Congresswoman Bynum to Elon Musk, “Take Your Foot Off My Neck”

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) joined several Democratic colleagues at the “Nobody Elected Elon!” rally to speak against the hostile takeover by unelected billionaires. Americans have made it clear – unelected billionaires should not be allowed to compromise the privacy and data of millions of hardworking citizens to expand their personal business portfolios. In part, she said:

I’m a patriot. They never told me I could be a patriot, but I’m a patriot. … We are all patriots. … We gon’ tell Elon Musk—now listen to me—get your hands out my pockets. … Get your foot off the Constitution. Take your foot off my neck.”

You can watch her complete remarks here and read the text below:

“Greetings from Portland, Oregon!

“Now, I just started this job, and they’ve already got me out here in the cold. We fly 3,000 miles twice a week to put up with this foolishness. I’m not happy. My babies said, ‘Momma, you leavin’ again?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, baby, I’m a patriot.’ I’m a patriot. They never told me I could be a patriot, but I’m a patriot. And you’re a patriot, and you’re a patriot!

“Because I grew up here in D.C. I was a little girl who rode the 50 line to Brightwood Elementary School, and they always told us the British had come to storm the city. They always reminded us the British had come, and they burned everything down, and we could never let that happen again. They told us. And here we are—Trump and his billionaire Boy Band. They not British this time—this one’s South African. But they came back, and we’re here to say, ‘Bye-bye! Bye-bye! Bye-bye! Bye-bye!’

“Now, Trump, I already sued you one time when y’all came to Portland and y’all were body-snatching. And that had to stop. But I’m here today to tell you—we’re showing up. We are all patriots. They’re gonna take their hands out of our piggy banks. We gon’ shut it down. We gon’ tell Elon Musk—now listen to me—get your hands out my pockets. Say it with me:

“Get your hands out my pockets!
“Get your hands out my pockets!
“Get your hands out my pockets!
“Get your hands out my pockets!

“Get your foot off the Constitution. Take your foot off my neck.

“Now, it’s important you all know that some of us up here are parents, and the reason we serve in Congress is to secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity. That means not just for this generation, but the next generation, and the next generation, and the next generation, and the next generation.

“I’m not flying 3,000 miles away every week, twice a week, for you to take my money. I’m not giving an inch, and you’re not giving an inch, and you’re not giving an inch. This is our country.

“Like I said, Trump, I’ve already sued you once. I’m ready to do it again.”

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