Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) always does a great job when questioning witnesses during Congressional hearings. Calm and cool with no theatrics.
Gill displayed his skills today when the House Oversight Committee brought in Anthea Hartig, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, over the woke exhibits.
Gill asked Hartig if the goal of history was to be objective.
Hartig provided Gill with the answer he needed: “We strive to be objective and nonpartisan and not based on any idea.”
Gill immediately launched into the “MASS Action Toolkit,” which says that objectivity is a tool of white supremacy.
Oh, how Gill catches Hartig:
GILL: So it’s one of the goals. Doesn’t that seem a little bit concerning? It certainly does to me because, as part of this white supremacy document that your organization has promoted, objectivity as a core and defining aspect of white supremacy culture. Do you think that it’s the goal of the Smithsonian Institution to promote white supremacy culture?HARTIG: Sir Do you mind sharing with me which document?GILL: White supremacy culture, right here. This is part of the MASS Action Toolkit that your organization has promoted for several years now under your leadership. Are you promoting a white supremacy culture at the Smithsonian?HARTIG: Am I promoting a white…GILL: Ma’am? Is this a difficult question.HARTIG: No, sir. I’m just thinking about the mass action toolkit. We didn’t develop it, but back to your question. No, we’re not promoting any ideology.GILL: Does it concern you that your goal is objectivity? One of your goals is objectivity, and your MASS Action Toolkit references objectivity as a defining characteristic of white supremacy culture.HARTIG: It’s not our toolkit.GILL: It is your toolkit. You’ve been promoting it for quite some time.HARTIG: We did not come up with a toolkit, sir.GILL: But you’ve been promoting it.HARTIG: It is used as a reference, I believe, probably in 2019, 2020.
Ridiculous:
GILL: Yes, under your leadership, it has been used as a reference. Is Mickey Mouse racist?HARTIG: Mickey Mouse is not racist.GILL: It’s not racist? According to the Smithsonian Institution, one of your exhibits referenced Mickey Mouse as representing quote “vestiges of longstanding traditions of blackface minstrelsy.” Would you describe that as racist?HARTIG: No, the historical trajectory of the origins of Mickey Mouse tie directly…GILL: Mickey Mouse is rooted in racism. Is that your testimony?HARTIG: No it’s rooted in minstrelsy.GILL: Minstrelsy, and you don’t think the blackface minstrelsy is racist?HARTIG: It had certain unobvious racial overtones that have been well documented.GILL: Do you think that’s problematic? That Mickey Mouse also has those racial overtones?HARTIG: It’s not for me to determine what’s problematic. It’s determined to me what’s accurate.GILL: Is that right?HARTIG: Yes.
I had no idea you shouldn’t be polite:
GILL: Is it important to be polite?HARTIG: Excuse me, sir?GILL: Is it important to be polite?HARTIG: Yes, sir.GILL: It’s also interesting because the same MASS Action Toolkit that your organization has been promoting references politeness as a defining characteristic of white supremacy culture. Ma’am, are you a white supremacist?HARTIG: No, sir.GILL: You’re not. Can you help me square why your organization says that being polite is part of being a white supremacist?HARTIG: I’m not exactly familiar with that passage of the MASS Action Toolkit, which is not what we developed here.GILL: I can show you the MASS..HARTIG: I don’t. Pardon me?GILL: I said I just read you the passage from it.HARTIG: And then your question, sir?GILL: We’re going to move on.
No one can say white power. Every white person must be ashamed of their skin color, right?
Gill wants to know why the Smithsonian sells products that say Latina power:
GILL: What is Latina power?HARTIG: What is Latino power?GILL: Latina power.HARTIG: Latina power would be the forces derived from being a Latina.GILL: Do you think that it’s appropriate for the Smithsonian Institution to sell Latina power paraphernalia, hats, mugs, other things that say Latina power?HARTIG: I believe that the merchandise our store sells…GILL: I’m asking you if it’s appropriate.HARTIG: …tries to reflect the richness of the communities.GILL So your testimony is that it is appropriate.HARTIG: Those are your words, sir.GILL: I’m asking you: Is it appropriate to sell Latina power paraphernalia? It’s a yes or no question.HARTIG: I don’t have control over what is…GILL: I’m asking you if it’s appropriate. I didn’t ask you if you have control over it. Is it appropriate? Yes or no?HARTIG: Again, we strive to represent all Americans and include…GILL: Is it appropriate? Yes or no?HARTIG: We strive to represent all Americans in our museums, including in our merchandise.GILL: Is that right? My time’s up.
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