senate like that and not having the decency to wear appropriate clothing was disrespectful to the body. And DeSantis declared: “We must raise standards in this country, not let them decline.”
Democrats remain calm
Others, however, responded with humor. She will come tomorrow in a bikini, announced 70-year-old Republican Representative Susan Collins from Maine. If she gets too cold in the air-conditioned plenary hall, John Fettermann might be able to help her out with a hoodie.