As Americans across the country have learned during the coronavirus pandemic, video chats can be difficult.
Senator Tom Carper D-Canc.
Demonstrated this Friday when he dropped the f-bomb at a nationwide Senate televised virtual hearing, apparently unaware that his camera and microphone were on.
Carper appeared to have technical difficulties during the hearing on the recent changes to the postal service by Postmaster Louis DeJoy, and could not intervene for the questioning. But just as the committee chairman signaled his intention to hand over Carper’s control, the Delaware Democrat broke his silence by shouting, “f —, f —, f —!”
Senator Ron Johnson, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, asked Carper if he could turn the audio back on. When Carper said he had, Johnson laughed and said “Ok, uh, we don’t wanna be on TV again.”
Carper went ahead, seemingly unresponsive, to ask DeJoy about his constituents’ concerns about the postal service.
“Like most Americans in 2020, Senator Carper was frustrated by the technical difficulties this morning, but that doesn’t matter how frustrated he is with a post general who is actively undermining the US Postal Service during a national crisis.” , did he declare. a spokeswoman for Carper said in a statement to POLITICS. UK public debt exceeds £ 2 trillion – real-time updates
The senator also tweeted later on Friday morning: “
Anyone who knows me knows there are few things that turn me on more than protecting the postal service!”
The hearing provided an opportunity for Senators to question DeJoy about a series of changes to the postal service that came under close scrutiny ahead of the November presidential election. DeJoy defended his changes to the service, saying it was financially problematic and malfunctioning. He dismissed the account that he was colluding with President Donald Trump to turn off the service because unprecedented numbers of voters are expected to cast their ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The hearing had its fair share of tense questions, but the Carper incident quickly stood out as one of its most memorable moments.
Hill reporters and lawmakers began tweeting about the incident, bonding for a little moment of comedic relief during an unusually tumultuous year.
The Daily Caller tweeted an insulting video of Carper with a crying and laughing emoji.
“Mood 2020,” Vox reporter Aaron Rupar tweeted.
Ric Grenell, who briefly served as acting director of national intelligence this year, seemed less amused at the time. He described it as a “profane breakdown of staff because they don’t know how to wake up their computer.” Grenell slammed CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins for tweeting “OK, I needed it” about the Carper incident, saying “Journalism is dead”.
Rep Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), However, the quote tweeted Grenell and said, “I never disagreed with Ric again. This video keeps me together today.”
Former Senator Claire McCaskill sought to refocus the audience on the issues in question.
“Blooper aside, Tom Carper knows more about the Postal Service than any other US Senator,” he tweeted.