Presidential candidate Tim Ryan was the recipient of significant blowback on social media after he refused to put his hand over his heart during the playing of the national anthem during Tuesday night’s Democratic debate.
As the choir sang the Star-Spangled Banner at the opening of the debate in Detroit, Ryan remained the only candidate standing on stage with his hands clasped in front of him.
All other candidates placed their hand over their hearts.
Was he making a political statement, appealing to the radical liberal base, or did Ryan inexplicably forget to put his hand over his heart, caught up in the moment?
Take a look …
.@RepTimRyan does not put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem before tonight’s #DemDebatehttps://t.co/QPrGh6lgl7 pic.twitter.com/zDz6ftZaS1
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 31, 2019
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Criticism
Critics quickly drew comparisons between Ryan and unemployed former NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.
Former press secretary to George W. Bush, Ari Fleischer, slammed Ryan for “appealing to the Kaepernick wing of the Democratic Party.”
Rep. Tim Ryan didn’t put his hand over his heart during the national anthem. I guess he’s appealing to the Kaepernick wing of the Democratic Party.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) July 31, 2019
‘The View’ co-host Meghan McCain chimed in demanding, “Put your hand over your heart for the star-spangled banner Tim Ryan!!”
Trump 2020 senior campaign adviser Mercedes Schlapp suggested Ryan’s actions make him unfit to run for the White House.
No hand over the heart during the national anthem: @RepTimRyan he should not run for President #CNNDebate
— Mercedes Schlapp (@mercedesschlapp) July 31, 2019
Ryan Saavedra of the Daily Wire wrote, “All these candidates have contempt for America, Tim Ryan is just choosing to be honest about it.”
No Comment
When confronted over the controversy, Ryan appeared to dismiss critics by saying he had no comment other than he “love(s) this country as much as everybody else.”
If that were the case, placing your hand over your heart would be a reflexive action.
“No, not really,” Rep. Tim Ryan says when asked if he has anything to say about causing a stir for being the only candidate for not putting his hand on his heart during the national anthem at #DemDebate.
“I love this country as much as everybody else” https://t.co/3epyaDg7Jj pic.twitter.com/kSn9RpESRT
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 31, 2019
“The national anthem plays at football games, I put my hand on my heart for the Pledge of Allegiance,” Ryan further explained. “I don’t know, the choir was singing and it was great.”
Ryan’s Other Controversy
During a dramatic battle with Nancy Pelosi over the House speakership, Ryan used an ethnic slur during an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, in which he compared those who supported him to fine wine and those who supported the Speaker as “dago red wine.”
Ryan recently made a list compiled by Bill Maher of candidates who need to “get the f***” out of the race so the real contenders can rise to the top.
“Tim Ryan. I think he said one good thing. No,” Maher complained.
We’re guessing this unnecessary controversy won’t help the cause.
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And it is election year, when posing is de rigeur.
Surprised none of them ” took a knee” But then they don’t have the courage of their convictions—or lack of ’em.
This is the people you VOTED into OFFICE they hate this COUNTRY but they still want to control we the PEOPLE!! WAKE up PEOPLE THESE DEM RATS and DEEP STATE CRIMINALS and TRATORS want the POWER to dictate to we the PEOPLE!! Listen to the debates they want to change OUR CONSTITUTION STARTING with the 2nd AMENDMENT!! Take away OUR God give right to bear ARMS and make us SHEEP TO THEIR DICTATORSHIP!! WAKE UP PEOPLE UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL!! VOTE FOR FREEDOM NOT FOR SOCIALISM CRAP!!!
Perhaps she was asking for the washroom ?
She did eventually kind of put her hand up.
Watched it over and over again. Is EVERYONE BLIND??? Marianne Williamson didn’t do it either.
WAR ON MEN
What hypocrites they are the ones who hate this country and want God, gone.They are so full of hate for everything we stand for in this country. They are traitors to this country. They all need to be gone.
While playing with his balls he screwed himselft LOSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111
I served 24 years in the Navy, protecting the rights of people like Ryan to express themselves in such a manner. By the same token, I was also defending the rights of those who disagree with Ryan to vote for someone else and to hold Ryan in contempt. It’s his bed – let him lie in it!
As radical as they are, I am surprised they didn’t.
at least none covered their ears
I guess I was wrong, but I thought it was DeBlaiso who didn’t put his hand over his heart???
accurate, so actually NONE of these dems knew [if ryan knew, that was his defense]
i salute anyway, no longer wear the uniform [on the outside], but i think i am entitled and no one has objected
The proper protocol is to stand at attention during the playing the national anthem. Same for the presentation of the colors, unless you are in uniform, then you salute. For the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance is when you should put your hand over your heart.
It is a shame that the common man, let a loan political ‘Leaders’, know so little about proper protocol.
Maybe his heart is in his nether region.
T’AIN’T funny, McGee
That guy is a joke.
Absolutely unfit. If a candidate is so disrespectful of one of the primary symbols of this great nation, they have NO reason or right to be leading it. And food for thought; look what happened when Michelle Obama said she was not proud of this nation until her husband was President or somesuch. The disrespect and undermining of this nation by those two was appalling – so much so that my husband, a lifelong democrat, said it actually appeared as if Obama was trying to harm this country, and then hubby switched parties to Republican. And here’s a candidate who thinks he’s fit to lead showing such disrespect? Git outta here.
Tim Ryan is unfit to be in Congress, much less a candidate for president.
Wow grounds for dismissal immediately. Loser
Tim Ryan is the poster boy for stupid. I don’t agree with Bill Maher on lot’s of things….but I do agree with him about poster boy getting out of the presidential race.
Didn’t have the balls to take a knee… Just another run of the mill POS DEM….
So rather than having his hand over his heart, he had his hands over his crotch.