Top Democrat berates McDermott for pledge omission

By Alex Fryer
Seattle Times Washington bureau

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Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, summoned the Seattle Democrat to her office Wednesday to personally scold him for improvising when he led the pledge in the House chamber.

Speaking to reporters in the Capitol yesterday, Pelosi, the highest-ranking Democrat in the House, said: "I asked him to come to meet with me on that subject, very directly, to express the concern of colleagues and my own concerns about the presentation of the pledge."

"I completely disagree with Congressman McDermott's presentation of the pledge to the flag," she said. "House Democrats expect the Pledge of Allegiance to be delivered as it is written, with the phrase 'under God,' and with respect."

Democratic and Republican lawmakers take turns reciting the pledge each day.

McDermott was asked by a Pelosi staff member to recite the words at Tuesday's session, around 2 p.m., his spokesman Mike DeCesare said.

McDermott said he routinely omits the words "under God" when he says the pledge, and he didn't say them before the House.

"That's how I've always said it," McDermott said later. "I make my pledge to my country and that's the end of it."

Republican lawmakers protested and said the Congressional Record would contain the words "under God."

Pelosi did not say whether McDermott would ever be invited to recite the pledge again, but she promised he would stick to the exact wording if he did.

"You will not hear the pledge made on the floor without the words 'under God,' " Pelosi said.

Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com

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