Democrats and Republicans split into teams for the game and often wear baseball uniforms of teams in their state or district. The opinions expressed in these commentaries are exclusively those of the authors. I usually play in the outfield.
The congressional baseball game is played at Nationals Stadium each year.
The players were informed that there had been a shooting at the GOP practice on Eugene Simpson Field, according to Jeffries. Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) is the Democratic manager. Lawmakers signed poster board-sized cards for those who'd been shot and were recovering including the two Capitol Police officers who'd been injured in the line of duty. It could have been any one of us.
"It took on a little more significance than normal", said Rep. Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican. Most professional baseball games would go to extra innings to settle the result.
Representative Dave Reichert of Washington, a former sheriff, made news in February by telling colleagues during a closed-door House Republican conference that they should make sure to take precautions for themselves and staffers against potential threats.
Sen. Flake started playing when he joined Congress.
Since 1909, the Congressional Baseball Game has been a bipartisan tradition, which has come to define summer in Washington for members of Congress, their families and staff.
The speaker sent the Sergeant at Arms to the field to gather the members, but rain had already canceled the game, sending the congressman back to Capitol Hill.
The Republican's team was practicing their batting at the Alexandria baseball field when shots suddenly rang out.
Tragically, Wednesday's morning routine ended with a vicious act of hate and violence created to divide us. "The Members of Congress, the staff and the volunteers who were out at practice this morning care deeply about the causes they play to benefit".
Together, they prevented what likely would have been a massacre. These events have left us all rattled, especially as members of our community remain in critical condition in area hospitals. When my wife saw the news, the first thing she did was text her friend whose husband plays on the Republican team. "We were holding each other", said Rep. Roger Williams, a Republican from Texas. As a nation, we must recommit ourselves to having and showing empathy toward each other.
"While the team that loses isn't happy, they'll be back at it the next year to try again", Meyers said.
President Donald Trump attacks Federal Bureau of Investigation probe into possible obstruction as witchhunt
And it also suggests that Mueller isn't narrowing the scope of the investigation he took over on May 18 , he's widening it. But Comey did lay out facts that a prosecutor could use to try to prove obstruction, as NPR's Domenico Montanaro noted .
The game has taken place nearly every year since then, with a few exceptions: in 1914, for example, legislators were called from the field because a quorum wasn't present in the House to debate an important bill.
Tim Ryan is the U.S. representative for Ohio's 13th District.
The answer is preparing for the Congressional Baseball Game, of course. "I don't think you're human if that doesn't shake you".
Thankfully, special agents David Bailey and Crystal Griner, two fearless Capitol Police officers on House Majority Whip Scalise's protective detail, took down the attacker, after suffering injuries themselves, and prevented him from doing any more damage. The Capitol Police are damn good at their jobs.
"It was unclear whether there would be multiple places of attack", Jeffries explained. No political rhetoric in America, no matter how heated, advocates or condones violence. "And there were a lot of shots - easily 30 to 50, maybe more".
How can you compromise with evil? "The enemy is now here among us". It is this belief that has motivated us as chairmen of the Congressional Civility Caucus. And members of Congress have increasingly faced threats and hostility.
For us, it's the norm.
The shock of Wednesday's attack may bring Congress together, at least for a while. Between 1935 and 1941, Democrats and Republicans would team up to play against members of the press. We will not be deterred by this hateful act.
With his voice quivering, earlier Barton gave a heartfelt statement at Capitol Hill while wearing his uniform that the game should go on.
"What makes it even more terrible is this is one of the things that's right with this town". With the charity game tomorrow at Nationals Park, the GOP had gathered to get in a tune-up when a shooter approached.
Thursday night will be the 80th meeting.
Comments